2025 Winter Festival

Thank you to our school community for making the Winter Festival: Pinocchio such a meaningful and joyful day.

A special note of appreciation for the children who shared their hopes and wishes on the Wishing Tree, custom made for our school by Jeremy Wiebe. It was a beautiful way to showcase why we gather and build these moments together.

Thank you to the Festivals Committee for five months of planning and day-of celebration.

Thank you as well to Mr. Schauer and Mr. Hogge for serving as competition judges; to Mrs. Wiebe and Mr. Piotrkowski for faculty representation and support; and to Dr. Walsh and Mrs. Serrano for their support of the chess tournament.

We are deeply grateful to all parents and caregivers who donated their time, toys, books, baked goods, and energy - from preparation and set-up to clean-up - and to every family who came out and shared in the day. Showing up is what makes a community, and this community truly showed up. 🤍

Thank you all and see you at the Spring Festival!

2025 Pinocchio Winter Festival January 31, 2026 At ECA!

12:00 - 4:00 PM | Come and go as you please!

Our beloved Winter Festival returns and this year with a Pinocchio-inspired celebration of creativity, imagination, and community. Families, students, and friends are all invited to enjoy an afternoon of activities, performances, and school-wide fun.

What to Expect

This year’s festival features engaging activities for all ages, including performances, hands-on stations, contests, and opportunities to support the school through fundraising initiatives.

Event Highlights

• Ken Bishop Live Show: A magical puppet adventure presented twice throughout the afternoon. (Showtimes will be announced in advance!)

• Crafts & Activity Stations: Children can explore creative stations throughout the school. Visit every station to collect stickers and earn a special prize!

• Storytelling Corner: A cozy read-aloud space where volunteers share enchanting stories inspired by our festival theme.

• Toy & Book Sale: A community fundraiser with gently-used toys and books.📢 Donation call-out coming soon! All proceeds support ECA!

• Second ECA Chess Tournament: Watch students showcase strategy and skill as they compete for prizes.

  • Junior League: Grades 3 - 5

  • Senior League: Grade 6+

• Cafeteria-Style Café: Enjoy a variety of sweet and savoury treats from our bake sale.

Student Creative Contest

All students are encouraged to participate in this year’s creative competition inspired by the virtues and themes of Pinocchio.

Categories by Grade:

• K - 2: Drawing

• Grades 3 - 5: Drawing or Poetry

• Grades 6 - 9: Drawing, Poetry, or Essay/Short Story

📅 Submission Deadline: January 16

Prizes will be awarded during the festival.

How to Submit Your Entry

Students can submit their drawings, poems, or stories by placing them in the Contest Submission Box, located by the front office.

🧡 Volunteer Opportunities (Coming Soon!)

Our school events don’t become magical on their own—they’re brought to life by parents who show up, pitch in, and care deeply. When families volunteer their time and energy, we create more than fun moments; we build a connected, supportive community culture our children can feel and learn from. By investing our time and dedication now, we’re modelling the values of teamwork, service, and belonging. If we want to raise a generation of value-driven children, it starts with us choosing to invest in our community—together. Please consider volunteering your time at the Winter Carnival.

💙 Join Us in Building Community

The Winter Festival is one of our school’s largest community events - a joyful opportunity for families to connect, celebrate our students, and support School Council initiatives.

We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday, January 31!