INDIGO lOVE OF READING fOUNDATION
We are beyond thrilled to share that Cowan Heights Elementary has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation! This incredible support will help us transform our school and classroom library collections, to better reflect the diverse and evolving needs of our students.
Our vision is simple but powerful - we want every student to see themselves in the stories they read, to feel inspired, and to develop a lifelong love of reading. With this funding, we will create a space filled with books that celebrate different perspectives, spark curiosity, and encourage exploration.
Right now, we are hard at work making plans to bring this vision to life. We can’t wait for our students to dive into a collection where everyone belongs and every story matters. Stay tuned as we begin this exciting journey!
A huge thank you to the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation for believing in our school and in the power of literacy. They will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students for years to come!
KINDERSTART
For parents registering their children for KinderStart for Sept 2025 (and Kindergarten in Sept 2026), registration begins on May 12 at 9:00 am (8:30 am in Labrador). For more info on when registration opens, visit https://www.nlschools.ca/studentsfamilies/kindergartenregistration.jsp
Support Our Annual Art Supply Blitz – Friday, June 6, 2025!
Art plays a vital role in children's development, enhancing creativity, motor and language skills, social interaction, and problem-solving. A well-equipped art program helps foster imagination, confidence, and self-expression in students of all ages. To continue offering enriching, hands-on creative experiences, we’re holding our annual Art Supply Blitz and invite families to contribute.
Teachers have compiled a list of quality items needed to replenish our art cupboards and support the many exciting projects planned for the year. Your donations directly impact the materials available in classrooms and ensure that all students can participate fully in a variety of artistic activities throughout the year.
We welcome and greatly appreciate any donations from the supply list, monetary contributions, or gift cards. Donations can be sent with your child anytime during the week of June 2 - 6. On Friday, June 6, staff will be in the main entrance to collect donations from our students and families.
Friday is also Rainbow Day—a fun celebration of creativity and school spirit! We encourage students to wear their most colorful outfits.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or CHE administration.
Thank you for helping us keep the arts thriving at CHE!
As we head toward the end of the school year, we kindly ask families to help students check around at home for any school library books that may still be signed out. Returning our books ensures everyone has access to great reads! Thank you for your support in keeping our library collection complete and ready for all students to enjoy!
As kindergarten changes so rapidly with rising expectations and standards, so do the traditions. It used to be a given that at the end of every child’s kindergarten year, a graduation ceremony (some that even included caps and gowns) would take place. As the times change, the traditional end of year kindergarten graduation has evolved into an end of year celebration in most areas. I know schools do it differently everywhere, but the main components remain the same: we celebrate your child's first year of "big school".
Even with all of the evolving changes, there remains a special magic found only in kindergarten by our students as well as their families. Providing this simple, yet magical, End of Year Celebration will encapsulate the year perfectly on Wednesday, June 25 at 11:30 a.m.
Teachers will inform families of the End of Year Celebration ASAP. Please keep an eye out for details from your child's teacher!
June is fast approaching and it is soon time to say farewell to our Grade 7 students.
This year we have a full day of fun planned to celebrate their days at CHE. The date will be Tuesday, June 24, 2025. We will start off with a hot breakfast (just for Grade 7s), then head to the Rec Room for a FULL DAY of fun activities.
8:00 - Hot Breakfast in the gym
9:00 - Arrive at Rec Room
9:15-10:15 - Free 1 Hour Games
10:15-11:15 - Free Bowling or additional game play for students who choose to bring their own money
11:15-11:45 - LUNCH (pizza or poutine station)
11:45-12:00 - Student may purchase their own movie snacks
12:00-1:32 - Movie TBD (1h 30 mins)
1:45 - Leave mall to return to school
To offset the cost of breakfast, transportation, 1 hour gaming, bowling, lunch and movie students are required to pay $10.00 to their homeroom teacher or through Rycor by June 6, 2025.
June 20, 2025
Drop off your Beverage Containers ONLY from 7:45 a.m. to 8:10 a.m.
PLEASE NOTE: We are NOT collecting cardboard or paper.
Thank you for your support!
On Monday, June 9, 2025 all staff will be participating in their last Professional Learning Day. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on this day.
We are excited to share that our school has secured a grant to cover the flights and accommodations for 15 students to visit Gatineau/Ottawa as part of the YMCA Youth Exchange Program! This incredible opportunity will allow our students to engage in cultural exchange and hands-on learning with their peers from Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School in Gatineau.
In May, a group of 21 students from Gatineau will visit us to continue the exchange. While the grant covers travel expenses, we are fundraising to help offset food and local transportation costs, as public transportation doesn’t fully meet the needs for the planned activities.
We’re eager to provide our twin group with the same enriching experience and to showcase the beauty of Newfoundland. Some of the exciting highlights of their visit will include a tour of Petty Harbour to learn about Newfoundland’s fishing heritage, a trip to the mine on Bell Island, a visit to Signal Hill and Cape Spear, and participation in the Outdoor Group Program at Rotary Park.
To support our fundraising efforts, the Grade 7 students will be hosting a St. Patrick's Day Dance for students in Grades K-6 on the last Friday of March, March 28th from 1:15-2:15 PM. The cost to attend will be $2, which can be paid on Rycor.
If students do not wish to attend the dance, they will remain in their classrooms.
Thank you for your support as we make this exchange an unforgettable experience for our students!
Changes to Early Dismissal Procedures
All K-6 parents must reach out to their child’s homeroom teacher via email on the day of an early closure to ensure that each teacher has accurate dismissal instructions. This communication will help ensure that each student is safely and appropriately dismissed. Family circumstances can change and it is important that your child’s teacher has the most up to date information to ensure all students are dismissed safely. The Early Closure Form filled out at the beginning of the year will no longer be used to determine dismissal instructions.
It is important to note that the school has a limited number of phone lines, and it will be challenging to reach us by phone in the event of an early closure. Email communication to your child’s homeroom teacher is the most effective way to convey your dismissal plans.
Check your email inbox often on early closure days, as your child’s teacher will be sending an email with specific details, including the scheduled time for buses to leave the parking lot. This information will assist you in determining the best plan for your child’s dismissal.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us ensure the safety of all students during unexpected early closures. Thank you for your cooperation and support during this time.
Each year there are 6 Professional Learning Days for Staff throughout NLSchools.
Below is a list of CHE Closeouts. Please note the 1 day NLSchools wide close has not been scheduled yet. Some topics covered will be: School Development, New Curriculum, First Aid/CPI, Reporting, Data Analysis, Deep Learning, Indigenous Education, etc.
Below are the dates for CHE. Please note that after school programs may operate on these days.
October 7, 2024
November 1, 2024
November 18, 2024
February 10, 2025
March 10, 2025
June 9, 2025
Early Dismissal Days - December 5 and March 27 - All students dismissed at 11 a.m. for Family/Teacher Conferences.
We have started a Pull Tab Collection Program here at Cowan, to support the Ronald McDonald House in St. John's. Just another little way for our students to contribute to a meaningful cause while also caring for the environment. By collecting pull tabs from cans, we help RMH provide a home away from home for families with a sick or injured child.
This does not take away from our recycling drives - tabs must be removed from the cans. Families can save up their tabs in a container or ziplock bag and then just drop off their tabs in our LLC. At the end of the year we will deliver the collected tabs to the Ronald McDonald House.
We almost have our first container filled!!!
Check out our Welcome Back Memo!
After careful consideration, the new busing announcement from NL Government, and our June Pilot
we have decided to suspend Kiss and Ride services for this school year.
We ask families to:
Utilize the Bus System: All students are now eligible for bus transportation (please note you must be in our school zone and register with on the Parent Bus Portal). We encourage you to take advantage of this convenient and safe option.
Utilize Family Parking: You may park in one of our two lower parking lots and either let your child out to walk to their entrance or walk with them.
Our main goals are to:
Improve Safety: Reduce the risk of accidents and ensure a safer environment for everyone.
Improve Time on Task: Ensure staff and students can start their day on time and with minimal delays.
Reduce Traffic: Alleviate congestion on the surrounding streets for smoother traffic flow.
We understand that many of you cherish the daily interactions during the Kiss and Ride service, as we do. Rest assured, we will continue to be present at the main entrances to greet students each morning once the buses have cleared the lot.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we strive to enhance the safety and efficiency of our school operations. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
ALLERGIES
We are a scent-free school. Please be mindful when using hair products, hand sanitizer, perfumes etc. Please note that there maybe more items added to the below allergy list.
We have many students with severe, life-threatening allergies and we must ensure our school is free of:
Nuts (including peanuts, tree nuts and nut products)
Eggs
Peas
Sesame Seeds (including products containing sesame oil, seeds, tahini, and hummus)
*Please alert your child’s teacher as soon as possible if your child has any serious medical conditions or life threatening allergies. There is also a place for this data on the student data sheet.
We ask that families refrain from sending in food items which contain any of the above products. The district has determined that given the similarities in appearance, texture and taste of Soy Butter products, they are also restricted in our schools where a student has a peanut allergy.
Please help keep everyone safe by following this policy.
SCHOOL LUNCH ASSOCIATION
Registration and information about meal ordering will be sent home in September. Parents must register before they can order meals!
7:55 am – Doors open
8:10 am – Instruction begins
10:10 – 10:25 am – Recess
12:25 – 1:15 pm – Lunch
2:15 pm Dismissal
