Cougar Chronicle

We hope everyone is having a good start to the week as we close the month of October.

As a reminder, if you were unable to secure a time with a specific teacher during Parent-Student-Teacher interviews, please reach out to them directly to arrange an alternative meeting time. Our goal is that stakeholder communication is fluid and dynamic, meaning that it is intentional and ongoing. To reiterate from previous messaging, we look forward to connecting and collaborating with you in supporting your child’s learning.

Shifting gears, we have had a series of guest speakers throughout the start of the year which supports our school goal of advancing literacy. Feedback from students has been well received for how engaging the presentations have been. Our hope is that students start finding their ‘spark’ or passion for lifelong learning and possible career paths.

This week, related to our work with Indigenous education and curricular ties to physical education, health and wellness, Sherwood Heights hosted Indigenous hoop dancer, Dallas Arcand Jr. on Monday, October 28. Dallas has won international awards for his hoop dancing and has traveled all over the world performing, including performances at 3 Olympic games. Dallas shared his knowledge and skills with students then taught our students and let them practice some hoop dancing fundamentals.

Related to passions, interests and ‘never too early’ to start exploring, students and their family members from around the region are invited to attend Your Future: Post-Secondary and Career Fair on November 5. The in-person public event is free and open to students in grades 7 through 12.

Your Future is a career fair that brings together a variety of universities, colleges, polytechnics and sector experts in one place. Throughout the evening, participating students and family members can meet with representatives from some of the top post-secondary institutions in Alberta, ask questions, talk to experts from different career sectors, learn about career trends and much more.

The excitement keeps building with the Sherwood Park replacement school and with the walls going up. It is neat to see our staff, students, and extended school community watching at times in amazement. With that, the naming of the new school survey will be closing soon.

Please take a minute to complete the short survey to share your thoughts. The survey will remain open until October 31, 2024. The Board will make a decision about the school’s name before the end of December.

When we speak about emotional intelligence and citizenship, it has been awesome to see the response of our student body in getting behind the clothing drive for a school in a different community who has a demographic that is ‘at risk’. The last day for donations has been changed to Thursday, October 31. Thanks for helping others survive the cold weather.

In preparation for Halloween, thank you to Leadership who are providing activities over lunch hour on Thursday. For students who do choose to wear a costume, please ensure that your child’s costume is culturally appropriate. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

In closing, we wish you a Happy Halloween and Diwali!

Sunny Sandhu

Principal

We are pleased to inform you that Take Our Kids to Work Day is fast approaching! This national event, happening on November 6, 2024, provides Grade 9 students with the unique opportunity to step outside the classroom and into the workplace for a day of career exploration.

The goal of Take Our Kids to Work Day is to introduce students to the world of work and help them begin thinking about their future careers. Whether they shadow you, a family member, or a trusted mentor, this experience will offer them valuable insights into daily work environments, professional responsibilities, and the wide variety of careers available to them. By engaging in this hands-on experience, students can connect what they learn in school with the real-world skills and competencies required in various jobs.

We encourage parents and caregivers to arrange for their student to join them at their workplace, or connect them with a relative, neighbor, or friend who can provide a safe and educational experience.

If your student is unable to participate through family connections, students should attend their regularly scheduled school day to participate in one of the many career exploration activities EIPS has prepared.

We appreciate your involvement in making this experience meaningful and engaging for your student. You can follow the Permission Click link below to indicate that your child will be participating in Take Your Kid to Work Day.

Permission Click for Take Your Kid to Work Day

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your student’s teacher or school administration.