Eagle's Eye

I've been out of high school for 11 years…. Yeah it's crazy I was born in the late 1900's. Graduated from SCA in 2013 and went straight into university where I studied biology. I chose this degree because I liked bio and was decently smart, so I figured I could become a doctor which would make me cool and a lot of money.

In my second year of my biology degree I took my first and thankfully my last, math course. Calculus… the soul killer (Sorry math teachers it's true). My prof was called Dr. Remi and he was a gem. He spoke with a weird old English accent, had a two foot long beard and always wore vests. Picture Gimli from Lord of the Rings if he was raised in a library.

I wrote my last math exam in April of 2015. That was 10 years ago and let me tell you a secret, I still have math nightmares. I occasionally have dreams where I am back in school and I discover that I have a math test the next day. But not only am I finding out that I have a math test, I am also learning for the first time that I am in a math course at all. In this ridiculous dream I am then sent into a spiral trying to figure out how I am going to learn an entire math course in one night.

Now there is a good chance that as you are doing this devo in class, that you have a test today, tomorrow or the next day. There are probably even some of you who feel the same way I did in my dream and you have to learn the whole course in 24 hours if you want to pass.

There is so much anxiety around tests and grades at this time of year. I am sure for a lot of you, this is one of the top things that you think about. Worrying about grades steals from your joy, your relationships, your sleep, your weekends and even your relationship with God.

One line from Jesus that I have found to be very helpful when I found myself in deep worry is Matt 6:27

"Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

Jesus is not only asking a question here but he is putting our worries in perspective. Does the obsession with your grades really benefit you? aIs the school anxiety that is keeping you awake and affecting your relationships really add any value to your life?

Jesus is reminding us here that he is the one who is in control of our lives. He has given you purpose, hope, and a future. In moments of worry, I find myself listening to these words of Jesus and I ask him to put my worries in perspective. It is good that you are worried about school. It means you care! But in moments where the worry gets overwhelming and is not beneficial, ask the Lord who created you to remind you of His plan and power.

God cares about your grades, he cares about your future, but above that, He cares that you would know how deeply you are loved. Your grades could never change that. Worrying about your math test won't add any hours to your life.

Application: Take a few minutes now, in the whirlwind of exams and stress that you have been facing to PAUSE. Stop the clock, put aside the worries and just ask God to remind you of His love. Do this in your own way and in your own prayers.

Access the SCS student life handbook: https://www.scasecondary.ca/students/scs-student-life-handbook

Dear SCA Secondary school families,

Under Alberta Education’s School Fee Regulation, schools must consult with parents prior to setting school fees for the upcoming school year.

Our next school council meeting will be taking place on January 20, 2025, at 7:00p.m. During that time, I’ll be sharing information about our current fee structure, posing specific questions about priorities, and asking you to provide your feedback as we plan for the 2025-26 school year. While many of these activities and services enhance students’ educational experience, we want to ensure these fees aren’t cost prohibitive for families.

Specifically, we will be asking for input on the following:

· Optional courses and associated fees

· Field trips and associated fees

· Extracurricular activities

· Non-curricular travel (for example, Leadership 9 and band trips)

· Non-curricular goods and services (for example, student union and yearbooks)

I understand not all families will be available to attend the meeting but it’s still important we get as much input from the school community as possible. Following the meeting, materials will be shared on the SCA Secondary website for your review, and a survey form provided so you can submit a written response.

School administration will use feedback provided to help determine fees for 2025-26, which will then be shared at the March school council meeting, posted to our website and shared via link through email.

I look forward to hearing from you on January 20.

Sincerely,

Matthew Spronk,

Principal

The January exam schedule has been posted to the school calendar! If there are any questions please call the office 780-464-7127 or email general.scs@eips.ca

*Please note that specific exam start times have been posted to our school calendar.

Exam sittings for junior high students begin at 8:45 a.m. (like every school day) and proceed until 11:45 a.m. Jr. High Students are required to stay in their exam room until 11:45 am for all exams (but have access to additional time for certain exams). Students cannot be excused from school until that time (except for emergencies). During exam week, afternoon classes continue for junior high students according to their regular schedule. These times are utilized for studying or other learning opportunities. During exam week, high school students can arrange help sessions with their teachers via email.

Let's bless our students with muffins during exam week! If you are able to help by contributing 2 - 4 dozen NUT FREE muffins (homemade or bought), please sign up below. To help with the distribution of muffins, if possible, please package each muffin in a clear bag or clear packaging - thank you!

PLEASE BRING MUFFINS TO THE OFFICE BY January 20th at 3:00 p.m , thank you!

We are also looking for VOLUNTEERS to help on to organize muffins as well as any parents available to cheer our students on and serve muffins as they arrive at school the morning of January 21! Parents in Prayer is also an opportunity for you to come and pray for our students throughout the day as they write their exams - your prayers go a long way. Please be sure to check in with the office when you arrive at the school to serve in any or all of the above serving opportunities.

Your blessing the students in this way goes a long way, THANK YOU!

Dear Parents and Students,

This is a friendly reminder to everyone that all textbooks are due back to the school by January 28th, 2025, at the very latest.

We kindly ask that textbooks be returned on the day of the student’s final exam to help streamline the process. Returning textbooks on time is essential to ensure they are available for the next group of students who will need them.

Please note that any textbook not returned by February 11th, 2025, will result in a non-refundable fine being applied to the student’s PowerSchool account. This policy helps us maintain and replace our resources as needed, ensuring every student has access to quality materials.

If you have any questions or concerns about the return process or if there are extenuating circumstances, please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Plooy at Meghan.BeslerPlooy@eips.ca.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for supporting our efforts to keep our resources in excellent condition for everyone.

With appreciation,

Mrs. Plooy

January 30th is the first day of Semester 2!

Deadline to submit requests for Semester 2 schedule changes is Monday, January 20th, 2025 (4pm).

Junior High: All Gr. 7-9 option change requests must be requested via email by parents to Mr. Winkel.

Senior High: All Gr. 10-12 course change requests must be made using the Semester 2 course change request form.

Semester 2 Timetable

Thank you kindly!

The Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) returning student registration process for 2025-26 takes place Feb. 10-24, 2025. Through the online form, all families will confirm the school and program their child will attend next year or advise the Division if they aren’t returning. For students who want to attend a non-designated school next year, these requests must be submitted through the returning student registration process—acceptance is based on available space.

On February 10, the parent/guardian on file in PowerSchool identified as the Permission Click contact for each pre-kindergarten to Grade 11 student will receive an email through Permission Click with a link to the form. If your family hasn’t received any Permission Click forms this school year, contact the school office so we can investigate any technical issues before registration season.

Registration questions? Contact Mrs. Khajavi

1. Contact Mr. Rempel for a Monday or Thursday Lunch meeting

2. We encourage all RAP Prep students to sign up for the Youth Skills Network with AIT https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/engagement-events/youth/

Please let your teacher(s) or the office know if you are traveling outside of Canada and require access to your Brightspace. Regularly, Brightspace isn't accessible when you are outside of Canada, so we need to request access from EIPS for the duration of your travels.

On behalf of the Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary School Council, thank you for helping us recognize our amazing staff for the wonderful work they do.

If there is staff member you'd like to recognize, please fill out this Google form.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Do you know a person at school that is great and deserves to be recognized? Nominate them for a 10/10! We want to hear all the good things that are happening around our school.

All these awesome stories will be shared on The Board and some may win a free meal at the Eagle's Nest!

To help students and their families make informed decisions about next school year, senior high schools across the Division will host open houses throughout the upcoming registration season to share information about specific courses, programming and extracurricular opportunities available.

Plan to attend one or more of the open houses near you.

· Ardrossan Junior Senior High – February 10 at 6-7 p.m.

· Bev Facey Community High – February 11 at 6-8 p.m.

· Fort Saskatchewan High – February 11 at 5-7 p.m.

· Lamont High – February 12 at 6-7 p.m.

· Next Step Fort Saskatchewan – January 15 at 6-7:30 p.m.

· Next Step Sherwood Park – January 22 at 6-7:30 p.m.

· Next Step Vegreville – February 13 at 6-7:30 p.m.

· Salisbury Composite High – February 12 at 6-8 p.m.

· Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary – January 20 at 6-7 p.m.

· Vegreville Composite High – February 13 at 6-7:30 p.m.

For those who were unable to attend the Division High School Information Session on January 13, a copy of the presentation and recording of the information will be available on eips.ca later in January.

Video surveillance at schools and on buses

Did you know each EIPS bus is equipped with video surveillance, and many school sites have video monitoring equipment?

Video surveillance and equipment help:

· ensure the safety of all students, staff, drivers and property; and

· discourage destructive acts.

As needed, EIPS school administration and Student Transportation staff review video recordings, in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. The recordings assist schools and the Division with monitoring student and driver conduct and may be used as evidence in a disciplinary matter.

For more information about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, contact the EIPS FOIP Co-ordinator at 780-464-3477

Through Dual Credit opportunities, students can earn college/university credits from a Post-Secondary institution and high school credits in select programs. These opportunities are in partnership with Elk Island Public Schools Division, Lakeland College, Portage College, Norquest College, Olds College, and Alberta Education.

Dual credit helps students to:

- get started on a Post-Secondary education while still in high school
- save money on Post-Secondary tuition costs (through the Dual Credit Framework, high school students do not pay post-secondary tuition fees (other than the cost of textbooks)
- potentially earn credits in high school and a Post-Secondary Institution at the same time
gain experience to succeed academically in a Post-Secondary environment

Students will be responsible for purchasing all textbooks and required resources materials (ie: robotics kit). These costs are set by the Post-Secondary Institution and indicated in the course descriptions. Information about purchasing the required materials will be provided to students once they have been accepted into the course.

Note: due to the independent nature of dual credit programming, students should be self-directed learners.

For more information about dual credit, reach out to Mrs. Matheson (dion.matheson@eips.ca)

If your child misses just two days a month for any reason for ten of their school years, they’ll have missed the equivalent of one entire year of school. Students who frequently miss school, even as early as kindergarten, are also more likely to have di­fficulty in school, at post-secondary and in their career. As every family has unique circumstances, EIPS uses a multi-tiered approach to re-engage students with chronic absenteeism. In addition, the Division promotes strategies to support and encourage regular attendance for all students. If you’re concerned about consistent student attendance for your child or youth, contact the school for support. An informative video is also available.

Has your contact information recently changed?

Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed since the start of the year? Strathcona Christian Secondary School encourages families to review the information the Division has on file to ensure it’s up to date. Using the Student Information Update available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, families can review the current information on file for each student—including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts, medical details and other related information—and submit any updates needed.

Reviewing and updating the form ensures the school and Division have the most up-to-date information regarding your child. Updates completed by December 10 are especially helpful as the Division prepares for 2025-26 registration processes beginning in the new year.

NOTE: Only submit updates for the changes that have already taken place. If you’re moving later this school year, you’ll submit the necessary updates to your information through the Student Information Update after you’ve moved.

If you have questions about the form or any trouble with your Parent Portal account, contact the school office at 780-464-7127

Did you know that students at SCS have access to spiritual, academic and social-emotional support every day at school? Student Services is located on the second floor of the school in room 203. Mrs. Matheson, the school counsellor, and Campus Pastors Kiara, Jamie and Luke are available, and students are encouraged to pop in to see them. However, sometimes students may not feel comfortable popping by and would prefer to book an appointment. In order to make this process easier, SCS Student Services is launching their new Student Support Form. Students can scan this QR code or use the URL to open up a google form where they can request an appointment with someone from student services. It is important to note that the form is screened by the entire student services team (including Mrs. Meints) and the form is NOT a place to report an emergency as it does not get screened 24/7. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to anyone from student services!

Wes Hosford will be hosting a workshop on Digital Wellness on January 30th with the Strathcona Family Resource Network. Learn how to help your teen with the social and technological pressures they face in the world today. Together we will go through research-based ways we can support teens when they are feeling the pressure of their digital lives. Issues addressed include interacting with strangers online, understanding their digital identity, and healthy relationships.

The content of this workshop is geared for parents and caregivers with children between 9-14 years of age.

The presentation is from 6 to 7:30 pm at Wes Hosford, with an opportunity for Q & A from 7:30 to 8 pm.

For more Information email; FamilyResourceNetwork@strathcona.ca

NEW BEGINNING SEMESTER 2: All guys grade 7-12 are invited to join this weekly Bible Study!

Join us every Wednesday from 11:45-12:25 in the SPAC Legato (coffee shop) for a men’s Bible study led by grade 12 students and supported by our campus pastor team. This group is open to all guys, grades 7-12. Our hope and prayer with this group is that everyone, no matter where they are at on their faith journey, knows that they belong here, as we challenge, encourage, and pray with one another.

If you have any questions or want more information, reach out to Pastor Luke.

For this year's graduation ceremony, due to the size of the graduating class and seating available in the sanctuary, each graduate is entitled to a minimum of 8 guest tickets. Please fill out this form to indicate how many of these 8 tickets your graduate will be using (graduates do not need to count themselves in this amount). Depending on the number of guest tickets claimed, there is the possibility that grads will have access to more than the 8 minimum, so please indicate in the form how many additional tickets you would require if they become available. There is no cost for the tickets for the graduation ceremony.

Parents of 2025 Grads - If you haven’t already, please follow the 2025 Parent Grad Committee on one of our social media channels:

Facebook: SCA 2025 After Grad Party

Instagram: scagradparents2025

The Parent Grad Committee is getting ready to send out an information letter by email to 2025 grad parents.

Please help the committee connect with you, by sending your preferred email address to:

scagradparents2025@gmail.com

1. The Eagle's Nest is open! Each day, Miss Higgs will have a delicious meal ready for purchase. Meals are $6 each or you can purchase a 5-meal punch pass for $25. Cash or cards are accepted.

• Monday, January 20 (Day 2)

  • Loaded Nacho Plate

  Tuesday, January 21 (Day 1)

  • French Toast Feast

  Wednesday, January 22 (Day 2)

  • Grilled Cheese or Philly Cheesesteak with Soup

  Thursday, January 23 (Day )1

  • Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl or Butter Chicken w Naan Bread

  Friday, January 24 (Day 2)

  • Bacon Beast Burger and Fries

• January 20- Deadline for course change submission 4:00 PM
• January 20- Open House 6:00 PM
• January 20- School Council Meeting 6:00 PM
• January 29- PD Day no school
• January 30- Semester 2 Begins.
• February 5- Early Dismissal
• February 6-7- Teachers convention, NO SCHOOL
• February 10- School Council Meeting
• February 17- Family day, NO SCHOOL

NAIT Program Preview registration is now open! Get a deeper dive into their schools and programs, entrance requirements and student supports. Plus, discover how NAIT grads are prepared with real skills and relevant knowledge to hit the ground running in their careers.

To register, check out their website.

The student session is designed towards high school students interested in both the skilled trades/ technology and engineering. It will take place ON January 30th from 12:00-2:30

The public presentation is aimed towards adults, however if students are unable to attend the student session, parents could consider taking their student to this session.

SPAC Youth has weekly gatherings, and we would love to have you join:

Senior High (Grade 9-12)

Tuesday | 7pm

Junior High (Grade 7-8)

Wednesday | 7pm

We’d love to have you join

Follow us on Instagram - @spacyth for more details.

We hope to see you there.

Please remember that our building does not open for students before 8:20AM. Students who arrive earlier will need to wait outside until the doors open.

In the afternoon, we kindly ask that parents pick up their children before 3:35PM. After 3:35PM, students are kindly asked to wait outside for their transportation.