Today marks the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. On this day, we are reminded that Jesus, carried into the temple by Mary and Joseph, is the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people. More than just an offering under the law, Jesus is the true reconciliation between God and humanity. Later in His life, He would declare Himself the new temple and complete the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Every Mass continues this offering, reminding us that Christ is always present in our churches and in our lives.

Monday, February 3

- Senior Boys BBall vs SPA at ABJ beginning at 5:30 pm

- ABJ Improv at Nosebowl Improv Tournament beginning at 8:00 pm

Tuesday, February 4

- Grad committee meeting at lunch time in room 234

- Junior Girls BBall vs Sturgeon at ABJ beginning at 5:00 pm

- Junior Boys BBall vs Paul Kane at ABJ beginning at 6:30 pm

- ABJ Improv at Nosebowl Improv Tournament beginning at 8:00 pm

- Citadel Club at Frozen: The Musical

Wednesday, February 5

- Early Dismissal

- Grade 9 Boys and Girls BBall vs Sherwood Heights. Games at 4:00 and 5:15 pm respectively.

- Senior Girls BBall at Louis St. Laurent beginning at 5:30 pm

- Senior Boys BBall at Spruce Grove beginning at 5:30 pm

Thursday, February 6

- Teachers' Convention. No school.

Friday, February 7

- Teachers' Convention. No school.

- Senior BBall Teams at Father Michael Troy St. Joe's Tournament

Upcoming...

February 20

- ABJ Open House 6:00 - 8:00 pm

The newsletter is organized based on our four school assurance priorities for this year.

1. Faith Integration
2. Learners and Learning
3. Systemic Wellness
4. Community Engagement

All are welcome to a Healing Service put on by second year students of The Edmonton Encounter Ministries Campus.

National Catholic Health Care Week February 2-8 is a time to give thanks for Catholic health care.

Covenant contributes to the health and well-being of Albertans via four Catholic organizations rooted in an over 155-year legacy of compassionate care and service in the province. These include Covenant Health, Covenant Care, Covenant Living and Covenant Foundation.

During the Week, Covenant will share stories and generate discussion through their social media channels highlighting the inspiring work of Catholic health care, its legacy of healing and the incredible work their teams do every day.

Strengthening our faith-based community starts with your input. The Education Assurance Survey allows you to share how we can better support our students' spiritual and academic growth. Check your email for the survey link that should have been sent Monday, January 20.

Parents and guardians, please note the following:

• A survey link has been sent out to all families (oldest child). See here to complete the Parent Assurance Survey

• Use the same link to complete one survey per school that your child is attending.

• For example: If you have two children in two different schools within our division, please complete the survey for each school using the provided link.

Let us know if you have any questions— eicsassurance@eics.ab.ca. Thank you for your input!

See below for a few of our highlights from our 2023-2024 Division results.

Student surveys will take place in classes this week.

Please return your Grade 9 Immunization forms to the school office no later than Tuesday, February 4, 2025 indicating either, "yes we will be participating in the immunizations" or "no we do not wish to participate in the immunization program" on the form. If your child did not bring home a Grade 9 immunization form, please contact the Heather from AHS at 780-342-4636.

Those students that still do not have access to their locker, please come to the office to get your locker combination or to purchase a new school issued lock for a fee of $11.00 and we will remove the master lock off of your locker.

Please see here for the calculators required for different grade levels of math.

• Grade 9 students require a scientific calculator ($15 to $25). Graphing calculators not permitted.
• Grade 10 students may use a scientific calculator , but a graphing calculator is highly recommended.
• Grade 11 & 12 students require a graphing calculator.

Please contact your child's math teacher or our Math Department Lead, Mrs. Wetzstein (devon.wetzstein@eics.ab.ca) should you have any questions.

At Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School, we emphasize the value of in-person learning as part of our mission as a faith-filled community. Guided by Catholic values, we recognize the sacred nature of relationships within our school and affirm the importance of presence and connection, reflecting Christ’s call to walk together in faith and love.

Attendance is essential for not only community but also for academic success. Being present enables students to engage with the curriculum, build relationships, and participate in classroom activities. While absences due to illness or emergencies are sometimes unavoidable, minimizing absences ensures students receive the best education. ABJ’s Attendance Policy emphasizes the importance of regular attendance, noting that missing 20% of a course could lead to interventions or withdrawal due to significant curriculum gaps.

Please see the student letter HERE and the updated ABJ Attendance Process in the button below.

We just started the second semester and are offering two Ukrainian bilingual classes - UKR 9-10 and UKR 20-30. According to the Byzantine Rite Christian tradition, February 2 marks the ending of the Christmas season. Mr. V. Boychuk and his Ukrainian Bilingual students had an opportunity to carol in class during the first 2 days of Ukrainian classes.

Summer School registration is now open for students across our division. This is a great opportunity for students to earn credits, upgrade courses, or explore new learning pathways over the summer months.

Please encourage your staff to share this information with students and families who may benefit from summer learning. Details on course offerings, registration deadlines, and key dates are available at https://silc.eics.ab.ca/summer-school-2025.

Here is the course catalogue <-- we are also offering Math 15 (Math 10 Prep)

EICS families can register through PowerSchool.

The WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology) Youth Council invites students to participate in the upcoming virtual STEAM Exhibition held in spring!

The council is looking for 25 talented high school students to take part in this exciting opportunity to explore their creativity! Whether it be creating a painting advocating for climate change or producing a sculpture of an ecosystem, the student can create anything they are passionate about within the STEAM field.

Participants will get WISEST swag, and certain participants will be selected by judges to have their projects featured on WISEST media pages! The deadline for registering for the exhibition is February 28, 2025.

If you are interested in exploring last year’s winning projects, check out the WISEST website:https://www.ualberta.ca/en/women-in-scholarship-engineering-science-technology/programs/youth-council/steam-exhibition.html

Google Form for students to register to the event: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz2MevE4S8UCKvQ-KRKmsJs7QyNtKrlehOi_aVkycjGeLy_Q/viewform

Join NAIT's Program Previews from February 3 to 6 to explore programs, entrance requirements, and student supports. Learn how NAIT prepares grads with real skills for success. RSVP and get a discounted application fee of just $50—see below for details!

Health and Life Sciences

February 3

5:00 - 8:00pm

NAIT Main Campus, CAT Building (Feltham Centre)

Students can discover how to become a life-saving health professional with NAIT's School of Health and Life Sciences. Join us for lab tours, explore learning spaces, and visit info booths for Admissions and Student Awards and Financial Aid. Tours are first come, first served, so arrive early! Click here to reserve your spot!

Business, Hospitality and Culinary Arts

Media and Information Technology

February 4

5:00 - 8:00pm

NAIT Main Campus, CAT Building (Feltham Centre)

Explore NAIT's JR Shaw School of Business and School of Media and Information Technology programs, from Finance and Marketing degrees to Game Development and Cybersecurity diplomas, and culinary apprenticeships. Visit program booths, meet instructors, take lab tours, and get application support from Admissions advisors. Don't miss the chance to learn about student awards and financial aid! Click here to reserve your spot!

Construction and Building Sciences

Transportation

February 5

5:00 - 8:00pm

NAIT Main Campus, CAT Building (Feltham Centre)

Students can build their futures with NAIT's Construction and Building Sciences or Transportation programs. Gain the hands-on experience and knowledge needed for success in these industries. Meet instructors at program booths, learn about apprenticeships, and get application help from Admissions staff. Click here to reserve your spot!

Manufacturing and Automation

Energy and Natural Resources

February 6

5:00 - 8:00pm

NAIT Main Campus, CAT Building (Feltham Centre)

Prepare for a high-demand career with NAIT's School of Manufacturing and Automation or School of Energy and Natural Resour ces. These programs equip you with the skills industries need, from automation to energy sustainability. Connect with instructors at program booths, learn about apprenticeships, and get step-by-step guidance on applying. Click here to reserve your spot.

Webinar Wednesdays begin January 15, 2025! Registration is open now. Click here for more information or to register for a session! 6 p.m. MST - learn about program areas and join us for a Faculty Q&A!

February 5:

Horticulture & Environment

February12:

How to Apply

February19:

Transitional Employment

February 26:

Animal Health & Equine

March 5:

Trades & Meat

The Senate Page Program is looking for bilingual students from across the country pursuing their first degree at one of the four universities in the national capital region area. It is a unique opportunity for Canadian youth to work within Canada’s Upper Legislative Chamber where bills are debated, amended and become law.

Our Student Services Counsellors and Family Wellness Workers provide vital support for students’ emotional well-being, academic success, and personal growth. By offering guidance, mental health resources, and a safe space to navigate challenges, they help students thrive both in school and in life.

We are excited to welcome Mrs. Laurie Ciezki (lauriec@eics.ab.ca) to the role of Athletic Director as well as Mrs. Courtney St. Amand (courtney.stamand@eics.ab.ca) as Assistant to the Athletic Director. Please feel free to them for any Athletics comments, questions, or information.

Check out the website for all things Athletics.

The Grade 9 girls Basketball team competed in the Lakeland Tournament this weekend. They were successful against SPA and ESSMY to play in the first place game Saturday afternoon. The team played tough right to the last second. They were just 4 points short to the hosts to take home the silver medals. Congrats on a great tournament!

The Grade 9 Boys Basketball Team won gold at the Lakeland Ridge Tournament this weekend. Way to go Scots!

The junior boys returned to the court after exams and were very busy, playing 4 games in 36 hours. After defeating Eastglen 82-46 on Thursday, they sit in second place in the Metro standings. The boys went 2- 1at the Sherwood Showcase and are back at ABJ on Tuesday at 6:30…. Go Scots!!!

The senior teams headed to Red Deer this weekend for an eventful overnight trip. The girls won two out of 3 games, taking home the consolation championship.

Boys played with a lot of heart and hustle this weekend and won the consolation final. A few tough games but our Scots fought hard and are set to play their next season game Monday, February 3rd against St. Peter the Apostle, 5:30 pm at ABJ. The boys are also looking forward to the Father Michael Troy tournament coming up February 6th-8th. Go Scots!

Elk Island Catholic School Board (EICS) is tasked each year with approving a school calendar that meets the necessary hours of instruction, supports a quality learning environment and supports teacher and staff professional development. Please see the in-principle draft of the 2025-2026 school calendar for Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, and Vegreville. If you would like to provide feedback for the calendar, please attend our next Parent Advisory Council meeting on Monday, January 27 beginning at 6:30 pm in the ABJ library. The feedback gathered will be shared with senior admin prior to the next Board of Trustees meeting in February.

Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom-night experience for people with special needs 16+. Join at Bethel Lutheran Church in Sherwood Park, Alberta on February 7, 2025 from 5:30 - 9:00 pm! See https://nighttoshinebethel.wordpress.com/ for more information and a chance to register as a guest or volunteer.

The January edition of the Elk Island Catholic Schools Board of Trustees Monthly Highlights is now available.

This month’s updates include:

• Faith Formation: Reflections on forgiveness and mercy, guided by Gospel themes, at the January public meeting.
• An Update on the 2025-2026 School Calendars: Tentative approval of next year’s calendars, with final approval planned for an upcoming public Board meeting.
• Technology Upgrades: Enhanced classroom tools, new software, and pilot projects to maximize resources across the division.
• And more!

You can view the full highlights by clicking on this link.

Parents/Guardians are asked to ensure that all Yearly Consent forms in PowerSchool are completed as soon as possible. This is especially important in allowing programming to happen in the classroom.

1. Consent to disclose personal information to the School Council
2. Consent to Post/Display personal information of student under FOIPP (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy)
3. Copyright Permission
4. Technology Use Agreement
5. Low Risk Field Trip Consent Form
6. One to One Responsible User Agreement
7. Locker Use Agreement

In addition to Google Classrooms for each course, there is also a grade-level Google classroom. Students are asked to accept the invitation when they receive it in their school email. Parents will also be invited and are urged to accept the invitation as well.

The Scots Week at a Glance (SWAG) newsletter will be shared weekly on Sunday evenings or Monday evenings on long weekends. This will also be posted on our website and shared via social media. Stay informed on all things ABJ through the website, blog, and on social media.