We acknowledge that Battle River School Division is located on Treaty 6 territory, and we respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community. We acknowledge that the connections to the land and each other are vital to the work we do.

Mrs. Zenovia Lazaruik, Principal

Mrs. Jennifer Erick, Assistant Principal

Mr. Mark Chanasyk, Assistant Principal

Happy New Year. WELCOME BACK!

As we welcome the newest year, it reminds us of the importance of being positive and assuming the best intent in our daily interactions with others. Phil Boyte's "Assume the Best Intent" is a great reminder that life is complex, and every person involved in the education system plays a vital role in ensuring students' success.

Each individual, be it a student, parent, teacher, support staff, bus driver, administrative assistant, learning commons facilitator, or janitorial staff, contributes in a unique way to the education system's growth and development. Therefore, it is essential to remember that everyone is doing their best to make a difference in students' lives.

As exam week approaches, to help students cope with the pressure of exams, the Student Leading Students group will be providing some snacks and drinks, as well as a lending library of fidgets and some calming items or activities for exam writers. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to check for and access these items in the Learning Commons on exam days. Additionally, we advise students to keep the exam schedule handy to plan their study and leisure time accordingly. We recommend setting aside uninterrupted study time with short breaks in-between, like studying for an hour and taking a 15-minute break. We also encourage students to get at least eight hours of sleep, stay physically active by doing activities like walking, skating, shooting hoops, or yoga, eat healthy, and stay hydrated.

Finally, it's crucial to have a positive mindset and remind yourself that you have done your best to prepare for the exams. We expect nothing more than your best effort. So, stay confident and do your best. Good luck!

January 4: School Resumes

January 10: Jr. High BBall vs. Sedgewick

January 11: Early Dismissal

January 17: Jr. High BBall @ Daysland

January 17: Pizza Hot Lunch

January 19: Last Day of Classes for Grades 10-12

January 23: Last Day of Classes for Grade 9

January 31: Staff Collaboration Day (No School For Students)

Students not continuing their placement for Semester 2 must get a final evaluation done to get their credits and hours from Semester 1. Timesheets must also be handed in - no time sheets, no eval, no credits!

For students who are planning or are considering work experience or RAP for Semester 2.

If students did work experience in semester 1:

1. They need to check with their supervisor if they can continue with that placement.

2. They also need to check if the times that they are available are different and communicate that to their supervisor.

If students did not do work experience in semester 1:

1. They need to find a placement for their work experience. It is best if the student/family finds this placement as it is usually a better fit and is more likely to be something that the student is interested in.

2. If they can not find a placement, they need to speak to Mr. Chanasyk ASAP to discuss placements.

3. They should start the paper work ASAP so that they are ready to get hours as soon as the new semester starts. There are many consent forms and learning plans that need to be completed and an inspection of the worksite may also need to be completed before the student can collect hours.

Confused by what grade is the real grade when you get a notification that an assessment has been entered? For semestered courses, make sure to follow the S1 grade. For year long courses, look at the Y1 grade. These grades are cumulative, so it is the whole semester or whole year combined. The Q1 or T1 grades are only what has been assessed in that period of time. We know it’s confusing! Unfortunately, families aren’t able to see all of the calculations that go into a grade (categories, weightings, etc.), so if you have a question, reach out to your teachers!

Tofield School hosted a Jr. High Basketball Tournament on December 9.

Congratulations to our Sr. Boys Basketball team who took home silver at the Ponoka Tournament on December 15-16.

Just a reminder that you can support Tofield School's athletics program throughout the 2023-2024 school year by donating bottles! See below for more information!

After an introductory module on Visual Composition, we completed a series of assignments exploring concepts like Exposure and Digital Processing. Our assignments allowed us to explore some of the advanced features of our phones' cameras such as ISO (light sensitivity) and shutter speed. We also learned about the effects of different sized lenses on our photos and experimented with cropping and filters. Best of all, we worked through the assignments at our own pace and collaborated with our peers in a relaxed classroom environment.

Tofield School strives to recognize and celebrate individuals who contribute and give back, who are unafraid to try new things, and who demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning. Mary Taylor is one such individual. She displays kindness, thoughtfulness and is a great lady.

Mary believes in the importance of education. Her husband was a valued teacher in Beaver County schools for 25 years. To celebrate his contributions to and belief in higher education, the Ronald K. Taylor Scholarship was founded in 2009 in his memory. The intention of the scholarship was to support students in their post-secondary pursuits who valued personal growth, supporting others, believed in active citizenship and demonstrated a financial need. Ronald K. Taylor awarded 19 scholarships to deserving Grade 12 students from 2009 to 2019. In some years, two scholarships were awarded.

Mary is generous. She recently made a very sizable donation to the Tofield School Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Program, organized and run by Mrs. Kropielnicki, requires the support of grants and donations in order to be successful. Thanks to Mary Taylor’s generosity, students at TFS are able to enjoy free breakfast items, and we are grateful.

Mary is a lifelong learner. Currently Mary is learning to play the guitar and recently showcased her talents in front of an audience. Even though she is still honing her skills and is still learning, Mary showed bravery and courage in getting up in front of people. She showed that anyone can learn new skills and pursue their passions, at any age.

Mary Taylor is committed to the well being of her community. She models dedication and commitment to lifelong learning, supporting her community and helping others, and she is not afraid to learn and try new things. Tofield School celebrates and appreciates Mary Taylor and all she does for TFS and the Tofield community. Thank you Mary!

Playing Monopoly during Cooperative Games.

Knowledge Keeper, Ramona Washburn, helped students make ribbon skirts in December!

Corey Potts taught some of our students about drum making, speaking to the importance of drums to the First Nations culture.

Mrs. Kropielnicki's Grade 5B Art class created some exceptional cards using pointillism for the Military troops that are unable to be at home for Christmas. We hope this will brighten their spirits!

6C and 6N created beautiful Christmas paintings in December!

Grade 8 Leadership and TFS students helped out this Christmas by donating needed items for Christmas hampers. Ryley School, CW Sears and Tofield School all worked together to help provide the needed hamper items, and TFS Titans collected 420 items! Amazing!!

Tofield School staff and students in grades 9-12 participated in the annual Reindeer Games competition in December.

Congratulations to this year's winner, Kendra Yuha, and runner-up, Cale Helfrich!

Most of our grade 10s enjoyed swimming, skating, and other activities on a field trip to Millennium Place December 13.

The GAIN class had a very special visit from Santa the week before Christmas holidays!

For the last week of school before the break, Titans participated in a Christmas spirit week by wearing their Christmas best, wearing Christmas pajamas, and dressing like the Grinch.

Check out the attached Career Counselling newsletter for information regarding post-secondary admissions, job application tips, and more!

Just a reminder that you can order your own Titan wear by clicking this link.