BFH Falcons' View

Dear Falcon students and families,

I hope you all had a great weekend and enjoyed some of the long overdue nice weather. This upcoming week will see many of our students completing their final assessments for the 2023-24 school year. I want to thank all of our students, parents, and staff for an amazing school year. Our students make me so proud and thankful to be associated with them. Bev Facey truly is an amazing school with so many fantastic community members and experiences.

The end of the school year unfortunately comes with some "goodbyes", and none are greater than the ones we will be saying to our graduates. It will definitely not be the same without all of them. For the past three years they have been fantastic leaders and beacons for all that is good and right about the Facey Way. This was the first graduating class that I was fortunate enough to be with for all three years of their High School experience, and I for one have been honored to work with them. On behalf of the staff, we would like to let them know we will miss them, and that we wish them all the good fortune and successes that are inevitably in their future.

On that final note, I hope you all have an amazing Sunday evening and a great upcoming summer break and, as always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.

Ken Wlos

Principal

Bev Facey Community High School

Students should take note:

• All students must have a picture ID with them (student ID, or Driver's License)
• Absolutely No Phones, No Smartwatches, No Earbuds, No Backpacks, No Bags, No Pencil Cases, No Jackets, or Hats allowed in the exams.
• All scheduled Final Exams and Diplomas begin at 9:00 a.m. (Doors open at 8:40 a.m., Instructions for each exam will begin at 8:55 a.m.)
• If a calculator is required for the Final Exam/Diploma, staff will be at the door to check that each calculator is reset.
• Once an exam begins, students must stay for one hour before they can leave.
• Once an exam begins, a student who arrives late must arrive before 10:00 a.m. in order to take the Exam/Diploma. (Students who are absent for their exam in the first 15 minutes will be given a courtesy call by our office staff).

Our amazing School Council is looking for parents to join their amazing team next year. Please attend the next meeting on September 17, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. if you are interested. If you cannot make the meeting but are interested, please contact us at the school office to be put in contact with our School Council chair. We hope to see many of our Grade 9 parents who will be joining the fold next year. Our school council is so important to what we do as a community and are vital in developing our school's mission, vision, and philosophy moving forward. We'd love to see you there!

Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, opportunities for growth and how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2023-24 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2024-27

School fees for the 2023-24 school year are posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. Throughout the year, fees are often added to cover the costs for various activities, such as field trips, extracurricular activities, and late, damaged or lost textbooks.

To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view fees and pay them online using a credit card. Make sure to monitor your child’s account on an ongoing basis.

For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit eips.ca/schools/fees. And, if you have questions, think there is an error or need help creating a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, contact your child’s school directly before the summer break.

NOTE: Pursuant to Board Policy 23: School Fees and Administrative Procedure 505: School and Administrative Fees, EIPS will forward any unpaid 2023-24 fee amounts to a collection agency. To prevent this from happening, remember to pay your fees before Aug. 31, 2024.

Planning to use Student Transportation in the 2024-25 school year? If so, make sure your child is registered so Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) can plan routes and send your child a bus pass before the first day of school.

All students who indicated needing transportation services through the returning student or new student registration processes are now registered. Those families have also received tentative route schedules and invoices—fees are due June 30, 2024.

For those students who didn’t indicate needing transportation services during the registration process and want to now register, simply fill out this registration form.

For more information about EIPS Student Transportation, visit www.eips.ca/transportation.

NOTE: Families can pay fees online using the PowerSchool Parent Portal. To pay in-person, visit the EIPS Student Transportation building during its office hours—Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on school days and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on non-school days.

Monday - June 24, 2024

• Chemistry 30 Diploma Exam - North Gym @ 9:00 a.m.

• Chemistry 20 - North Gym @ 9:00 a.m.

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Tuesday - June 25, 2024

• Physics 30 Diploma Exam - North Gym @ 9:00 a.m.
  
• Physics 20 Final Exam - North Gym @ 9:00 am.
  
• Science 20 Final Exam - North Gym @ 9:00 am.
  

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Wednesday - June 26, 2024

• Science 30 Exam - Library @ 9:00 a.m.
  

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Thursday - June 27, 2024

• Last Operational Day - No Classes or Students

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Unlocking Opportunities: The Benefits of AP Classes

College Preparedness: AP courses simulate college-level rigor, aiding in the development of vital academic skills and study habits necessary for success in higher education.

Dual Admission Advantage: Some post-secondary institutions consider either AP scores or high school grades for admission, offering students completing AP exams during high school an beneficial entry pathway.

University Credits: Excelling on AP exams can result in earning college credits, potentially reducing the number of courses required in college, thus saving time and money.

Diverse Student Population: AP courses are accessible to students with a strong work ethic.

Demonstrating Potential: AP courses provide opportunities for students to exhibit their capabilities and dedication, regardless of consistent high averages, showcasing readiness for college-level studies to prospective colleges and universities.

AP Capstone Program

The AP Capstone program, developed by the College Board, offers high school students an innovative, skills-based approach to education, focusing on college-level research, writing, and collaboration. This two-year program, consisting of AP Seminar and AP Research, is designed to equip students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that are essential for academic and professional success. BFCHS is one of only 60 schools in Canada to offer the AP Capstone program.

How can AP Seminar & AP Research help with your post-secondary application?

The University of Alberta recently announced that AP Research and AP Seminar can now be used as option A (Humanities) for both Augustana and the Faculty of Arts for Fall 2024.

AP Exam Results

Your 2024 AP Exam scores will be accessible beginning Monday, July 8th. Simply log into your College Board account to view your results.

Time to Reflect and Rejuvenate

As the summer holidays approach, it's a great time to relax, rejuvenate, and make the most of your well-deserved break. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your summer holidays:

• Set goals: Take some time to reflect on what you would like to achieve during the summer. It could be learning a new skill, reading a certain number of books, exploring a hobby, or even volunteering for a cause. Setting goals will give you a sense of purpose and direction for your time off.

• Explore new interests: Use the summer break as an opportunity to explore new interests or hobbies. Engage in activities that you haven't had time for during the school year, such as painting, photography, cooking, or learning to play a musical instrument. Exploring new interests can be both enjoyable and fulfilling.

• Stay active: Make sure to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Engage in outdoor activities like swimming, cycling, hiking, or playing sports with friends. Staying active not only benefits your physical health but also boosts your mood and overall well-being.

• Read for pleasure: Summer is an ideal time to indulge in reading for pleasure. Choose books that interest you, whether it's fiction, non-fiction, or any genre you prefer. Reading not only improves your knowledge and vocabulary but also helps stimulate your imagination and creativity.

• Connect with friends and family: Take advantage of the free time to strengthen your relationships with friends and family. Plan outings, have meaningful conversations, and create lasting memories. Building and maintaining healthy relationships is essential for your social and emotional well-being.

• Practice self-care: Use the summer holidays to prioritize self-care. Take care of your physical and mental well-being by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga. Take time to do activities that bring you joy and help you unwind.

• Learn something new: Explore online courses, workshops, or local community programs that can help you learn something new. It could be a language, coding, creative writing, or any subject that piques your interest. Lifelong learning is a valuable asset that can enrich your personal and academic journey

*Our Counselors would also like to draw your attention to the many Strathcona County Family Resources available within the community. Please check out the information and flyer below.**

Throughout the summer break, Bev Facey Community High School will be closed. We will reopen on August 20 at 8:00 a.m. If you have any school-related questions or concerns while the school is closed, contact EIPS Central Services—the office is open all summer to complete year-end activities and prepare for the 2024-25 school year.

"Welcome Back Blue & Gold, Time for our 2024-25 Story to be Told!" Orientation Days

Bev Facey will open up for returning students to pick up their timetable, pertinent grade level information, and get their lockers using the following schedule:

• Grade 12 - (Aug. 22) Welcome Back Blue & Gold - Time to Have your Gr. 12 Story Told!
• Grade 11 - (Aug. 23, Morning) Welcome Back Blue & Gold - Time to Have your Gr. 11 Story Told!
• Grade 10 - (Aug. 26, Afternoon) Welcome Back Blue & Gold - Time to Have your Gr. 10 Story Told!

Grade 10 Falcon Welcome - Morning of August 29, 2024

Students will return to school on August 29 with only the Grade 10s returning in the morning for a special Falcon Welcome, and the Grade 11s and 12s returning in the afternoon to join the Grade 10s in a shortened schedule that allows them to visit all four of their scheduled classes in the afternoon.

EIPS Central Office Summer Hours: June 28 to August 19, 2024

Open: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Phone: 780-464-3477

Address: 683 Wye Rd., Sherwood Park

Statutory Holidays

Closed - July 1 (Canada Day)

Closed - August 1 (Heritage Day)

NOTE: Student Transportation also remains open during the summer months—operating the same hours as EIPS Central Services.

Is your child graduating from or leaving EIPS at the end of the school year? If so, they must ensure any information they want to retain from their school cloud accounts is downloaded onto a personal device before leaving.

• Google account – Students must download any wanted content before August 1—download files either individually or in bulk using Google Takeout.
• Microsoft account – Students must download any wanted content from their OneDrive account before August 1.

After Aug. 1, 2024, EIPS will deactivate the account and delete all remaining files.

June 24 to 27, 2024- Diplomas & Final Exams Writing (refer to schedule)

June 27, 2024- Last operational day of the 2023-24 School year.

2024-25 School Year

August 20, 2024- Student Timetables will be available to all Bev Facey students via PowerSchool.

August 20, 2024- School Office opens up for the 2022-23 school year @ 8:00 a.m.

August 22, 2024- Welcome Back Blue & Gold - Time to Have Your Gr. 12 Story Told! (Orientation)

August 23, 2024- Welcome Back Blue & Gold - Time to Have Your Gr. 11 Story Told! (Orientation)

August 26, 2024-Welcome Back Blue & Gold - Time to Have Your Gr. 10 Story Told! (Orientation)