On days when anxious thoughts plaque my mind I consider the wildflowers. What I mean will make sense in a minute, so stick with me here. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus is talking about how to navigate worry by trusting in God as our provider.

I’m not sure about you, but I worry a lot. It’s almost second nature at times to get ahead of myself with concern about how I will manage all the things in the week ahead. As a student, maybe your list of worries includes trying to keep up with homework and tests, or balancing sports and rehersals. You might be stressed about making or keeping friends, fitting in socially, or feeling pressure to look a certain way. Maybe you're anxious about what people think of you, or worried about family stuff at home, or even thinking about the future. Sometimes, it can feel like there’s just so much to juggle.

But Jesus’ encouragement to you to worry about your life is not just a command, it’s an invitation. Jesus invites you to trust Him to meet your every need. He knows the pressures you deal with, whether it’s school stress, friend drama, or figuring out your future. Jesus invites you to bring all those worries to Him because He cares about you and promises to meet your every need. Instead of carrying the weight of all those concerns on your own, He offers a better way: to trust that He’s in control and that He will provide for you.

Spend a minute reflecting on what worries you - what unknowns plaque you, what thoughts keep you up at night, what things or situations make you anxious… Now I invite you to pray about them. Thank God that He deems you valuable and loved. Thank Him for the ways He has provided for you. And talk with Him honestly about what it looks like for you to trust Him. Sometimes it’s a simple “God I want to trust you, help me.”

He’s got you friend, just consider the wildflowers.

Pastor Kiara

Photos will be available to view prior to retakes day. We will pass along any information from Edge Imaging as it is received from the office on specifics for accessing your child's photos!

Please remind students that belongings should not be left unattended in any spaces, especially the gym change rooms. Each student has been offered a full size locker where they should keep their belongings while in gym or otherwise unattended, however we have found that many students choose not to use them. If students need assistance accessing their lockers, or a reminder of their combination, please have them stop by the office and we would be happy to help!

Did you know that students at SCS have access to spiritual, academic and social-emotional support every day at school? Student Services is located on the second floor of the school in room 203. Mrs. Matheson, the school counsellor, and Campus Pastors Kiara, Jamie and Luke are available, and students are encouraged to pop in to see them. However, sometimes students may not feel comfortable popping by and would prefer to book an appointment. In order to make this process easier, SCS Student Services is launching their new Student Support Form. Students can scan this QR code or use the URL to open up a google form where they can request an appointment with someone from student services. It is important to note that the form is screened by the entire student services team (including Mrs. Meints) and the form is NOT a place to report an emergency as it does not get screened 24/7. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to anyone from student services!

If you are in grade 8-12 and you are interested in being in the spring musical, you must:

1. Apply for musical theatre (by Nov 1)

2. Complete the audition form (by Nov 13)

3. Sign up for your audition (by Nov 13)

4. Audition! (Nov 21-23)

ALL of the information can be found in the student folder below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JpcKcmqFc1Zr06VplwYhxX3hfr5nBuyB?usp=drive_link"

Parent Teacher Interviews are rapidly approaching and we are so grateful for all the volunteers that are looking to bless our teachers with a hearty meal.

Date of Meal: Monday, November 4th (PLEASE HAVE YOUR DISH AT THE SCHOOL BY 3:30PM)

Volunteers: We would also appreciate 2-3 volunteers to help set up before and clean up after the meal (Times are indicated below)

Please click the link below to access the sign up form!. We are so appreciative of all your help!

Parent teacher interview booking will be available starting next week on Monday October 21 at 12:00 P.M.

Our school interview code is: yjcpu

Please note, you can book only one timeslot per teacher per family. If you require additional discussion time with any teachers, please reach out to them via email to set up a meeting time.

We are working hard to support our students in being on time for class. When students are late it can affect their learning, as well as the learning for other students. When students have 2 or more lates in a week, they are required to attend Study Hall during the lunch break. With the implementation of this procedure, we have already seen improvement in the number or student lates. This change has a positive impact on student learning. Thank you for your support in encouraging your child to be on time!

Please view and understand the contents contained in this link regarding emergency preparedness and procedures at EIPS schools:

https://www.eips.ca/parents/emergency-preparedness

Thank you.

For the 2024-25 year, the deadline for receiving fee waiver applications is Dec. 16, 2024. Contact families and independent students who may need the help and remind them to apply for a waiver of fees. Information for staff about fee waivers is available on the EIPS Intranet. The application form can be found on the public EIPS website. The only applications that will be accepted after the deadline will be from families new to EIPS.

SCA Wear

Our SCA Wear Store is NOW LIVE! Deadline to order is Monday, November 4th. All orders received by November 4th will arrive at our school before Christmas break! Please contact our office directly should you want to make arrangements to keep your purchase a secret for a great Christmas gift!

www.scasecondary.ca

1. Bike Maintenance room: we are needing some evening help with:

i. Planning, ordering and executing the plumbing in of air manifold, filters and lines to our new air compressor (3 evenings)

ii. Building one more work station and plan/create tool boards for three work stations. (2 evenings)

1. Race Car track: we are needing electronic help with:

i. Replacing LED sensors in the start and finish line system. We installed industrial grade launch switches a couple of years ago and now would like to beef up the sensor system which cuts in and out.

1. House wiring wall: we are needing electrical help with:

i. Design and build a 4’ high X 6/8’ long wall that is sheeted up on one side and open to the other with a variety of electrical boxes, switches, outlets, etc., to give students practice reading a wiring diagram and wiring a variety of household circuits using common electrician tools. A means of safely testing circuit would also need to be designed.

Please reach out to Mr. Rempel at fred.rempel@eips.ca if you have some availability on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evening in the next few weeks. These projects are listed in order of importance.

Help support the SCA Secondary Concert & Jazz Band and Choir's trip to MusicFest in Toronto, March 2025 by joining our Stawnichy's Mundare Sausage Fundraiser! Choose from delicious sausage coils, pepperoni sticks, cabbage rolls, perogies, and cheese crepes – perfect for friends, family, and neighbors.

All proceeds help fund our students' journey to showcase their musical talents on a national stage. You can drop your order form and cash payment to Mr. Lietz or the office for Mrs. Gibson. Orders close on November 4, 2024, with pickup on December 5, 2024.

Thank you for your support!

Access the SCS student life handbook: https://www.scasecondary.ca/students/scs-student-life-handbook

The ELAA career fair is happening November 4 from 1:00-2:00. This career fair is organized by EIPS and is comprised of Alberta post-secondary institutions including colleges, universities, and technical institutes; the RCMP, and Canadian Forces. All high-school students will be attending during their block 3 class.

Parents, I encourage you to have a discussion with your kids about their future careers. Encourage them to ask the recruiters questions, as they are a wealth of knowledge about programs, admissions, funding and more! A great list of questions to ask can be found on the ELAA website.

Thank you for helping make this day a success!

Mrs. Dion Matheson

School Counsellor

EIPS Career Pathways team is hosting more than 40 vendors including ASET, DOW, Emergency Services Academy, MacEwan, NAIT, Strathcona Emergency Services and Women Building Futures at the Strathcona Agora (across from the library) to meet with students and parents.

While this all-day Skilled Trades and Technology event is designed for all secondary students, this year our Grade 8's will attend at Dow Centennial Gym for the afternoon. Employers from the Heartland as well as many hands-on activities from welding simulators, making a pex-pipe hula-hoop to beauty culture will engage students.

Organizers also ask any attending Gr. 12's interested in a potential job to bring their resumes!

1. Contact Mr. Rempel for a Monday or Thursday Lunch meeting

2. We encourage all RAP Prep students to sign up for the Youth Skills Network with AIT https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/engagement-events/youth/

Diploma Exam prep registration opens on Monday, October 28th and is run by Next Step/Outreach. You can register at https://www.eipsnextstep.ca/diploma-prep . Should you have any further questions including payment inquiries, please contact them directly at eipsnextstep@eips.ca or call 780-464-1899.

Through Dual Credit opportunities, students can earn college/university credits from a Post-Secondary institution and high school credits in select programs. These opportunities are in partnership with Elk Island Public Schools Division, Lakeland College, Portage College, Norquest College, Olds College, and Alberta Education.

Dual credit helps students to:

- get started on a Post-Secondary education while still in high school
- save money on Post-Secondary tuition costs (through the Dual Credit Framework, high school students do not pay post-secondary tuition fees (other than the cost of textbooks)
- potentially earn credits in high school and a Post-Secondary Institution at the same time
gain experience to succeed academically in a Post-Secondary environment

Students will be responsible for purchasing all textbooks and required resources materials (ie: robotics kit). These costs are set by the Post-Secondary Institution and indicated in the course descriptions. Information about purchasing the required materials will be provided to students once they have been accepted into the course.

Note: due to the independent nature of dual credit programming, students should be self-directed learners.

For more information about dual credit, reach out to Mrs. Matheson (dion.matheson@eips.ca)

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.

Please let your teacher(s) or the office know if you are traveling outside of Canada and require access to your Brightspace. Regularly, Brightspace isn't accessible when you are outside of Canada, so we need to request access from EIPS for the duration of your travels.

Video surveillance at schools and on buses

Did you know each EIPS bus is equipped with video surveillance, and many school sites have video monitoring equipment?

Video surveillance and equipment help:

· ensure the safety of all students, staff, drivers and property; and

· discourage destructive acts.

As needed, EIPS school administration and Student Transportation staff review video recordings, in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. The recordings assist schools and the Division with monitoring student and driver conduct and may be used as evidence in a disciplinary matter.

For more information about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, contact the EIPS FOIP Co-ordinator at 780-464-3477

On behalf of the Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary School Council, thank you for helping us recognize our amazing staff for the wonderful work they do.

If there is staff member you'd like to recognize, please fill out this Google form.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Do you know a person at school that is great and deserves to be recognized? Nominate them for a 10/10! We want to hear all the good things that are happening around our school.

All these awesome stories will be shared on The Board and some may win a free meal at the Eagle's Nest!

Big thank you to Anastasia McDougall for building the new drama storage cabinets in the Commons. Anastasia is using the hours invested in this project towards completing her in-service component of her High School Leadership class.

We are super excited to launch our partnership with the new Community Kitchen high school course! Over the next year we are looking to support two ministries (to begin with), We Care and Youth Unlimited drop-in centers. Our goal is to provide meals and snacks for over 200 youth/adults each week in the hopes that by meeting the physical need for food, each individual will experience the love of Jesus. Our students will have an opportunity to serve selflessly and express compassion in a tangible way.

The proceeds from the Eagle's nest will go directly to this ministry and every meal you purchase will actually feed double-fold! Thank you in advance for all your support and please continue to pray that God will open even more doors of opportunity for us to serve!

• The Eagle's Nest is open! Each day, Miss Higgs will have a delicious meal ready for purchase. Meals are $6 each or you can purchase a 5-meal punch pass for $25. Cash or cards are accepted.

• Monday, November 4 (Day 2)

  • Jumbo Hot Dog and Fries

  Tuesday, November 5 (Day 1)

  • Chicken Club or Pulled Pork Wrap

  Wednesday, November 6 (Day 2)

  • Grilled Cheese or BLT Sandwich with soup

  Thursday, November 7 (Day 1)

  • Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl or Butter Chicken w Naan Bread

  Friday, November 8 (Day 2)

  • Lead 9 Pizza Fundraiser 2 slices and a pop $5

• October 30 - Parent Teacher Interviews 4-8 pm South Gym
• November 4 - Parent Teacher Interviews 4-8 pm South Gym
• November 4- ELAA Career Fair
• November 5- Your Future; Post Secondary and Career Fair
• November 6 - Early Dismissal
• November 8 - Remembrance Day Chapel Auditorium, all are welcome!
• November 11-15 - Fall Break No School
• November 10-16: Metis Week
• November 13: World Kindness Day
• November 18-22 Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
• November 19 - Picture retake Day
• November 25 - Band Concert- South Gym

Monday, November 4th is our next Student Grad Committee meeting at lunch in The Commons. Bring your lunch and be ready to plan 🙂

SPAC Youth has weekly gatherings, and we would love to have you join:

Senior High (Grade 9-12)

Tuesday | 7pm

Junior High (Grade 7-8)

Wednesday | 7pm

We’d love to have you join

Follow us on Instagram - @spacyth for more details.

We hope to see you there.

Please remember that our building does not open for students before 8:20AM. Students who arrive earlier will need to wait outside until the doors open.

In the afternoon, we kindly ask that parents pick up their children before 3:35PM. After 3:35PM, students are kindly asked to wait outside for their transportation.