AJS Weekly Bison Tracks

• November 26, 6:30 p.m. - Quebec Trip 2026 Meeting
• December 2, 6:00 p.m. - Jazz Band Christmas Concert
• December 3, 5:30 p.m. - Band Christmas Concert
• December 4, 2:16 p.m. - Early Dismissal
• December 6, 6:00 p.m. - Bisons Football Banquet and Awards Night
• December 6, 8:00 p.m. - Student Council Sr. High Dance
• December 20 - Last day before Christmas Break
• January 6, 8:16 a.m. - First Day Back (Day 2)

AJS school fees are now past due. Emails were sent to any families that have not yet paid their fees. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Cleet, Business Manager, at (780)922-2228.

If circumstances exist where you’re unable to pay school or transportation fees, you can apply to have fees waived by submitting an Application for a Waiver of Fees. The application deadline is Dec. 16, 2024. If you’re new to the Division, the deadline is the latter of Dec. 16, 2024, or 45 days after registration.

To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view your fees and pay them online using Visa or MasterCard. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted.

Don’t forget to also log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal regularly throughout the year. Fees are often added to your child’s account to cover the cost of various school activities such as field trips, class projects, extracurricular activities and more.

For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit www.eips.ca/schools/fees and AJS School Fees . Alternatively, contact Mrs. Cleet, Business Manager at Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High School at 780-922-2228.

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is an annual event celebrated in schools provincewide to boost awareness among students, staff, families and community members about bullying and how to prevent incidents of it in schools. Within EIPS, students and staff are spending the week learning strategies to foster healthy relationships, discourage intolerances and communicate through conflict.

“As a Division, we are committed to ensuring every student feels safe and welcome, and can learn in an environment that’s accepting and respectful,” says Cathy Allen, the Board Chair of EIPS. “Students at schools throughout Elk Island Public Schools always lead with kindness and actively seek opportunities throughout the year to show their classmates everyone has a place within our schools.”

Throughout the week, various activities are planned at schools divisionwide—including morning announcements, presentations, lesson plans, art projects, read alouds and activities—themed around healthy relationships, empathy building, conflict-resolution, inclusion, deeds of kindness, cyberbullying and much more. Many schools are also celebrating Odd Socks Day to highlight how every person is unique.

“Learning begins with feeling cared for and welcomed,” says Marcus Reed, Director of Early Learning and Specialized Supports at EIPS. “Our commitment as a division is to nurture positive, inclusive spaces where every student feels secure and is equipped to stand confidently against discrimination and bullying.”

Click on the link below to learn more about cyberbullying. There a great video for parents and students to watch.

Information on Cyberbullying

Tickets are now available for the Sr. High Christmas Dance.

Tickets are $5.00 each.

Students can pay by cash on Tuesday, November 26 and Thursday, November 28, in Grad Hall during lunch.

Parents can also buy tickets through Parent Portal under school fees.

Deadline to buy is November 29, 2024.

Christmas Concerts are coming up!

Check email from Mr.B for all the details regarding concert

Check email from Amps Secretary for call out for volunteers to assist

December 2

Jazz Bands-6:00 p.m

There will be chocolates for sale both individually or pick up a case for band account credits!

Lollipop pull with a chance to win a candy bag!

Cash 50/50 will be available for Dec 2 only

December 3

Band 7 – 5:30 p.m. Band 8 – 6:00 p.m.

Band 9 – 6:45 p.m. Sr. Band – 7:30 p.m. (10-12)

There will be chocolates for sale both individually or pick up a case for band account credits!

Lollipop pull with a chance to win a candy bag!

If you have questions or comments please don't hesitate to connect with

Kas ampssecr@gmail.com or Christie ampssecr@gmail.com

Our next meeting will be on

January 15 , 4:30pm in the band room,

all parents are welcome to attend!

Be sure to find us on social media.

Facebook Instagram

The 2024/25 yearbook sales are ready to be added in your Parent Portal account!

All yearbooks are sold as a pre-order during the current school year. There will not be any extras ordered for those who do not buy them this year. Once you add them to your cart, they need to be purchased right away or it will disappear from cart once you log out.

AJS 2024 Yearbooks are ready for pick up at the school office.

These books are for any students that prepaid in Parent Portal last year.

Do you know someone who may be interested in part-time, flexible work as a substitute educational assistant or substitute teacher in the specialty areas of French Immersion or CTS/CTF? Elk Island Public Schools is hiring. Spread the word!

Substitute teaching and non-teaching staff are critical to filling planning and unexpected vacancies when Division staff are away. Substitutes are needed to fill various positions at all school locations until the end of the school year. Upcoming application deadlines are December 12 and 13. If you know someone who’d be great in this role, encourage them to apply today.

Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed since the start of the year? Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High 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 780-922-2228.

Review major curriculum topics to build your understanding and learn test-writing strategies for diploma exams. Boost your confidence in the exams through tips and practice questions.

Class times: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm (includes a 30 minute lunch break). All classes are located at Salisbury Composite High School (20 Festival Way, Sherwood Park)

Cost is $125 per course. $75 for Science 30.

January 11-12 (9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Registration closes January 8
English Language Arts 30-1
Social Studies 30-1, Math 30-1 & Math 30-2

January 18-19 (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Registration closes January 15
Biology 30
Chemistry 30
Physics 30

January 25 (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Registration closes January 22
Science 30

If you have questions regarding Diploma Exam Prep sessions, please reach out to eipsnextstep@eips.ca or call 780-464-1899.

Register through your PowerSchool Parent Portal, the same way you pay for school fees.

With the winter season almost here, we have a few reminders for families:

• Ensure students have clothing appropriate for expected weather conditions.
• If weather conditions are bad enough to impact student transportation, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) advises families directly, as well as posting on social media and eips.ca as early as possible.
• Decisions regarding bus cancellations are guided by an EIPS administrative procedure that states, “school bus service may be suspended…when there is a forecast or current temperature of -40 C, including wind chill factor, in one or more regions.”
• Other reasons for suspending or delaying school bus services include adverse weather and poor road conditions.
• When school bus services are suspended, schools remain open to students.

For more information, contact EIPS Student Transportation at 780-417-8151

Football:

• December 6, 6:00 p.m. - Bisons Football Banquet and Awards Night

Basketball:

• November 28 to 30 - Sr. Varsity Mens Basketball Canmore Tournament
• December 6 to 7 - Jr. Varsity Stampede Classic Tournament
• December 12 to 14 - Jr. and Sr. Varsity Womens Basketball Cochrane Tournament
• December 13 to 14 - Jr. Sr. Bison Bowl Invitational
• January 9 to 11 - Jr. Sr. Boys and Girls Basketball EIAA Tournament

Please click on the link to fill out the Intent to Play before tryouts.

Jr. High Basketball Intent to Play

AJS hosted an ELAA Post Secondary Event on Friday, November 22. There were over 15 institutions and career booths in attendance and students got the opportunity to ask questions and pick up some information at each booth.

Alberta Health Services hosts a variety of virtual caregiver information sessions throughout the year focused on ways to support students’ mental health. The sessions are free and geared toward parents, caregivers, teachers and community members who want to learn more about challenges impacting children and adolescents. Session topics include anxiety, ADHD, depression, self-harm, technology, teens and teaching leadership skills, communication, resiliency and more. Visit Caregiver Education to see the monthly caregiver sessions.

Email: general.ajs@eips.ca
Website: https://www.ardrossan.ca/
Location: Ardrossan Junior Senior High School, Range Road 222, Ardrossan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-922-2228