Ministik Elementary

This school year has flown. I am very proud of each and every student. All have worked hard and accomplished many things. I thank the parents for all their hard work and support in making Ministik a great place to go to school, a great place to work and a great community. We sadly say goodbye to Mrs. Plooy our Grade 3/4 teacher. Farewell to Mrs. Yake and Mrs. Veltri our educational assistants this year. We wish them well and hope that their paths may lead them back to Ministik sometime in the future. We extend best wishes to Mrs. Sparrow who has decided to retire. She has dedicated many years to teaching children at Ministik. May you have a long and happy retirement, Maggie!  I am pleased that I will be returning as your principal next year and will strive towards being a strong advocate for Ministik School.

We had an awesome track and field day on June 22^nd. Our Year- end Celebration of Learning was on June 25^th. We had our classroom awards ceremony, said goodbye to our grade six class and enjoyed a BBQ lunch. Thank you to Nick Plooy and Bill Sudyk for cooking the burgers provided by the Roger and Vicki Boivert. In the afternoon, there was a talent show and annual water fight! We already have begun planning for next year. Our Grade 1/2 teacher for next year will be Mrs. Sheri Zarowny. Swimming lessons will begin on September 9^th. Look for the permission forms that first day back as they will be due on September 3^th. Speaking of the first day back - the first day of classes for students is August30^th. The office will be open from August 23^rd from 9 am - 3:00 pm. I hope everyone has a great summer; enjoy the sunshine and get ready for a new school year!

Happy Summer Holidays,
Evelyn Gaudet

Each year, Elk Island Public Schools' (EIPS) Student Transportation conducts a route optimization review to determine if students are receiving the best transportation service under existing circumstances and where improvements can be made.

The goals of the review are to:

• shorten ride times;
• make bus routes as efficient as possible;
• simplify the process for students and families;
• coordinate transportation to allow siblings to ride the same bus routes whenever possible;
• improve student safety; and
• use funding as efficiently as possible.

The 2010 Route Optimization process has presented a number of opportunities to improve services while creating cost efficiencies for the division. Beginning in the 2010/2011 school year, three buses will be eliminated from the Ministik attendance area and the old Adam Lily Acres transfer will be replaced with a new, monitored transfer at Fultonvale Elementary/Junior High School. These changes are expected to have a positive impact on morning pickup times for a majority of Ministik students.

Under this new plan, approximately half of Ministik's students will experience shorter ride times, and morning pickup times will be at least 15 minutes later for a majority of students. The "first-on, first-off and last-on, last-off" policy will help to equalize ride times for students. To assist parents with planning and childcare arrangements, Student Transportation will send letters with tentative bus schedules in mid-May.

Depending on the nature of your questions, you may also speak with principal Evelyn Gaudet, Director of Student Transportation Lisa Weder, or your trustee representative, Bonnie Riddell.

Visit the Elk Island Website for current H1N1 information and resources.

Ministik Elementary is currently taking Registrations for the 2010/11 year. Download a Registration Form and send it to the school as soon as possible to ensure proper transportation accomodations are made.

Ministik has a new bell schedule for 2010/2011 to conform to our transportation needs.

Download your 2010/2011 Supply List for this year. ECS supply lists will be mailed to parents.