Home Based School

Believe it or not, there is an entire teacher’s convention devoted to Outreach Education. This year, it took place during our November break, but I was still able to attend. Here are a few of the things that I learned:

1. Outreach schools are not the same in each place. We are one of only a few divisions who have a junior high program that is attendance based. We are also lucky to have teachers who can teach all of the core subjects at the high school level and who work in two different campuses for one division.

2. Use of Artificial Intelligence is a growing concern around the province. Those who work in Outreach environments can see the benefits of AI, but they also recognize that there are going to be some challenges.

3. Outreach centres are grateful for the opportunities they provide to their students: more individually paced work, more opportunities to meet one on one, more chances to help a student cross the finish line.

This is a special place to work and to teach. It is a special place for your children to learn and grow.

Mr. Holbrow

Principal

December 2 - PD Day - No school for students

December 19 - HBS Special Event! Gingerbread & Log House Making

December 20 - Last day of school for 2024

January 6 - Welcome back! First day of school in 2025

January 13 - Final exams start

January 16 - HBS Special Event! Hot Chocolate & Board Games

January 29 - PD Day - No school for students

January 30 - Semester 2 begins!

February 6 & 7 - No school - ATA Teachers' Convention

February 17 - No school - Family Day!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our "Needle Felting" event! The students created some awesome lanscapes and they did such a great job!! See some of the pictures below!

Don't forget to sign up for our "December Special Event"...Put on your favourite festive hat- Santa, elf, reindeer, or anything jolly- because we are diving into a holiday workshop full of creativity and cheer! You will be busy like Santa's elves, building your own gingerbread house and decorating an ornament to make your tree extra special.

Festive Fun
Date: Thursday, December 19

Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
MAX 20 participants - Sign Up Required

Do you or someone you know need a helping hand from the elves this holiday season? With the help of community donations, Christmas Elves and Santa’s Helpers provide food and toys to people in need.

We will be utilizing our Moodle Capacity this year. Students and parents are required to watch the Moodle Tutorial video below. Please familiarize yourself with the video. The Moodle Site can only be access with the student's Blackgold account. It is the same log-in credentials that you use to check your Blackgold email (same username and password). You can access all of your materials digitally, watch video tutorials, and scan in your work all by using Moodle.

Website https://moodle.blackgold.ca/ . We will also be requesting that work submitted digitally (scanned or pdfs) be uploaded through the Moodle dropboxes. Instructions are found in each

Moodle course. Please don’t hesitate to ask for help!

How to use Moodle to Submit your Assignments.

First, download a free version of Adobe Scan free from the App Store.

Watch a quick tutorial here: Adobe Scan Tutorial

Then, go to your Black Gold Moodle at: https://moodle.blackgold.ca/

Log in with your BGSD login and password.

Here is a quick tutorial to watch: Moodle Video

Remember, we have already added you to your classes. If you are missing a class, email Mrs. Melnyk at : tracy.melnyk@gshare.blackgold.ca

You will be looking for the “Dropboxes” in the menu. That is where you will upload your assignments.

For example, “Assignment 1A” goes in the “Assignment 1A Dropbox”.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE UPLOADING THE CORRECT ASSIGNMENT IN THE CORRECT DROPBOX

Please note Mrs. Melnyk will enroll you in the courses - you are NOT required to self enroll - ignore that part in the video.

Happy December! Can you believe how fast the first part of the school year has flown by? I hope things are well and the children are enjoying their learning from home choice in education!

It is that time of year again when we must schedule our mid-point meeting In this meeting we get to review your program plans... take a look at what has worked and maybe what we can change. I am booking for December & January. I have a few options available, and it is first come, first served :) These meetings can take place virtually, via Google Meet, or in person here at our Beaumont office. In your reply, please specify if you would like virtual or in person and what date and time.

Here is what is currently available in December & January:

1. Mondays between 10-2pm
2. Tuesdays between 9-11am
3. Wednesdays between 10-11 am
4. Thursdays between 2-3pm
5. Fridays 9am-11am & 2pm-3pm

What to bring:

• Samples of the AWESOME stuff have been doing
• A project they are proud of (a story he wrote, a science experiment etc...)
• Anything else you would like to show off!
• Please send samples of student work (via photo) so I can upload to your file.

Looking forward to chatting with you soon.

Email Tracy Melnyk to book your appointment now: tracy.melnyk@gshare.blackgold.ca

Are you enrolled in the Parent Directed Home Education Program with us? We have included an easy checklist for your Home Education Reimbursements. The PDF below is attached. The reimbursements are for this school year only. Receipts must be dated for August 2024 - May 2025. Deadline to submit reimbursements June 1, 2025. For all other information, check out our website here: https://hbs.blackgold.ca/parents/standards-for-home-education-reimbursement/

1. Maintain a good sleep schedule

Surprise, surprise – sleep is important! The body’s production of melatonin – a hormone that helps us prepare for sleep – is suppressed by sunlight. But during the winter, when it gets dark earlier and the morning light isn’t as bright, our melatonin levels are thrown off. Our bodies want to go to sleep earlier, and it’s harder to wake up. Resisting the temptation to alter your sleep in the winter is key. Avoid bright lights at night (*cough* cellphones *cough*), don’t hit “snooze”, and open a window when you wake up to let the sunlight in.

2. Get fresh air

Going outside can seem counter-intuitive (and much less appealing) when the temperature is below freezing. However, spending time outdoors is just as important in the winter as it is in the warmer months. Bonus: getting fresh air during the day will increase your melatonin levels and help you sleep better…it’s all connected!

3. Enjoy some good comfort drinks

Is there anything more comforting than curling up with a warm beverage in hand when it’s cold outside? While I wouldn’t necessarily suggest making a Starbucks run every day (especially on a student budget!), it’s important to treat yourself to a good comfort drink every now and then. Personally, I enjoy having a mug of tea every night before bed. When it’s been a long day, comfort foods like soup and lasagna are also great. And of course, remember to stay hydrated – carrying a reusable water bottle is an easy way to do this!

4. Exercise regularly

It’s hard to make a list of self-care tips without exercise being one of them, because it is just so integral to overall well-being. This time of year, excuses are easy to make: does the phrase “It’s too cold outside to be active” sound familiar to you? The good news is that there are plenty of ways to be active indoors, and it doesn’t need to take up a lot of your time. Good exercise can be as simple as following along to a yoga video on YouTube, or trying out the badminton courts at the rec centre with friends.

5. Make time for family and friends

Spend some good quality time with your loved ones, whether that means enjoying a good meal together, playing board games, blasting music, going shopping, etc. In this crazy world, sometimes we just need to take a step back and remember to focus on what’s most important: ourselves and our loved ones.

Good Morning from the Leduc Public Library,

I wanted to bring to your attention to a great mental health wellness program for teens and/or caregivers - Open Minds/Open Pages. Caregivers are welcome to attend on their own. All info and registration can be found at https://leduclibrary.libcal.com/event/3818808. It involves professional guest speakers and pizza.

Kickstand Connect is a virtual walk-in clinic for Albertans aged 11-25 (but they said their age range is soft; kids will not be denied if they are older or younger than that). Their services are provided by Alberta-certified providers, and there is NO COST associated with them.

There is NO limit to how many times a kid can access the walk-in services; they will be directed to further support if their needs are more intensive. This program has a TON of connections to other mental health support programs in the province.

https://mykickstand.ca/connect/

Hey kids - We are excited to invite your school district to participate in our 7th Annual Kids Poster Contest, which aims to raise awareness among students about the importance of electronic waste recycling and environmental sustainability.

Contest Overview:

• Theme: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"
• Submission Deadline: December 15, 2024
• How to Enter: Entries should be submitted online by teachers. Posters can be hand-drawn or created digitally. Click HERE to submit entries.
• Prizes: For every 1,000 entries, there will be 100 winners, and winning students will receive a refurbished laptop. Their artwork will also be featured on ERA’s website and social media.

Judging Process:

• Entries will be judged by public voting, with winning posters showcased on our social media platforms.

For updates, you can follow us on:

• LinkedIn: @ElectronicRecyclingAssociation
• Instagram: @ElectronicRecyclingAssociation
• Facebook: @Electronic.Recycling.Association
• Twitter: @DonateRecycleIT

Beaumont Library Calendar - Art Escapes, Book Clubs, Chess, Teen Resume Help

Beaumont Public Library Scavenger Hunt!

Loaner BSRC Family Membership - Want to borrow a family membership for a week? Contact the HBS!

CARC Virtual Webinars (Link) - Free & online!

Leduc City Guide

Leduc Fieldhouse Schedule

Leduc County Calendar - Family Paint Nights, PD Day Hangouts, Family Fun Sports Days, Grief Support
Leduc Library Calendar

Telus World of Science Edmonton - https://telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca/

Royal Tyrrell Museum - link for more info

The October 30, 2024 Board Highlights are attached and have been posted to our website at: News. They are also posted to our Board Highlights website section.

The Board Highlights are a summary of our Board of Trustee meetings to communicate pertinent information to our staff, school councils, parents, students and stakeholders. To be environmentally friendly, paper copies are not provided to the schools and School Council Chairs. The minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees are also posted to our Division website.

If you cannot access the Board Highlights from the links above, please view them from our website as follows:

• www.blackgold.ca
• News
• Board Highlights - October 30, 2024

• www.blackgold.ca
• Board
  
• Board Highlights
  
• Board Highlights - October 30, 2024 & School News

School phone: 780-929-5784

Principal - Mr. David Holbrow - David.Holbrow@gshare.blackgold.ca

Coordinator - Mrs. Tracy Melnyk - tracy.melnyk@gshare.blackgold.ca

Secretary - Mrs. Jennifer Hay - jennifer.hay@gshare.blackgold.ca

Grades 1-6 & Personalized - Mrs. Marla Kniesel - marla.kniesel@gshare.blackgold.ca

Grades 7-9 - Mrs. Kristen Gilchrist - kristen.gilchrist@gshare.blackgold.ca

Curriculum Developer - Mrs. Najibe Kirameddine najibe.kirameddine@gshare.blackgold.ca

Black Gold is a leading school division in creating innovative programming to inspire and create success for students. Black Gold Home-Based School is committed to providing flexible learning options so every student can achieve. Home-Based education choices work in cooperation with students, parents and Black Gold Schools to ensure quality program planning and transition. Home-Based School provides opportunities for Parent-Directed or Teacher-Directed programs and is respectful of parent choice and collaboration. We believe to achieve their full potential, children must be the center of all decisions related to learning and provide course work online or in print in a variety of environments. Home-Based education allows for a personalized learning opportunity for students who require flexibility.