NSO News & Information

We hope everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving long weekend! This time of year, reminds us of the importance of gratitude, and we want to express our thanks for the continued support and dedication of our families, students, and staff. As we return to our routine, as of October 15 we are at instructional day #30 of 84 or 36% of the way through Semester 1.

Every small step counts, and our progress together is a testament to our shared commitment to growth. Let’s continue to encourage and uplift one another as we move forward, keeping in mind that "small steps are still progress." We are grateful for all of you as we journey through this school year together.

High School students are reminded they need to be checking in with their teachers every week. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or feedback as we move forward together. Thank you for your continued partnership and for trusting us with your child’s education.

Principal Mr. B. Spady, Assistant Principal's Mrs. K. Porter & Mrs. D. Bennett

Parent Teacher Student Conferences are scheduled for October 16 & 17. You will need to sign up in advance via the booking tab on the eipsnextstep.ca website or Conference Sign Up link.

• Fort Saskatchewan (FSO) -join us Wednesday, October 16 from 5-7:30 p.m. in-person, Google Meet or by phone to speak with teachers.
• Sherwood Park (SPO) or Vegreville (VGO) -join us Thursday, October 17 from 5-7:30 p.m. in-person, Google Meet or by phone to speak with teachers.

Our second round of Conferences are scheduled for November 26 & 27. Conversations regarding student support, academic progress or required check ins can happens at any time. Please feel free to reach out to staff throughout the semester should questions or concerns arise.

Our first virtual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22 at 5 p.m.. We hope you can join us! Meeting starts at 5 p.m. Regular attendance is not required. Please check out our school calendar and NSO News & Information for scheduled School Advisory Council Meetings. Tentative agenda will be added below. Virtual link: JOIN US

Future dates: November 19, January 28, March 11, April 29

Kickstand Connect is a virtual walk-in clinic exclusive for young Albertans aged 12 to 25. Parental consent is not required for ages 14 and up. Free mental health and substance use counselling, peer support, employment services and register for free workshops and support groups!

https://mykickstand.ca/

Oct 15 Out of Province Post-Secondary Fair 5-7:00 p.m. @Salisbury

Oct 16 Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:30pm (FSO)

Oct 17 Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:30pm (SPO & VGO)

Oct 18-19 Lakeland College Open House

Oct 19 University of Alberta Open House

Oct 19 The King's University Open House

Oct 22 Virtual School Advisory Council 5pm JOIN US

Oct 26 NAIT Open House Info

Oct 26 Concordia University Open House

Oct 26 Red Deer Polytechnic Open House

Oct 28 ELA 30-1/2 Diploma Part A (Quarter 1 students)

Oct 30 Social 30-1/2 Diploma Part A (Quarter 1 students)

Oct 31 Math 30-1/2 Diploma (Quarter 1 students)

Nov 1 Diwali

Nov 2 MacEwan Open House

Nov 4 ELA 30-1/2 Diploma Part B (Quarter 1 students)

Nov 5 Social 30-1/2 Diploma Part B (Quarter 1 students)

Nov 5 Skills in the Heartland Field Trip & EIPS Your Future Career & Post Secondary Fair

Nov 6 Take Our Kid to Work Day (grade 9) & early dismissal 2:10 p.m.

Nov 6 Physics 30 & Biology 30 Diploma (Quarter 1 students)

Nov 7 Chemistry 30 & Science 30 Diploma (Quarter 1 students)

Nov 8 Remembrance services & end of Term 1

Nov 9-17 November break- no school

Nov 18 Classes resume & Term 2 starts

Our Student Success team at Next Step is designed to maximize school engagement, increase academic success and enhance social, emotional and physical well-being for students.

Guidance Counselor (all students) Elli.Hansen@eips.ca email and direct line 7804102952 (educational support and accommodations)

Sherwood Park: Success Coach for grade 8-11 Jennifer.Martinez@eips.ca email and direct line 7804102948 (student/family strategies & community connections) & Success Coach for grade 12 & R12 Sara.Wood@eips.ca email and direct line 7804102942 (student/family strategies & community connections)

Fort Saskatchewan: Success Coach for grade 8-12 Janet.Clarkson@eips.ca email and direct line 7804103981 (student/family strategies & community connections)

Vegreville: Family School Liaison Worker Carlin.Adams@eips.ca email and direct line 7804103989 (student/family strategies & community connections)

Save the Date for Open House 2024!

Come explore campus and discover everything the U of A has to offer.

Date: Saturday, October 19 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Location: The Butterdome (Free onsite parking available.)

https://www.ualberta.ca/en/admissions/events/open-house/index.html

October 19, 2024 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

We are thrilled to welcome everyone back to campus on Oct 18 and 19 for Open House 2024.

Our two-day event is jam-packed with tours and interactive activities where you can learn about Lakeland and get your questions answered. Activities start at 9 am and run until 3 pm both days on both our Lloydminster and Vermilion campuses.

Among the activities:

• apply for free - available for in-person visitors and for the next academic year. Not available for apprenticeship programs.
• talk with current students, instructors and academic advisors
• tour one or both campuses and see residences, labs, and unique student-led learning spaces
• earn Lakeland swag and prizes

https://www.lakelandcollege.ca/future-students/open-house.aspx

Open House is a chance to join us on campus to experience the hands-on, technology-based learning environment that prepares NAIT students for meaningful careers. NAIT Open House 2024 is on Saturday, October 26th. We hope to see you there to learn about all of our programs, tour our main campus and connect with instructors and advisors.

In the meantime, please feel free to attend one of our info sessions or lab tours, or take our virtual campus tour.

Join us October 26, 2024

We’re excited to welcome you to our campus where you’ll meet current students, staff, and faculty and find out what makes Concordia University of Edmonton great!

In-Person event: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• 7128 Ada Blvd. Edmonton AB. Hole Academic Centre Entrance
• Parking is free on campus!
• Check in to be entered in to win a tuition credit prize

Saturday, Oct 26 | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the RDP Main Campus. Red Deer Polytechnic offers programs that will challenge, inspire and prepare you for your future. Join us on October 26 to learn more about our programs and discover the wide array of available student services. If you're graduating high school or looking at different career options, you won't want to miss this event!

Speak to the experts - Come equipped with questions to interact with faculty representing all programs offered at RDP

Attend a demonstration - Check out booths, classrooms and labs offering demonstrations of what you can learn and do to make the most of your talents at RDP

Learn about services - Interact with staff to learn more about the services RDP offers to students including, health and wellness, food services, bookstore, funding, awards and even employment opportunities with RDP

Apply to attend for free during the event

Is MacEwan the right place for you? Open House is your chance to find out. Come and explore our degree, diploma and certificate programs, tour campus and ask questions about academics, campus life, career paths and more.

Did you miss Open House?

Don’t worry—there are still plenty of ways to connect with us and visit our campus:

• Reach out to our Academic Advising Centre
• Take a virtual campus tour
• Connect with us on social media #macewanu

See you on Saturday, November 2! https://www.macewan.ca/future-students/open-house/

At Next Step, we believe that consistent engagement in learning is key to academic success. Students who do not actively participate in their course for a period of 30 days will be withdrawn from the course. Should a student wish to reengage, they will be required to meet with our Student Success team to discuss their commitment and develop a plan to ensure future success. As we say at Next Step Outreach, "small steps are still progress," and we are here to support every step of your journey. This policy ensures students remain committed to their learning, while also providing them with the necessary support to reengage effectively.

Appropriate use of personal communication devices contributes to the safety and security of students and staff, minimizes risk to personal wellbeing and disruption to instruction, and protects personal privacy and academic integrity. As such, personal devices are expected to be out of sight during instructional time.

Students may not access a PCD unless given permission by the teacher for a specific educational task or purpose. PCDs shall not be on the student unless the use is for: a diagnosed medical condition; or an identified inclusive-educational need.

From a security perspective, the most important function of an exterior door is for protection from the elements and to control entry for building security. All exterior doors will be locked, and opened only for student and visitor access during designated school entry times and special events. Students who arrive when doors are locked, as well as parents/caregivers and visitors, will be welcomed into the office after ringing the doorbell/video-monitored intercom entry system. All visitors must sign in and out of the school and follow the visitor protocol.

The Next Step Entrance is unlocked according to the schedule below.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

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.

The Division, and Next Step are committed to ensuring all members of the school community are provided with welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging. EIPS encourages all students, staff and families to review the procedures to understand and practice the conduct expected throughout the Division.

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