NSO Weekly News

We hope everyone had a terrific weekend. The last day of regular classes is June 17. The week ahead is busy with Math, ELA, Social, Biology diploma exams and Math, Social and Science PAT exams.

As we conclude another school year, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and dedication. Together, we have navigated through challenges, celebrated achievements, and witnessed the growth of our students.

Our school motto, "small steps are still progress," has been our guiding principle. Every step, no matter how small, has contributed to the remarkable progress our students have made. Your involvement and encouragement have been instrumental in this journey. Thank you for being an integral part of our school community. We look forward to continuing this journey of growth and learning together in the upcoming school year.

Mr. Spady & Mrs. Porter

Students are reminded that all textbooks must be returned to teachers or school staff by June 21 or sooner. Ensure that all books are in good condition and returned on time to avoid any fines or replacement fees. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

EIPS Summer School offers more than 40 senior high courses. Students can earn credits, upgrade marks, lighten workloads or finish pre-requisite courses. Learn more about EIPS Summer School 2024—including 2024 course offerings, registration, important dates and more.

Are you interested in attending Next Step in the fall? Have questions and need more information?

Please email nextstep@eips.ca or contact (Sherwood Park) 780-464-1899 or (Fort Saskatchewan) 780-992-0101 to speak with school staff. Next Step is closed for summer from June 28-August 21.

New to the Division? Have you recently moved into the area? New student registration for the 2024-25 school year is open. Register for 2024-25

During exam period, You can look after yourself in different ways:

• Make time for things you enjoy. Find ways to release stress and celebrate progress. You could listen to music, draw, cook, play with a pet or go for a walk. You can try things alone or with friends.
• Talk to others about how you feel. Connect with other people, especially people who are going through the same thing. For more information, see our page on talking about how you're feeling.
• Try to find balance. Take regular breaks and be realistic about what you can do in a day. Keep things in perspective and remember that exams won't last forever.
• Take care of your physical health. Make sure you get enough sleep, food, water and exercise. If you take regular medication, keep up with your routine.
• Focus on yourself. Try not to compare yourself to others. Think of things you like about yourself and what you're good at – this can help boost your confidence.

While you're preparing an exam, you could try lowering stress levels by:

• Finding a study group. If there's nothing at school, try starting one with friends or people in your class.
• Making a revision timetable. This helps organise your revision and your breaks. You can find useful tips on the BBC Bitesize website.
• Working in the best way for you. Be creative or active if it helps, like drawing diagrams or making up songs. Try being open to different types of studying and revision.
• Revising in the best place for you. You might prefer the quiet or being around others. If you don't have a space to study at home, you could try at school, the library, a cafe, or a family member or friend's house.

June 17 *Last day of regular class instruction

June 17 Math 30-1/2 Diploma 9:00 a.m.

June 18 ELA 30-1/2 Part B Diploma 9:00 a.m.

June 18 Grade 9 Math Part B PAT 9:00 a.m.

June 19 Social Studies 30-1/2 Part B Diploma 9:00 a.m.

June 19 Grade 9 Social Studies PAT 9:00 a.m.

June 20 Biology 30 Diploma 9:00 a.m.

June 20 Grade 9 Science PAT 9:00 a.m.

June 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 22-23 Diploma Exam Prep Physics 30, Science 30 Register

June 24 Chemistry 30 Diploma 9:00 a.m.

June 25 Physics 30 Diploma 9:00 a.m.

June 26 Science 30 Diploma 9:00 a.m. & end of semester 2

June 27 Last operational day

Since too much stress is not a good thing for your mind or body, you should think about incorporating a few stress management techniques into your daily life. “A few techniques that might help teens manage stress are relaxation through deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness, channeling energy into sports or creative pursuits such as music, art, theater, and forming meaningful relationships or friendships,” says Khurana. “Additionally, every culture has its own way of enabling young people to manage stress, so drawing from those traditions might be helpful as well.”

Here are few ideas of how high school students can learn how to deal with stress at school:

• Keeping a journal
• Getting plenty of exercise
• Eating healthy, regular meals
• Making sure you get enough sleep
• Meditating
• Downloading an app that provides relaxation exercises (such as deep breathing or visualization) or tips for practicing mindfulness
• Limiting excess caffeine in soft drinks or coffee
• Reaching out to friends or family members who help you cope in a positive way
• Making time to do fun things
• Learning to recognize and prepare for stressful periods by doing all of the above

With so many big life decisions ahead, getting through high school happy and whole can definitely feel challenging at times. It’s easy to see why so many high school students feel stressed. The good news is that there are solutions. Adopt the strategies above, take a deep breath, and remember, it’s not forever! https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/managing-stress-in-high-school/

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. After Aug. 6, 2024, EIPS will deactivate the account.

• Google account – Students must download any wanted content before August 6—download files either individually or in bulk using Google Takeout.
• Microsoft account – Students must download any wanted content from their OneDrive account before August 6.

The results are now available for the 2023-24 EIPS Annual Feedback Surveys: For Parents and Caregivers and For Students conducted in March. Thank you to all families and students who took the time to share their feedback with the Division. The surveys included a series of questions related to the three priorities outlined in the EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26 (Year 2).

• Priority 1: Promote growth and success for all students
• Priority 2: Enhance high-quality learning and working environments
• Priority 3: Enhance public education through effective engagement

The overall Division results represent close to 1,900 responses from parents and caregivers and more than 2,000 responses from grades 9 and 12 students across the Division. The Parent and Caregiver survey results for Next Step have helped us identify the following areas of strength:

• My child's encouraged to do their best. Top 2 categories 99% (Strongly agree 82.75%, Agree 16.09%)
• How satisfied are you with the quality of education your child's receiving at school? Top 2 categories 95% (Strongly satisfied 70.45%, Satisfied 25.00%)
• How satisfied are you with the quality of teaching at your child’s school? Top 2 categories 97% (Strongly satisfied 75.00%, Satisfied 21.95%)
• How satisfied are you with the leadership at your child's school? Top 2 categories 98% (Strongly satisfied 78.41%, Satisfied 19.32%)
• School staff care about my child. Top 2 categories 99% (Strongly agree 80.46%, Agree 18.39%)
• Has the quality of education your child's experienced improved, stayed the same or declined in the past three years? Improved 73.56%
• The school keeps me informed about my child's progress and achievement. Top 2 categories 96% (Strongly agree 70.59%, Agree 25.88%)

The Student survey results for Next Step have helped us identify the following areas of strength:

• At school, my individual learning needs are met. Top 2 categories 99% (Strongly agree 64.29%, Agree 34.29%)
• At school, I'm encouraged to do my best. Top 2 categories 99% (Strongly agree 75.00%, Agree 24.29%)
• How satisfied are you with the quality of education you're receiving at your school? Top 2 categories 96% (Strongly satisfied 59.85%, Satisfied 36.50%)
• How satisfied are you with the quality of teaching you're receiving at your school? Top 2 categories 96% (Strongly satisfied 63.97%, Satisfied 32.35%)
• The staff at my school care about me. Top 2 categories 99% (Strongly agree 70.07%, Agree 25.55%)
• Has the quality of education you experienced improved, stayed the same or declined the past 3 years? 70.80% Improved
• I can openly and honestly communicate with teachers, staff and students at my school. Top 2 categories 96% (Strongly agree 61.94%, Agree 34.33%)

The feedback gathered in the survey will help our school and the Division measure its progress toward meeting the priorities and goals outlined in the EIPS Four-Year Education Plan and develop strategies to better serve students and the wider community moving forward. Annual Feedback Survey Results: Division

Support is available from AHS Addiction & Mental Health. Resources and services, such as Mental Wellness Moments, Text4Hope or AHS’ mental health online sessions can help you or someone you know. If you need more support, reach out; call the mental health helpline at 1-877-303-2642.

Get Help Now

• Emergency – 911

• Addiction Helpline – 1-866-332-2322
• Mental Health Helpline – 1-877-303-2642

Important Phone/Text Numbers

• Community Resources – 211 Alberta
• Crisis Text Line - Text CONNECT to 741741
• Family Violence – Find Supports – 310-1818
• Health Link – 811
• Income Supports – 1-866-644-5135
• Indian Residential School Survivors and Family, IRSSS – 1-866-925-4419
• Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
• MyHealth.Alberta.ca: List of Important Numbers
• Physician & Family Support Program - 1-877-767-4637
• Talk Suicide

Next Step envisions itself as not just an educational institution, but a vibrant community of learners deeply committed to virtues that go beyond the classroom. Here's a brief overview of the core values that make up the vision:

Acceptance- We strive for a diverse and inclusive environment where every student, parent, caregiver, and staff member feels accepted, irrespective of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. We believe that learning is most effective when everyone feels like they belong.

Flexibility- Understanding that each learner is unique, we aim to offer flexible learning and a range of teaching methodologies to cater to individual needs. Whether through elective courses, extracurricular activities, or personalized learning paths, flexibility is at the heart of our educational approach.

Individualization- Building on the concept of flexibility, we focus on personalized education. Our staff are committed to identifying each student’s strengths, and areas for growth, allowing for a more tailored educational experience while maintaining a high academic standard. This individual attention ensures that every student is equipped with the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally.

Respect- In our community, respect is mutual. Staff, students, caregivers, and parents are encouraged to show respect for each other's ideas, feelings, and contributions. We believe that open dialogue, grounded in respect, fosters a rich learning environment where complex issues can be discussed and dissected.

Responsibility- While our staff are committed to providing the best educational experience possible, we also encourage students, caregivers and parents to take responsibility for their learning journey. This includes active participation in school activities, regular communication with staff, and a commitment to personal and academic growth.

For parents, caregivers, and families, becoming a part of the Next Step community means joining a network committed to these virtues. Together, we work toward providing an educational experience that values the uniqueness of each student, respects the input of each community member, and prepares learners for a future full of possibilities.

Students, parents, and caregivers can access our campus locations during the following times:

Tuesday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wednesday 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Thursday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Email: nextstep@eips.ca
Website: eipsnextstep.ca
Phone: 7804641899
Twitter: @eipsnextstep