
NSO Weekly News
October 2-7, 2023
Sherwood Park - Fort Saskatchewan - Vegreville
We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Monday is Instructional day #22 of 85 or 26% of the way through semester 1, for non-diploma courses. Reminder short week as there is no school on Friday, October 6 (Staff Professional Learning) and Monday, October 9 (Thanksgiving). Wednesday, October 4 is early dismissal and bussing due to monthly Staff meeting. Sites will close at 2:00 p.m., 2:15 p.m. for Junior High.
Our Next Step vision is to create a community of learners who embody the virtues of acceptance, flexibility, individualization, respect, and responsibility.
High School students are required to check in and meet with their instructor(s) weekly. It is recommended that multiple check ins occur each week to ensure successful completion of academic course work. Students not adhering to the weekly check in schedule or failing to engage in learning process will be removed from their course.
Have a great week! #gogreen Mr. B. Spady Principal & Mrs. K. Porter Assistant Principal
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Award
The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Student Awards recognize Alberta students in different grade levels who have shown tremendous growth in developing skills to better themselves by demonstrating determination, initiative and independence, which has led to their improved success both academically and personally.
Post Secondary dates & applications
October 13 -14 Old’s College Registration
October 14 University of Alberta Registration
October 21 Augustana (University of Alberta Campus) Registration
October 21 Concordia University Registration
October 21 King’s University Registration
October 21 Mount Royal University Registration
October 21 University of Lethbridge Information
October 28 NAIT Registration
October 28 Red Deer Polytechnic Information
October 28 University of Calgary Registration
November 3-4 SAIT Information
November 4 MacEwan University Information
Applications open October 1: ApplyAlberta is an online application and transcript transfer system that anyone can use to apply to undergraduate programs at one or more of Alberta's post-secondary institutions https://www.applyalberta.ca/
Upcoming events
October 1 ApplyAlberta open https://www.applyalberta.ca/
October 2-6 Read In Week
October 4 Early Dismissal (Staff Meeting)
October 5 World Teachers’ Day
October 6 Professional Learning Day- No School
October 9 Thanksgiving- No School
October 10 World Mental Health Day
October 17 Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:30pm (FSO) Online Booking required
October 19 Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:30pm (SPO) Online Booking required
October 20 Student Career Fair at WEM
October 24 School Advisory Council 6pm (Virtual & in-person) Join meeting HERE
October 30 ELA 30-1/2 Diploma Part A (Quarterly schedule)
October 31 Social 30-1/2 Diploma Part A (Quarterly schedule)
October 31 Halloween
November 1 Skills Canada Alberta Try-A-Trade & Take Our Kids to Work Day
Young Women In Trades and Technologies Discovery Night
MyPass accounts
myPass is an Alberta Education self-service website for students to:
- Order high school transcripts in English and French
- View diploma exam marks
- Register to write or rewrite diploma exams with online payment
- View and print Detailed Academic Reports (DAR)
- View progress towards a credential (diploma or certificate)
- Order additional copies of an awarded credential in English or French
- Receive notifications for important messages
Required information to sign up for myPass
To sign up, you must have:
- an Education Account (current students can contact their school and former students can contact Help Desk)
- the student's Alberta Student Number Look up ASN, learn more about your ASN
- the student's date of birth
- a current personal email address (school emails are not recommended)
Students, parents or guardians can sign up at the student’s high school or online with myPass. We encourage all high school students to sign up in Grade 10. A student can grant myPass access to other individuals by entering that individual’s email address in myPass and specifying the relationship. This will generate an access code. The other individual may then input this code along with their email address into myPass to view the student’s information.
Please contact our Guidance Counsellor at 780-410-2952 or via email elli.hansen@eips.ca for assistance.
Parent Resources
Cannabis: Get to know more about cannabis and explore the effects that early use of cannabis products can have on a young person’s life, then have a conversation with your child.
https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/drug-spotlights/cannabis/
Immunize Alberta: www.immunizealberta.ca provides information about vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases along with frequently asked questions.
Vaping: Vaping’s popularity among youth has grown significantly over the past five years – and there is a lot of concern that this increase may have a negative impact on the overall health of young people. https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/issues/vaping/
Teaching Sexual Health: For up to date, evidence based information and strategies for parents to deliver effective sexual health education https://teachingsexualhealth.ca/
Respiratory Illness Guidance
The health and safety of staff, students and visitors is a top priority. Continue to reinforce the following hygiene habits to protect everyone from spreading respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
- Stay home if you’re feeling sick.
- Wash or sanitize your hands often.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly.
- Wear a mask if you get sick or develop symptoms while at school or work.
As per Alberta Health guidelines, staff, students, and visitors who have symptoms of respiratory Illness or test positive for COVID, should stay home until:
- symptoms have improved,
- they feel well enough to resume normal activities, and
- they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
For anyone who has a respiratory illness or has tested positive for COVID, it is recommended that they wear a mask for a total of 10 days from the onset of symptoms—even if the symptoms have resolved or improved—when in indoor settings with other individuals.
School Advisory Council Meeting October 24
Our first hybrid meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24 at the Sherwood Park campus. We hope you can join us in-person or virtually. Meeting starts at 6 p.m. Regular attendance is not required. Please check out our school calendar and NSO Weekly News for scheduled School Advisory Council Meetings. Join meeting HERE
Agenda and last meeting Minutes to follow. Future meeting dates: October 24, November 28, January 23, February 27, April 23
Sherwood Park Campus
As we navigate this school year together, we would like to emphasize a few important guidelines to ensure that our Sherwood Park campus remains a productive and conducive environment for learning:
- Regular Check-ins with Teachers: Engaging with your teachers is a key component of your academic success. Please make it a priority to check in with them regularly. They are here to assist you and ensure you're aligned with your coursework and goals.
- Maximize Campus Space: We have limited space on our campus, so if you're choosing to work here, please dedicate your time to your course materials. This not only aids in your academic progression but also ensures that every student can make the most of our facilities.
- Mindful Social Behavior: We understand the need for breaks and social interactions. However, we encourage students to maintain an academic focus while on campus. If you choose to hang out socially, use your phone for extended periods, or engage in activities that disrupt others' learning experiences, you may be asked to leave.
- Movement around Salisbury: For our full-time students, please be aware that hanging out or roaming the hallways of Salisbury during regular class hours is not permitted. Additionally, the upstairs area at Salisbury is strictly out of bounds for students. We ask for your cooperation in respecting these boundaries.
Our Vision
Next Step envisions itself as not just an educational institution, but a vibrant community of learners deeply committed to virtues that go beyond the classroom. Here's a brief overview of the core values that make up the vision:
Acceptance- We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment where every student, parent, caregiver, and staff member feels accepted, irrespective of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. We believe that learning is most effective when everyone feels like they belong.
Flexibility- Understanding that each learner is unique, we aim to offer flexible learning and a range of teaching methodologies to cater to individual needs. Whether through elective courses, extracurricular activities, or personalized learning paths, flexibility is at the heart of our educational approach.
Individualization- Building on the concept of flexibility, we focus on personalized education. Our staff are committed to identifying each student’s strengths, and areas for growth, allowing for a more tailored educational experience while maintaining a high academic standard. This individual attention ensures that every student is equipped with the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally.
Respect- In our community, respect is mutual. Staff, students, caregivers, and parents are encouraged to show respect for each other's ideas, feelings, and contributions. We believe that open dialogue, grounded in respect, fosters a rich learning environment where complex issues can be discussed and dissected.
Responsibility- While our staff are committed to providing the best educational experience possible, we also encourage students, caregivers and parents to take responsibility for their learning journey. This includes active participation in school activities, regular communication with staff, and a commitment to personal and academic growth.
For parents, caregivers, and families, becoming a part of the Next Step community means joining a network committed to these virtues. Together, we work toward providing an educational experience that values the uniqueness of each student, respects the input of each community member, and prepares learners for a future full of possibilities.
Hours of Operation
Students, parents, and caregivers can access our campus locations during the following times:
Monday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.Tuesday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Thursday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Next Step Outreach
Email: nextstep@eips.ca
Website: eipsnextstep.ca
Phone: 7804641899
Twitter: @eipsnextstep