Update on Overflow Designation for Kindergarten to Grade 9 Regular Program Students Attending Elboya School

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

This letter is to provide an update that Elboya School is over capacity this school year and is projected to remain over capacity for the 2024-25 school year. In June 2023, we implemented a short-term overflow for new students registering for the regular program at Elboya School. We are continuing to explore solutions to address the high enrolment at Elboya School, but for the remainder of the school year and the 2024-25 school year, we will be keeping the overflow to Chinook Park and Woodman Schools in place.

While the school has organized its learning environment to support student learning and success, it will be challenging to provide optimal student learning opportunities without the overflow in place due to the continued growth in enrolment.

New registrations that cannot be accommodated in the regular program at Elboya School for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years will be overflowed to:

• Chinook Park School for kindergarten to Grade 6 - located at 1312 75 Ave SW
• Woodman School for Grades 7 to 9 - located at 8706 Elbow Dr. SW

Regular program students who are overflowed to Chinook Park School and Woodman School will be placed on a call-back list, and if space becomes available, they will be given an opportunity to transfer back to Elboya School.

No Changes for Current Students at Elboya School

Current kindergarten to Grade 9 students attending Elboya School will remain at the school for the 2023-24 school year and moving forward until they transition to High School, provided they do not move out of the school boundary.

Why is this change happening?

Over the course of the previous and current school year, regular program registrations for Elboya School continued to increase at a rate higher than what is normally seen at the school. Establishing an overflow for the regular program has balanced enrolment between Elboya School and the overflow schools. It will also keep students at schools that are as close to home as possible while we explore long-term solutions.

What is a call-back list?

If space becomes available in Elboya School for the regular program during the school year, that space will be offered to students on the call-back list who are currently attending their designated overflow school, Chinook Park School or Woodman School.

Students remain on the call-back list while they attend the designated overflow school. Students will be removed from the call-back list if they move out of the Elboya School boundary, transfer from the designated overflow school(s) or decline the offer to attend Elboya School.

Any new registrations received for the 2023-24 school year will be added to the call-back list based on priority designation and the date and time of their registration.

How do I register for the next school year?

Kindergarten registrations for the 2024-25 school year begin on Jan. 15, 2024. For more information on how to register, please visit our website.

The lottery process will be followed for kindergarten to Grade 9 regular program students for the 2024-25 school year and beyond. For more details on how we determine priority, please visit our website.

We will make every effort to keep siblings together at a single school. Families with a kindergarten or Grade 1 student who is unsuccessful in the lottery and a sibling who is already attending Elboya School may choose to register all children at the overflow -- Chinook Park School.

Will there be any changes to the French Immersion Program?

Currently, there are no changes to the French Immersion Program. Although limited, some spaces exist in the French Immersion Program. We are continuing to monitor the enrolment numbers in the program closely.

Transportation for students attending the designated overflow schools

Students are eligible for transportation to their designated or overflow school if they live beyond the walk zone. Overflowed students will receive transportation to and from school once the family submits a transportation registration and it is processed. Please note that transportation fees apply to overflow situations as well.

In the CBE and across the city, we are experiencing a school bus driver shortage that may impact the mode of service provided. Please be assured that we are doing everything possible and working with our partners to restore reliability to transportation services. Families must visit Busing & Transportation for important information and must register for transportation using MyCBE.

What if I have more questions?

If you still have questions or require additional information, please contact the Area 7 office at Area7@cbe.ab.ca or 403-777-8750 (extension 0) or Area6@cbe.ab.ca or 403-777-8780 (extension 0).