News from the Den- September 5

What a joy it was this week to have our youngest Coyotes join us for their first full day. Over the last two days, the kindergarten students came for their regular full day. The smiles and excitement on their faces was so great to see.

Students are enjoying the new playground equipment, the basketball courts and the recess bins! This year our Grade 1-6 students will be on a rotation from week to week where they all get to enjoy the big park, the basketball/small soccer field and the big field. Next week each Grade will get to enjoy the zone that they haven't play in yet.

Staff were so blessed to have the amazing treats set up this last Tuesday in the staffroom! A huge shout out to the generosity and kindness that you showed in this amazing surprise for the staff.

Looking forward to a full five day week next week. Have a great weekend!

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

Table of Contents

WEEK AT A GLANCE

ACTION

• Staff Parking Reminder
• New School Bell Times
• Sync the School Calendar to your calendar

OPPORTUNITY

• School Council & FAHHE

INFORMATION

• Before School Supervision & Late Arrivals
• Reporting Student Absences
• Heritage Hills Learning Commons Update
• Pay School Fees Online

WEEK AT A GLANCE

ACTION

Staff Parking Reminder

We know that mornings and after school can be busy when dropping of and picking up your child(ren). 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. Thank you for your help to make the busiest times run a bit smoother.

New School Bell Times

This year our school bell times are slightly different from last year. Our morning bell rings 5 minutes earlier than the previous year. You can see our updated bell schedule on our school website.

Sync the School Calendar to your calendar

Did you know you can sync the school calendar to your own calendar? Simply, visit heritagehillselementary.ca, click on “Subscribe to Calendar” and follow the instructions. Within seconds, your calendar will contain all Heritage Hills Elementary’s important dates including holidays, school-closures days, planned activities and events, and it will remain synced with all the latest updates throughout the school year.

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 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 Tuesday, September 9 at 1:00 pm. 

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.

Before School Supervision & Late Arrivals

Supervision before school will begin at 8:10 a.m. Please do not drop off your child(ren) earlier than that, as we will not have supervisors outside at that time. Thank you for working with us to ensure student safety!

If your child(ren) arrives after the bell, their door may be shut and locked. Please have them come through the front doors. We will also remind students of this in our morning video announcements. 

Reporting Student Absences

If your child is away from school, please let the office know via phone, 780-467-7447 or email general.hhe@eips.ca. 

Heritage Hills Learning Commons Update

We are pleased to welcome a new library technician to our school this year. Darlene DeMarco comes to us with a wealth of experience and has been working as the library technician at Pine Street Elementary. We are fortunate to share her with Pine Street this year. She will be at HHE every morning.

Mrs. DeMarco is currently busy getting books and the space ready to go. Students will be able to start checking out books the week of September 15.

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.