News from the Den- September 12

We had our first full week of school. It was a great week of learning and we just love walking into the classrooms and seeing all the great things that are happening at HHE! The walls are starting to fill up with beautiful artwork and amazing writing. It is wonderful to see all the students' work proudly displayed.

This coming week we have our School Council and FAHHE meetings (Thursday, September 18 @ 6:00 p.m. in the school library). We hope to see you there!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kyla Harding & Carla Kokotailo
Principal/Directrice & Assistant Principal/Directrice Adjointe

Table of Contents

WEEK AT A GLANCE

ACTION

• Drop-off  and Pick-up 

OPPORTUNITY

• School Council & FAHHE

INFORMATION

• Upcoming Evacuation/Fire Drill
• Pay School Fees Online

WEEK AT A GLANCE

ACTION

Drop-off & Pick-up
We know that mornings and after school can be busy when dropping off and picking up your child(ren). We have a few things that we can all do to help these busy times run a bit smoother.

• Staff Parking Lot- This is a reminder to use the visitor parking, street parking or the drop and go lane. We have many staff who don't start until 8:30 a.m., and there needs to be a parking spot for them as they arrive. Please help us out and do not park in the staff parking lot!
  
  
• Highcliff Road- If you are parking on Highcliff Road, you need to be mindful of a few things to avoid a ticket or someone getting hurt. There needs to be enough room for the bus to pull in and out of the concrete pad. Under Strathcona Traffic Bylaw, bus stops have a 35m no parking zone associated with them. Also be mindful of resident's driveways and do not block them.
  Pedestrians are also crossing the road midblock when they don't have the right of way. There is a concrete sidewalk that leads to the road (from the old bus concrete pad) that was left for bikes to be able to access the roadway. This is not a crosswalk, and pedestrians do not have right of way. While Strathcona County does not have a jaywalking bylaw and parents can use their judgement to cross the road if they feel safe, the County encourages pedestrians to cross at road intersections where they have the right of way and improved sight lines.
  
  
• End of Day Change in Plans- Classrooms and the office are a busy place at the end of the day. If there are change in plans, teachers don't always check their emails and substitutes do not get the teacher's emails. To help us to communicate changes in plans for pick-up, please contact the office 1 hour prior to the end of the day (2:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m on Wednesdays) at the latest, so that we can ensure that the message can be shared with your child(ren).

Thank you for your continued help to make the busiest times run a bit smoother.

OPPORTUNITY

School Council & FAHHE

Read all about our amazing parent groups in their September Newsletter.

Our first meeting of the year is quickly approaching. Save the date for this Thursday, September 18 @ 6:00 p.m. in the library. Hope to see you there!

INFORMATION

Upcoming Evacuation/Fire Drill
In our ongoing efforts to keep families informed, you will receive regular communication from the school regarding all emergency preparedness drills the school conducts.

Heritage Hills will be having an evacuation/fire drill on Wednesday, September 17 at 9:30 am. 

As this is a drill, there is no action parents/guardians need to take. In the event of an evacuation in response to an actual incident, we would provide information on any actions parents/guardians need to take to co-operatively support our emergency response procedures.

An evacuation is used when it is unsafe to remain inside the building. In an evacuation, students and staff exit the building and gather at a designated location outside the school. In the event students and staff must remain outside for an extended period of time, they may move to our alternate indoor evacuation centre. For more information about Elk Island Public Schools’ emergency preparedness planning, visit www.eips.ca/parents/emergency-preparedness.

Thank you for your co-operation in keeping students and staff safe.

Pay school fees online!
Wondering when and how to pay for school fees? School fee information for the 2025-26 school year will be posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal in late September. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. NOTE: Additional fees may be added throughout the year—for example, at the beginning of each semester, as your child takes part in various activities, or they may be adjusted by changes in selected optional courses in junior and senior high school. If you’re unable to pay your school fees, you can apply to have certain fees waived. The application deadline is Dec. 15, 2025.

For more information, visit the Heritage Hills Elementary fees on the school website. Alternatively, contact Amanda Trach at Heritage Hills Elementary at 780-467-7447.