Kipohtakaw Education Centre

Tansi, welcome to our 2024/2025 school year at Kipohtakaw Education Centre. It is with great enthusiasm that I announce my new role as the Elementary Vice Principal. For those who may not have met with me, my name is Ms. Wanotch and I have taught junior/senior high students for the past fifteen years. The many years of experience that I have at Kipohtakaw Education Centre has allowed me to make many connections with students, parents, staff, Elders, and community members. It fills my heart to have conversations with previous students and reminisce about the great memories that we have shared in the classroom.

More recently I have made the decision to further my education and I have enrolled in the Master of Education program with the focus in leadership. So far my experience as being the student rather than the teacher has been positive and I am achieving excellent marks in my courses. In addition to achieving my Masters in Education, I will provide Kipohtakaw Education Centre with high quality education for all students through collaboration and innovation. Furthermore, the implementation of Cree culture and language in our programming will form the foundation from which every student achieves success.

In keeping with the concept of success, we are pleased to announce that the YONA program will continue through this school year. YONA will be offered on Tuesdays and Fridays for grades 2 and 3 while the upper elementary and junior high students will be offered YONA as an optional program. We encourage students to get involved with the YONA program because of the extraordinary benefits that we have witnessed within our students. Additionally, the students are provided with the opportunity to attend a variety of performances throughout the school year that highlight their growth and skill.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Together we can help our students’ find success through education and grow a desire for lifelong learning.

Welcome back to all students of KEC! nīpin has come to an end. No more late nights and sleep-ins. I hope you all feel rested and ready to take on the new school year. I know it will be a little bit of a struggle for the students to get back into the academic routine. So in advance, hiy hiy to all the parents/guardians who will maybe face that struggle to get the children up for school. Sometimes students can be nervous on the first day of school. At KEC, we have an amazing staff that will put those nerves at ease. There is always a huge amount of love in each classroom. To the students, this year you will start a brand new grade at KEC. I know it can feel scary and exciting at the same time, but I know that you have what it takes to make this year as awesome as you.

Jr High

We do have a couple new teachers this year. Ms. Cameron for homeroom grade 7 and Miss Wilkes for homeroom grade 8. Welcome to the KEC family. Grade 7's are new to Jr High so they will have a little bit of an adjustment period to get through. It is very important for the Grade 9 students to keep up with their classes so they can Prom at the end of the year and be academically ready for High School.

Sr High

Miss TJ has worked very hard to place the students in the right classes so we can see success for our kids. She has also planned for grade 12’s to graduate with over 100 credits. Just a helpful tip for Sr High school students….work hard, don’t sweat the little things, try to not be reactive to what is out of your control and always do your best a little each day. Reminder: Attendance is very important in all Sr High classes.

FNSSP

Miss TJ and I will be planning a Cultural Camp, Sr High Conference, KEC Leadership, Elementary Cultural Camp and a Speak Out this year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school or email me at michellest.denis@kipohtakaw.com. Come in and visit me if you like.

ekosi

Tansi ,

September 2024

Getting ready for a new school year can be exciting but also overwhelming. Here are some "Back to School Readiness Tips" to help students, parents, and teachers start the year off on the right foot:

For Students:

1. Organize Your Supplies

2. Establish a Routine

• Sleep Schedule: Adjust your sleep schedule at least a week before school starts to ensure you get enough rest.

• Morning Routine: Plan your morning routine to include time for breakfast, packing your lunch, and reviewing your schedule.

• Homework Time: Set a specific time each day for homework and study sessions.

3. Goals

• Goal Setting: Set academic and personal goals for the school year.

4. Stay Healthy

• Healthy Eating: Plan nutritious meals and snacks to keep your energy levels up.

• Physical Activity: Include regular physical activity in your routine to stay fit and relieve stress.

• Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

5. Mental Preparation

• Positive Mindset: Approach the new school year with a positive and open mindset.

• Relaxation Techniques: Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation to manage stress.

• Social Skills: Reach out to friends or make new ones to build a supportive social network.

For Parents:

1. Communication is Key

• Meet Teachers: Attend back-to-school events to meet your child’s teachers and understand their expectations.

• Stay Informed: Sign up for school newsletters and stay informed about school policies and events.

• Open Dialogue: Encourage open communication with your child about their feelings and expectations for the new school year.

2. Create a Supportive Environment

• Homework Area: Set up a quiet, well-lit area for your child to do homework.

• Daily Routine: Establish a consistent daily routine that includes time for homework, chores, and relaxation.

• Encourage Independence: Teach your child to take responsibility for their schoolwork and supplies.

3. Health and Safety

• Medical Checkups: Ensure your child is up-to-date with medical checkups and vaccinations.

• Healthy Habits: Encourage good hygiene practices such as handwashing.

• Safety Plan: Discuss safety plans and emergency procedures with your child.

4. Academic Support

• Monitor Progress: Regularly check your child’s homework and grades through the school’s online portal.

• Extra Help: Arrange for tutoring or extra help if your child is struggling with specific subjects.

• Encourage Reading: Foster a love of reading by providing a variety of books and reading together.

5. Emotional Support

• Listen: Be available to listen to your child’s concerns and provide reassurance.

• Encourage Activities: Support your child’s participation in extracurricular activities to build confidence and social skills.

• Model Behaviour: Model positive behaviour and stress management techniques.

By following these tips, students, And parents, can ensure a smooth and successful transition into the new school year.

Sheila Chisholm,

Behaviour Specialist, Coach and Consultant

Certified Trauma and Resilience Specialist in Education

Alexander First Nation Education

Kipohtakaw Education Centre, AFNE

780-886-9303

sheilachisholm@kipohtakaw.com

http://www.afneducation.com/

What’s New

Tansi Kaykiyaw. I am glad to begin another school year with K.E.C. as the history curriculum coordinator. I share a warm welcome to all the students and staff here at K.E.C. I look forward to working with you all. Have a good school year. I am now situated in the school.

Did you know

The Alexander First Nation entered into Treaty No. 6 in August of 1877 at Fort Edmonton. Chief Katstaweskum, his headmen along with other chiefs signed the treaty entering into Treaty No. 6.The Nation takes its name after Chief Katstaweskum, whose baptismal name was Alexandre, the first Chief of Alexander First Nation. Chief Alexander defended treaty rights. He sent many messages to the federal government between 1888 and 1900. He was deposed by federal government order in 1903 and was reinstated in 1905.

Did you know

After the signing of the Treaty in 1877, Katstaweskum and his people were determined to have an industrial school on the reserve. They believed that this kind of education would be beneficial at the time for the people in order to survive alongside the whiteman. The chief made many requests to the indian agent requesting the school. Because of the existing boarding school in St. Albert his requests were always refused. Chief Katstaweskum also sent letters to the Prime Minister requesting for a school to be built on the reserve.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Completion of the grade three and four history curriculum guides.

S. Auigbelle

We can’t wait to see all of the students soon and look forward to meeting the families at Meet the Teacher night!

hiy hiy

tansi and welcome to Grade 3!

We hope you had a restful summer and are ready to learn, play and have fun! Your Grade 3 Team this year is Mrs. Brittany Coursaux (Homeroom Teacher), Ms. Courtney LaFleche (Educational Assistant), and Mrs. Theresa Arcand, Miss. Savanah Robbins-Burnstick, Mr. Dave Auigbelle, Miss. Sheena (our one-on-one support workers).

Our first month together, onôcihitopêsim, will have us building up our classroom community in our new classroom, as well as studying our Alexander Community. This month we will also be building wahkohtowina with Mr. Theo Auigbelle, our new Land-Based Teacher.

One final note, our Open House/ Meet the Teacher day is on September 11th. Parents will have a chance to see the new building, mingle with staff, and take a look at their child’s learning places.

We look forward to working and playing with you this year!

Your Grade 3 Team!

NEW TEACHER ALERT!!!

Tansi. Welcome back everyone!

My name is Kathleen Szakszon (pronounced saxon) and I will be your grade 4 teacher this year. I am so excited to be a part of your school community! I have 12 years of experience teaching everything from pre-k to highschool. I have been married to my wonderful husband Nick for 17 years. We have three children. Emily is 15 years old, Joseph is 13 years old, and Abby is 9 years old. Just like my students! I am a maker at heart and I love tinkering around with arts and crafts supplies in my spare time. This year we are blessed to have Miss. Jennelle in the classroom as our EA.

I am looking forward to getting to know all of my students and families. If you need to reach me, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at kathleenszakszon@kipohtakaw.com. I will be sending out a survey to see how everyone prefers to communicate so there will be more options for everyone in the future.

hiy hiy

Mrs. Szakszon

Miss Jennelle

Tansi Grade 5 Families,

I am very excited to have the opportunity to teach your child this school year! Some of the students might already be familiar with me, as I taught some of them Language Arts and Social Studies last year. I’m looking forward to being reunited with them, and meeting some new faces!

We’re starting September strong with:

September 11th: Meet the Teacher at 1:30 p.m. Come say hi! I’d love to get to know the student's families better this year.

September 19th: School Feast at 11:30 a.m.

September 20th: PD Day (no school)

September 27th: Orange Shirt Day

September 30th: Truth and Reconciliation Day (no school)

NEW TEACHER ALERT!!!

WELCOME GRADE 6!

My name is Miss. Dennis and I have been a Teacher for 3 Years, I am very excited to meet our class in our new school wing. I have 2 children and have grown up around the community. I hope to bring a daily Option class of STEM!

Which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Communication

Our classroom will be using in-class Chromebooks daily, We will be using Google Classroom for Morning Meeting Powerpoints and Posted Assignments and readings. Parents will be encouraged to use Google classroom by email themselves or contact me using my email ashleydennis@kipohtakaw.com or call Kipohtakaw School. I strongly encourage parents to have open communication with me and please email me anytime, I will be sure to call through the school to make connections. Please check with students, backpacks and email daily for any school/ classroom updates.

BIRTHDAYS

We LOVE to celebrate birthdays! Please feel free to send any nut free treats to celebrate your child's birthday on or near their birthday date. July and August birthdays will be celebrated in June. ( KEC under our Healthy Eating initiative will not provide certain treat choices) Some great options such as fruit trays, muffins or pita and dips can be brought in to celebrate.

SPECIAL EVENT DAYS

There will be many special event days planned for this academic year. It will be pertinent that you keep communication with your child and your teacher so you do not miss upcoming events. Special Holidays will also be celebrated such as Halloween, Christmas and Valentines. And Cultural Days such as School Feasts, Tea Parties, Truth and Reconciliation, KEC Activity Days and Powwows. We will also be Fundraising for a Field Trip.

Cell Phone Policy

KEC has chosen to follow the Alberta School Ban on Cell Phones. We do hope that students will not bring their personal devices into the classroom. Chromebooks will be used in the classroom daily with the use of our students' school email. We will keep chromebooks in our classroom at all times and they will not be allowed to go home with students.

onôcihitowipesim - Moose mating month

Value: nakateyimowewin Responsibility

tawâw!

tânisi kahkiyâw. Welcome back! everyone. asay ôma onôcihitowipesim (moose mating month) it’s September already. I hope you all had a restful summer with family and friends. I am anxious and eager to get started with a new school year and to be back in the classroom. I now have a new space for the Cree classroom. I am back to teaching the Cree Language classes to grades 3-6 again this year. Also, I will be in the Cree resource development for the rest of the time. I am excited for another school year. I am confident that we will have another good year in the Cree classroom. Take care and be safe.

ekosi pita,

Ms. Yellowknee

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to start a new year filled with music, movement, and fun activities for all students. Here’s a brief look at what each grade will be focusing on this month:

Grade 1-3 Music

Students will explore the concepts of beat, tempo, and rhythm patterns using whole, half, and quarter notes, and engage in creative movement activities.

Grade 4-6 Music

Students will learn and practice different note values, including eighth and sixteenth notes, and will combine these in rhythmic patterns and ensemble activities.

Kindergarten-Grade 6 Physical Education

Students will develop their basic locomotor and nonlocomotor skills, such as running, hopping, balancing, and teamwork through fun games and activities.

Volleyball Tryouts
Volleyball tryouts for Junior and Senior teams will be held at the beginning of September. Keep an eye out for the permission forms!

We look forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth!

Physical Education and Wellnes

Welcome Back to a Fantastic New School Year!

I hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer, and are ready to dive back into an action-packed year of Physical Education. My name is Karla Tritten and I will be the junior and senior high school Physical Education, Calm and Health teacher. I am a lifelong learner in Physical Education and Wellness. I look forward to creating connections with all of you.

NEW TEACHER ALERT!!!

Tansi,

My name is Sheryl Cameron and I will be teaching Grade 7, 8, and 9 English Language Arts. I have been a teacher for 16 years and I look forward to being in your community teaching your children.

I also look forward to meeting the parents and guardians to create a great partnership throughout the year so that our students may benefit in a positive learning environment at home and in school.

Please, feel free to contact me at school for any questions or comments.

Thank You!

Sheryl Cameron

Hello, Everyone

It’s wonderful to be back for another exciting year!

After a successful summer school session in July, we are excited to offer some great learning opportunities this Fall and Winter for our high school students at KEC. You’ll notice some positive changes all throughout the school- and not just the renovations! There are more student supports and specialized assistants to enrich the learning experience of every student, including ongoing developing programs in Outreach and Adult Education.

This semester, we will be offering English Language Arts 20-1/20-2, Social Studies 10-1/10-2, and the Grade 12 Diploma Course in Social Studies 30-1/30-2.

In English 20, we will be reading the American Classic novella, Of Mice and Men, as well a range of short stories and poetry by First Nations and international authors.

The theme of Grade 10 Social studies, in a nutshell, is the Positive and Negative Effects of Globalization, both historically and in our modern times.

Social 30 is among the most challenging courses in the Alberta curriculum but it is one of the key courses required for graduation. Students are studying the theme of Understanding Ideology, which takes in lots of history, philosophy, sociology, as well as political and economic issues. Parts A and B of the Social 30 PDE will be on January 15 and 21.

We strive to provide the best balance possible between traditional culture and language teachings with the general Alberta curriculum in our classroom. We welcome everyone- elders, parents and family- to visit our class and meet with us on Parent Interview nights and Open House activities throughout the year. Your home support and interest in your student’s achievement are key in our partnership to make learning fun and worthwhile. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you.

Best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy year of learning!

Maria Johnson