Jesus calls us to a love that goes beyond human instinct - a love that embraces even our enemies. It is easy to love those who love us, but Christ challenges us to reflect the boundless mercy of God by loving without conditions, giving without expecting return, and forgiving without limit. This is not a passive love, but an active choice to break cycles of hatred, judgment, and self-interest. When we live with this generosity of heart, we reflect the mercy of our Heavenly Father and open ourselves to the abundant grace He pours into our lives.

As we observe Anti-Bullying Day on February 26, 2025, let us embody Christ’s call to love even in difficult situations. By responding to negativity with kindness, standing up for others, and choosing forgiveness over resentment, we help create a world rooted in Christ's mercy and love.

Monday, February 24

- PD Day. No school.

Tuesday, February 25

- Citadel Club at A Midsummer Night's Dream, 70s Musical. Students please be ready to go in the lower common room for 5:45 pm.

- High School Badminton Tryouts from 3:15-4:30 pm

- Grade 9 Girls and Boys BBall at Rudolph Hennig. Games at 4:00 and 5:15 pm respectively.

- Junior Girls BBall vs. St. FX at ABJ beginning at 5:00 pm

- Junior Boys BBall vs. SPA at ABJ beginning at 6:30 pm

Wednesday, February 26

- Pink Shirt Day. Stand up against bullying!

- PEP Day. Choose your session at abjpep.sched.com

- Boys and Girls Rugby information session at lunch time in the Library Learning Commons

- Seniors Night at ABJ... Senior Girls BBall vs. Bev Facey beginning at 5:00 pm AND Senior Boys BBall vs. Louis St. Laurent beginning at 6:30 pm

Thursday, February 27

- Slo-Pitch Team meeting at lunch time in room 157

- Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Teen Mentoring at lunch time in room 132

Friday, February 28

- Library Learning Commons Closed over the lunch hour

- Handball Drop-In from 3:30-5:00 pm

Upcoming...

March 4

- Shrove Tuesday

March 5

- Ash Wednesday Masses. See class times for the day below.

- Early Dismissal

March 7

- PD Day. No school.

March 17

- PAC Meeting at 6:30 in the ABJ Library Learning Commons

March 21 - 30

- Spring Break

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

EICS will be conducting a Catholic School Review at Archbishop Jordan on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week. The purpose of the review is to gather insights into faith formation and student learning. Through surveys, interviews, and observations, this review highlights the strengths of our faith-based education and helps us grow as a Christ-centered community. Students will notice various staff from EICS Central Learning Services in the building as they engage in this process. Thank you in advance for welcoming our visitors with the kindness and hospitality that make ABJ such a special place!

Catholic School Review Surveys

A parent survey was sent out to parents/guardians via email on Friday, February 14. Students were to have completed the surveys in their period 3 classes on Friday, February 21st. Staff will be completing the survey as part of the PD day on Monday, February 24.

The survey closes on Tuesday February 25th, 2025 at 4:00 pm. The purpose of this process of gathering, analyzing and synthesizing information is to assist in strengthening the School Education Assurance Plan that continues to move and improve our school in the area of Catholicity. Our ultimate goal is to support faith formation and impact student learning.

Thank you to everyone who has completed or will complete the survey! If you have any questions about the process, please contact Mrs. Tymko at 780-467-2121 or via email at ruthb@eics.ab.ca

Congratulations to Fr. Jim Corrigan on being named this year’s chair of the Sign of Hope fundraising campaign through Catholic Social Services! His dedication to serving the community through faith and leadership is sure to be a blessing to this important initiative. May God continue to guide and strengthen him in this role.

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

A heartfelt thank you to all attendees, volunteers, performers, and staff who made our ABJ Open House a great success! Your participation and enthusiasm showcased the incredible spirit of our school community. We appreciate everyone who contributed their time and energy to welcoming future Scots and sharing what makes ABJ such a special place.

Attention Grade 12 Math Nerds!

Get ready to flex your problem-solving skills and join us for a day of math! You’ll have the chance to work both individually and in teams to tackle challenges at the biggest high school math competition in Canada.

Want to represent your school and showcase your math abilities? Be sure to express your interest by contacting Mme Rocque (Room 218) or Mrs. Wetzstein (Room 212) by Tuesday (February 25th) so we can register our team. Spots are going fast, so get your name in!

It’s time to work your angles—don’t miss out!

To wrap up the first unit of Science 9 (Biodiversity), students in Mr. Trovela's class created DNA models using Twizzlers and Jube-Jubes! They collaborated with their partners to create unique DNA structures to represent different characteristics of an organism. Then they had to draw their creations using the traits they selected. Everyone had a fun-time making their models and of course an even better time getting to eat them once they were completed!

Attached are some of the candy creations from the class!

The Aboriginal Studies 20 class attended a day at the UofA hosted by the Faculty of Business and Junior Achievement. The day looked at opportunities for both indigenous and non indigenous students of they choose to attend the UofA in any program.

February to June is the peak scholarship period when most scholarships are available for grade 12 students. Many of the students actively looking for scholarships in October and November have dropped off, making this an excellent time for students to find and apply for scholarships!

Better still, new scholarships are continually being added every week. On ScholarTree alone, they have added 31 awards worth over $120,000 in the last week.

Here are some scholarships that either just opened or are ending shortly that may interest:

• https://scholartree.ca/scholarship/ada-indigenous-steam-bursary/ybrm8lQBqnq
• https://scholartree.ca/scholarship/jay-nijholt-scholarship/0yVGYK0BpE
• https://scholartree.ca/scholarship/pathfinder-scholarship-award/yzAwaHt6abX
• https://scholartree.ca/scholarship/utility-safety-partners-scholarship/ymMB1WAowBg (Alberta Students only)
• https://scholartree.ca/scholarship/jsk-consulting-ltd-scholarship-in-memory-of-rolly-walgenbach/N7MqAKDkAbg(Alberta Students only)

REMEMBER - your Scholarship Search Guide is your best place to start if you haven't already. It begins on PAGE 7 so start there!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Glass or Mrs. St.Amand.

See the opportunities that await! Create a big future at our small campus. This event will be in person on campus as well as live-streamed.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

• Grade 11 students can apply now for Fall 2026 through our Jump Start program.
• Grade 12 students who have already applied.
• Grade 12 students who are undecided; applications are open for Fall 2025 until June 30, Winter 2026 applications now open.
• Family, supporters, counsellors, and anyone interested in finding out more about CUE!

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS ATTEND?

• Application fee will be waived – Admissions Advisors will be on hand to assist with the online application (fee waived for domestic students only)
• Registration Advisors will also be on hand to assist Fall 2025 admitted students with registration in courses.
• Faculty presentations from the Deans and in-person booth fair; live stream link will be emailed ahead of time and available on our event webpage, concordia.ab.ca/infonight
• Tours of campus and student residence!
• Students who sign up will receive an application code by email to apply for free!

PLUS

• We're giving away CUE sweaters for in-person applications submitted at Info Night!

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 26:

Animal Health & Equine

March 5:

Trades & Meat

If you are looking for programs with open seats for Fall 2025, check out NAIT's options below. We're also bringing you updates on which programs had their competitive requirements removed for the Fall 2025 intake.

Aiming at a Winter 2026 start date instead? Applications will open soon, on March 1.

Click HERE to see Fall 2025 Programs with open seats!

Fall 2025 - Programs without competitive requirements

The following programs have removed their competitive requirements for Fall 2025 only:

• Civil Engineering Technology
• Chemical Engineering Technology
• Construction Engineering Technology
• Engineering Design Technology
• Surveying and Geospatial Engineering Technology
• Electronics Engineering Technology
• Geoscience Technology
• Nanosystems Engineering Technology
• Petroleum Engineering Technology
• Wireless Systems Engineering Technology
• Water and Wastewater Technician

Click HERE to apply for any of these programs!

Winter 2026 applications open March 1!

Winter Applications open on March 1, 2025 for a start date in January 2026. Use the link HERE to apply.

The Winter 2026 intake application at King's University is now open!

King's University offers many programs to equip students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Competitive Scholarships & Financial Aids application is now open!
The competitive scholarship and financial aid application is now open for King's University. These scholarships recognize academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement. The deadline for competitive scholarship is March 31st, 2025.

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.

ABJ's Citadel Theatre Club is a unique opportunity where students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the magic of live performance! Students will attend professional productions, engage in pre-show learning to deepen their understanding, and enjoy exclusive post-show discussions with performers and production teams. This unique opportunity fosters a love for the arts, critical thinking, and meaningful connections with the world of theatre.

Here is a glimpse of what happens at Citadel Club.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The ‘70s Musical - Tuesday February 25th

6:30 PM – 7:10 PM: pre-show presentation in Zeidler Hall.

William Shakespeare’s richly comedic characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream have inspired centuries of boisterous laughs from audience members. Amidst the complex language and expansive imagery, how do actors make the action of the story clear to contemporary audiences? Before seeing A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The ‘70s Musical, Students Club participants are treated to an in-depth exploration of the words of William Shakespeare with Neil Bye-Kuefler.

Neil Bye-Kuefler is a passionate educator at Victoria School of the Arts in Edmonton, fostering the next generation of learners. He is dedicated to his family, cherishing his roles as partner and parent. A lifelong learner, Neil thrives on collaboration and embraces the joy of imaginative play, whether on stage or in everyday life. His contributions to the Edmonton theatre scene, including his co-founding of Thou Art Here Theatre, have brought him a great source of inspiration and he hopes that in some small way he has brightened the landscape of our fine city. Trust your guts.

7:30 PM – 9:55PM: performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The ‘70s Musical in the Maclab Theatre.

The approximate run time is 2 hours and 25 minutes (including a 20 minute intermission). The talk-back should end around 10:20PM. *Please note that all timings are approximate.*

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.

5 vs 5 FULL COURT GAMES (Games will consist of two 5 minutes halves)

• These run every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at lunch in the large gym
• 7 - 10 player on a team
• 3 team members must be of the opposite gender
• No more than TWO HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS on a team, and no more than THREE GRADE NINE BASKETBALL PLAYERS on a team.
• Teams can be any grade level (or a combination of grade levels)
• Please make sure you are changed and have appropriate footwear on game days.
• Deadline to sign up is THURS, FEB 27th!
• Tournament starts March 3rd!
• 
  

See you on the court!

Google Form Sign Up

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 ABJ mixed curling team won the Metro Edmonton Championship final on Wednesday defeating the team from Paul Kane High School (St. Albert). The team will be heading to Brooks next week for provincials.

Left to right in picture(s) are Sadie Stelmach, Lily MacDonald, Ryan Stockdale, Sarah Yarmuch, Ben Bassendowski-Day, (and Mr. Perozak).

Are you interested in playing for the High School badminton team? Tryouts are happening this Tuesday, February 25th after school in the Large Gym. All grade 10s, 11s and 12s who would like to participate in the competitive high school badminton season are invited to see M. Kent in Room 145 Tuesday at lunch to sign up for tryouts.

The senior girls had a league game against St. FX this week. Although they fought hard, they were unable to pull out the win. This weekend they redeemed themselves, having a great weekend at the Memorial Tournament and coming out with second place.

Senior boys headed to Stony Plain Wednesday to face Memorial Composite in a game that turned into a nail biter. Tied at 77 points at the end of the fourth quarter, the game extended into five minutes of overtime. Our Scots proved they were not to be messed with and beat out the Marauders 84 to 77. On Friday evening, senior boys proved their grit again with another win against the SPA Spartans. Well done, boys! Come on out for the last league game on Wednesday, February 26th at ABJ and cheer on our boys as they face off against Louie St. Laurent. Go Scots!

The junior girls faced off with O'Leary last Tuesday but came up short for the win. They are back in action against St. FX at ABJ on Tuesday - bring your school spirit and cheer them on!

After 2 big wins this week, the junior boys head into their last week of the regular season with a 9-1 record and sit at the top of their division. The team continues to be led by the strong play of their veteran players and has seen many rookies rise up and be big contributors in the second half of the season. Our next home game is Tuesday, February 25 at ABJ… Come cheer on your Scots!!!

The grade 9 boys had a busy week of play with two winning league games against Lakeland Ridge on Wednesday and St. Andre Bessette on Friday, followed by the Facey Tournament this weekend.

The grade 9 girls finished out their fifth and final tournament of the season with a second place finish, with help from some eager borrowed players from St. Theresa and OLPH! It was a great weekend of basketball and the girls play their final regular season game at RHJ on Tuesday. Go Scots!

Students can sign up directly on Google Forms here: https://forms.gle/eLN8XymvghR8jeim8

Parental/Guardian consent is required for all youth volunteers - we will be sending a separate form to Parents/Guardians for consent.

Did you know that you can support EICS by directing your property taxes to Catholic education? Please read this letter from EICS Board of Trustees Chair Le-Ann Ewaskiw to learn about this meaningful opportunity to strengthen Catholic education for our students.

The EICS Board of Trustees approved the 2025-2026 school year calendars at their February 19 public meeting.

Each year, the goal is to develop a calendar that meets required instruction hours, supports a quality learning environment, and provides for teacher and staff professional development.

In addition, EICS takes into consideration the calendars for Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) and Battle River School Division (BRSD). While our division provides student transportation in Sherwood Park and Strathcona County, we have cooperative bussing agreements in place with our public board counterparts in Vegreville, Camrose and Fort Saskatchewan.

New for this year in Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Strathcona County, and Vegreville, the calendar has early dismissal every Wednesday.

In Camrose, Our Lady of Mount Pleasant and Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic schools will operate four-day student weeks. St. Patrick Catholic School will continue to operate five-day student weeks.

Notable dates for the 2025-2026 calendar include:

• Aug. 28: First day of school in Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park/Strathcona, Vegreville.
• Nov. 10 - 14: Fall break for all schools.
• Dec. 22 - Jan. 2: Christmas break for all schools.
• March 23 - 27: Spring break in Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park/Strathcona, Vegreville.
• April 3: Good Friday.
• April 6: Easter Monday.
• June 23: Last day of school for all schools.

The February edition of the Elk Island Catholic Schools Board of Trustees Monthly Highlights is now available! This month’s updates provide insight into ongoing initiatives, enrolment trends, and faith-based activities happening across our division.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s included:

• School Calendars: Approval of the 2025-2026 calendars and a tentative plan for the 2026-2027 calendar in Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Strathcona County, and Vegreville, with community feedback still to come.
• Student Transportation: The return of the Give A Pencil Car Wash fundraiser and plans for a Faithful Journeys program to encourage positive bus behaviour.
• Enrolment Projections: Early estimates indicate nearly 9,000 students will be attending EICS schools in 2025-2026.
• Artificial Intelligence in EICS: A new subcommittee is working on an administrative procedure to guide AI use in the division.
• Community Engagement: The Flying Fathers hockey games brought faith and fun together for students and staff.

These are just a few of the updates from this month’s meeting. Read the full highlights to stay informed about what’s happening in EICS.

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.