NSO Weekly News

We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Monday is Instructional day #17 of 85 or 20% of the way through semester 1, for non-diploma courses. We hope you can join us for School Advisory Council this week. 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

As a mark of the importance of skilled trades in our province, Minister Nicolaides declared the fourth Monday in every September, as Apprenticeship Day. This annual celebration will underscore the role of tradespeople as “the backbone of Alberta's economy.” For more information on Apprenticeship and Industry training check out https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/

We would like to acknowledge the following Next Step students for their hard work and dedication to the trades!

Fort Saskatchewan campus- Tristan Anderson, Breanna Eleniak, Callum Ewanchuk & Kyler Johnson

Sherwood Park campus- Klara Pendak

Vegreville campus- Alexander Farkas & Kade Dickenson

Our first hybrid meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26 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

Attached is the Next Step Every Child Matters design. This design was specifically created for Next Step Orange Shirt Day by Haida Nation artist Michael Bellis. His father is a Residential School survivor from British Columbia. Michael volunteered to create the artwork and share his story as we honour the survivors of the residential school system. In the newsletter background is a Haida carving on display at SPO that Mike created last year.

In Haida tradition the eagle symbolizes strength, focus and is the most powerful of all birds. The eagle feather are to bring good luck and honour when gifted and worn. The Every Child Matters artwork titled ‘Resilience’ is a deconstructed Haida formline design with a mother eagle preserving its juvenile eagle. For more Haida artwork from Michael please visit https://michaelbellis.com/

September 25 Provincial Apprenticeship Day

September 26 School Advisory Council 6pm (Virtual & in-person) Join meeting HERE

September 29 Orange Shirt Day

September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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)

October 19 Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:30pm (SPO)

October 24 School Advisory Council 6pm

October 30 ELA 30-1/2 Diploma Part A

October 31 Social 30-1/2 Diploma Part A

October 31 Halloween

November 1 Skills Canada Alberta Try-A-Trade & Take Our Kids to Work Day

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

Welcome to the new school year! We would like to invite you and your family to our first of 3 Indigenous Family Gatherings for our EIPS Fort Saskatchewan Schools this year.

When: September 26, 6:00-7:00pm

Where: Turner Park Gazebo (near the campground and ball diamond)

Who: EIPS Fort Saskatchewan & Sherwood Park School’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Families.

Please join us for an hour of connection and snacks! Snacks will be provided, but please feel free to bring a lawn chair!

Alberta Health Services hosts a variety of virtual caregiver information sessions throughout the year focused on ways to support students’ mental health. The sessions are free and geared toward parents, caregivers, teachers and community members who want to learn more about challenges impacting children and adolescents. Session topics include anxiety, ADHD, depression, self-harm, technology, teens and teaching leadership skills, communication, resiliency and more. Visit Caregiver Education to see the monthly caregiver sessions.

The health and safety of staff, students and visitors is a top priority. Continue to reinforce the following hygiene habits to protect staff and students 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.

Sorry that we missed you seeing you. Need help navigating academic support, career guidance, personal matters, mental health supports or other assistance? Our Guidance Counsellor and Success Coach are available and will follow up.

Please fill out the short form via the QR code attached and Elli or Aley will be in touch soon!

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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.

Students, parents, and caregivers can access our campus locations during the following times:

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.

Email: nextstep@eips.ca
Website: eipsnextstep.ca
Phone: 7804641899
Twitter: @eipsnextstep