AJS Weekly Bison Tracks

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a world-class education for Alberta’s children, Alberta Education will again be conducting our annual survey of grade 7 and 10 students and their parents or guardians. The survey will gather important information about students’ and parents’ school experiences and will help to inform continuous improvement in our education system.

This year’s survey will take place from February 18 to March 21, 2025, and we strongly encourage all eligible parents or guardians to participate and share your feedback on your child’s or children’s education.

Survey participants will be asked questions on a variety of topics, including:

• welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments;

• student learning engagement; and

• parental involvement in their children’s education.

Survey participants are not required to provide their names or personal details, and all survey responses are confidential.

By completing the survey, you are helping both Alberta Education and your local school authority identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. When the results are in, Alberta sends them to school authorities, who in turn share them with their local school community and use them to inform their annual education plans.

Families of grade 7 and 10 students should have received an email with a random access code on February 18. If you did not receive an email, please contact trudi.williamson@eips.ca to get it resent.

• March 21 - Assurance Survey closes - Grade 7 & 10
• March 21 - No School
• March 24 to 28 - No School - Spring Break
• March 31 - First day back (Day 1)
• March 31, 6:00 p.m. - Canadian Parents for French Meeting
• April 1, 6:00 p.m. - Bison Football AGM (AJS Theatre)
• April 2, 2:16 p.m. - Early Dismissal
• April 3, 4:30 p.m. - In House Drama Festival
• April 4 & 5 - Jr. Sr. Bison Smash Classic Tournament
• April 8, 4:00 p.m. - AMPS Pit Crew Meeting (Show and Shine)
• April 8, 4:30 p.m. - AMPS Meeting
• April 10 - Jr. High Reports Cards Available Online
• April 11, 6:00 p.m. - Jazz Night
• April 11 & 12 - Jr. Jr. Buffalo Cup Tournament

Registration for EIPS Summer School is now open. The program, organized through Next Step, offers more than 40 senior high courses. Students can earn credits, upgrade marks, lighten workloads or finish pre-requisite courses.

Courses include:
Open to EIPS students entering grades 10-12 next fall, and students in their Grade 12 year.

· Core senior high courses

· Career and Life Management (CALM)

· Physical Education

· Land-Based Learning

· Work Experience and the Registered Apprenticeship Program

· Workplace Safety

Plus, choose from a variety of complementary courses—offered online.

Learn more about EIPS Summer School 2025—including 2025 course offerings, registration, important dates and more.

4:30 PM – Festival Kickoff
The festival begins with a series of student-directed one-act plays. Three performances will be carefully chosen to represent Ardrossan in the upcoming Zones competition, with the possibility of advancing to Lethbridge for Provincials.

Admission

• By donation: Your support is greatly appreciated! All proceeds from donations will go directly to the Ardrossan Theatre to continue supporting our arts programs.

Mature Content Warning

• Some plays may feature mature content, violence, and coarse language. Parental discretion is advised for viewers.

For More Information

• Questions about the festival or the plays? Reach out to Diane Webb at diane.webb@eips.ca.

We invite you to be part of an exciting evening, filled with fresh student talent and the chance to support local theatre in Ardrossan. Your donations help keep our creative arts program strong!

Our next meeting will be on April 8:

4:oo pm - Pit Crew (Show & Shine)

5:oo pm - AMPS

Both will be held in the band room.

All parents are welcome to join us for the meeting.

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

Kas ampspres@gmail.com or

Christie ampssecr@gmail.com

The EXTENDED deadline to order your yearbook for this year (2025) is on April 17, 2025. Only yearbooks that are paid for before the deadline will be ordered. So don't miss out on securing your yearbook!

Yearbooks can be ordered through your Parent PowerSchool account in the Student Fees options. You can add it to your cart and pay online (same as student fees). Only books that are paid for will be ordered. They do not stay in your cart unpaid.

Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, growth opportunities and how it supports students in achieving the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2023-24 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

April Spotlight: cultivating high-quality learning environments and experiences

· Raising the Bar: Evidence-based practices that are enhancing teaching and learning in EIPS

· Power of Kindness: Creating welcoming, inclusive, respectful and safe learning environments in schools

· Building Blocks: How effective planning, management and infrastructure are supporting learning

RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2025-28

In 2025-26, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) will be expanding its Collegiate Pathways programming to provide more opportunities for more students across the Division. Opportunities are available for students entering or returning to Grade 12 in the fall. For students entering grades 10 or 11 next year, the available information will help with course planning throughout senior high.

Learn more about Collegiate Pathways

Planning for Grade 12

Course planning for grades 10 and 11

National Volunteer Week takes place April 27 to May 4. On behalf of the Board of Trustees at Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS), I want to say a giant thank you to all EIPS volunteers. This year’s theme is Volunteers Make Waves, and that’s certainly true in our Division. No matter whether you’ve chaperoned a field trip, helped out at a hot lunch day or provided support in a classroom—every time you’ve stepped in a school—you’ve made a ripple effect that washes over your community. These waves of positivity, hard work and dedication build up and make a momentous impact on a student’s experience at school.

So, thank you again for being a part of our ocean at EIPS. The waves you’ve made—and will continue to create—all contribute to our collective goals of ensuring learning and working environments sustain student learning and amplifying the importance of public education in our province. This National Volunteer Week, I encourage everyone to celebrate the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of hours put into supporting student growth and achievement at schools across the Division.

Cathy Allen
Chair, EIPS Board of Trustees

Remember, be aware of thin ice this time of year. Depending on changing temperatures, ice can form and melt to varying degrees on outdoor bodies of water. Try to remind your child about the dangers of thin ice, obey all posted signs, take proper care and remain a safe distance from the ice.

For more information about ice safety, visit the Canadian Red Cross.

Did you know?

The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength. Clear blue ice is the strongest. White opaque is half as strong as blue ice. And, grey ice is unsafe—greyness indicates the presence of water.

The myBlueprint Education Planner is a student-friendly, interactive education and career/life planning resource that allows Gr. 7-12 students to reflect on their learning, showcase their growth, and share their achievements. Want to learn more? Watch the introduction video tutorials to learn how to create a parent account to be able to access your student's account at myBlueprint.ca/support/videos. When you are ready to create a parent account, access our district's landing page to get started.

Visit Ardrossan Athletics for game and practice schedules.

Please check the Athletics Website for Spring Camps dates on the Football page.

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