NSO News & Information

Monday, April 14 is Instructional day #43 of 84 or 51% through semester 2.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." – Robert Collier

It’s hard to believe, but we are already halfway through Semester 2! Time seems to be flying, and we want to take a moment to recognize the progress—big and small—that our students have made so far. As always, we are so proud of the dedication, resilience, and growth we see in each learner.

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, a few important updates to keep on your radar:

• Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will take place April 23–24, and bookings are now open. These conferences are a valuable opportunity to reflect on successes, set goals, and strengthen the partnership between home and school.
• Our final hybrid School Advisory Meeting of the year is scheduled for April 29. Everyone is welcome! Your voice helps shape the direction of our school, and we would love to see you there as we reflect on this year and look ahead to the next.

As we say around here, “Small steps are still progress.” Whether your student is confidently striding forward or carefully stepping ahead, each move matters. Let’s keep walking together toward a strong finish.

-Principal Mr. B. Spady, Assistant Principal's Mrs. D. Bennett & Mrs. K. Porter

BOOKINGS for April Parent Teacher Student Conferences are open. We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences. These meetings are an important opportunity to discuss your child's progress and collaborate to support their learning journey. Please remember to sign up in advance. https://www.eipsnextstep.ca/bookings

Dates and Locations:

• Sherwood Park (SPO) and Vegreville (VGO): Join us Wednesday, April 23, from 4:15 to 6:45 p.m. In-person or by phone options are available.
• Fort Saskatchewan (FSO): Join us Thursday, April 24, from 4:15 to 6:45 p.m. In-person or by phone options are available.

We look forward to connecting with you during these conferences to celebrate progress and discuss strategies for continued success. Thank you for your partnership in education.

Registration opens Monday, April 14

Courses are designed for preparing students to write their Grade 12 diploma exams. The material presented is based on a 12-hour schedule over a weekend. Courses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a half-hour break for lunch. Courses will be offered at Salisbury Composite High School (20 Festival Way) in Sherwood Park. Students can only register for one review course each weekend. Cost is $125 per course, $75 for Science 30 (1 day session). Registration will close on May 29 for English and Social Studies Session 1 and June 5 Session 2, June 12 for Math and Biology and June 19 for and Chemistry, Physics and Science. Students/families will register via PowerSchool Parent Portal. More information at https://www.eipsnextstep.ca/diploma-prep

May 31-June 1 (ELA 30-1 & Social 30-1)

June 7-8 (ELA 30-1 & Social 30-1)

June 14-15 Math 30-1/2, Biology 30,

June 21 Science 30

June 21-22 Chemistry 30 Physics 30

We have added two different dates for ELA/Social sessions to accommodate graduation dates. We will have the same instructors for all our Math & Science sessions. For Social Studies we will have R. Purdy leading May 31-June 1 and K. Holt leading June 7-8. For ELA we have D. Siewert leading May 31-June 1 and S. Saumer leading June 7-8. If you have questions regarding Diploma Exam Prep sessions, please reach out to nextstep@eips.ca or 780-464-1899

Please connect with your Graduation contact at your location to review your courses, share your plans for next school year, and pick up your Grad 2025 T-shirt!

• Sherwood Park – Sara Wood (sara.wood@eips.ca) Success Coach
• Sherwood Park – D’Anne Bennett (danne.bennett@eips.ca) Assistant Principal
• Fort Saskatchewan – Janet Clarkson (janet.clarkson@eips.ca) Success Coach
• Vegreville – Carlin Adams (carlin.adams@eips.ca) Family School Liaison Worker
• Fort Saskatchewan & Vegreville – Krista Porter (krista.porter@eips.ca) Assistant Principal

We look forward to celebrating your Graduation on Friday June 6, 2025!

Please park in designated areas and adhere to signage regarding bus and fire lane access at all times. Additionally, on April 28 Salisbury Composite High will be a Federal Election Polling station. As such, parking will be limited throughout the day and there will be increased foot traffic around the facility. Your cooperation is appreciated!

Apr 15 Graduation Portraits Sherwood Park

Apr 16 Graduation Portraits Fort Saskatchewan

Apr 18 Good Friday- No School

Apr 21 Easter Monday- No School

Apr 22 Earth Day

Apr 23 Administrative Professionals’ Day

Apr 23 Parent Teacher Student Conferences (SPO/VGO) 4:15-6:45 p.m. Book Here
Apr 24 Parent Teacher Student Conferences (FSO) 4:15-6:45 p.m. Book Here

Apr 27 to May 4: National Volunteer Week

Apr 28 Federal Election (Salisbury is a polling station)

Apr 28 Strathcona County Youth Market 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Agora

Apr 29 School Advisory Council 5 p.m.

May 2 Staff Professional Learning -No School for students

May 5 National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

May 5 Cinco de Mayo

May 7 Early dismissal 2:10 p.m.

May 7-8 Skills Canada Competitions (Edmonton EXPO Centre)

May 10 Bear Witness Day

May 11 Mother's Day

May 14 Educational Assistance Appreciation Day

May 15 Moose Hide Campaign Day

May 19 Victoria Day-No School

May 28 Red Shirt Day

May 29 Grade 9 ELA PAT Part A

Our last hybrid meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 at 5 p.m.. We hope you can join us! Meeting starts at 5 p.m. at our Sherwood Park campus. Regular attendance is not required. Please check out our school calendar and NSO News & Information for scheduled School Advisory Council Meetings. Tentative agenda will be added below. Join the conversation at: https://meet.google.com/wbg-xbda-djb

Our Student Success team at Next Step is designed to maximize school engagement, increase academic success and enhance social, emotional and physical well-being for students.

Sherwood Park: Success Coach for grade 8-11 kevin.mackinnon@eips.ca email (Jen Martinez is away till May 30) and direct line 7804102948 (student/family strategies & community connections) & Success Coach for grade 12 & R12 Sara.Wood@eips.ca email and direct line 7804102942 (student/family strategies & community connections)

Fort Saskatchewan: Success Coach for grade 8-12 Janet.Clarkson@eips.ca email and direct line 7804103981 (student/family strategies & community connections)

Vegreville: Family School Liaison Worker Carlin.Adams@eips.ca email and direct line 7804103989 (student/family strategies & community connections)

Guidance Counselor: email Elli.Hansen@eips.ca and direct line 7804102952 (educational support and accommodations)

At Next Step, we believe that consistent engagement in learning is key to academic success. Students who do not actively participate in their course for a period of 30 days will be withdrawn from the course. Should a student wish to reengage, they will be required to meet with our Student Success team to discuss their commitment and develop a plan to ensure future success. As we say at Next Step Outreach, "small steps are still progress," and we are here to support every step of your journey. This policy ensures students remain committed to their learning, while also providing them with the necessary support to reengage effectively.

Appropriate use of personal communication devices contributes to the safety and security of students and staff, minimizes risk to personal wellbeing and disruption to instruction, and protects personal privacy and academic integrity. As such, personal devices are expected to be out of sight during instructional time.

Students may not access a PCD unless given permission by the teacher for a specific educational task or purpose. PCDs shall not be on the student unless the use is for: a diagnosed medical condition; or an identified inclusive-educational need.

From a security perspective, the most important function of an exterior door is for protection from the elements and to control entry for building security. All exterior doors will be locked, and opened only for student and visitor access during designated school entry times and special events. Students who arrive when doors are locked, as well as parents/caregivers and visitors, will be welcomed into the office after ringing the doorbell/video-monitored intercom entry system. All visitors must sign in and out of the school and follow the visitor protocol.

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.

The Division, and Next Step are committed to ensuring all members of the school community are provided with welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging. EIPS encourages all students, staff and families to review the procedures to understand and practice the conduct expected throughout the Division.

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
X: @eipsnextstep