

NSO Weekly News
March 4-9, 2024
Sherwood Park - Fort Saskatchewan - Vegreville
We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Monday is instructional day #19 of 83 for semester 2 or 23% complete. Hard to believe we are already into March. This week we have Grad photos scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Reminder clocks spring ahead on Sunday as daylight savings starts.
We appreciate the opportunity to engage, interact, and support all families. Our Next Step vision is to create a community of learners who embody the virtues of acceptance, flexibility, individualization, respect, and responsibility. We are excited you are part of our alternative learning environment. Have a great week! #gogreen Mr. B. Spady Principal & Mrs. K. Porter Assistant Principal
High School students are required to check in and meet with their instructor(s) weekly. It is recommended that multiple check ins occur each week to ensure successful completion of academic course work. Students not adhering to the weekly check in schedule or failing to engage in the learning process will be removed from their course.
2023-24 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For Parents and Caregivers is open!
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you about your experience with the Division and your school. Share your thoughts by completing the 2023-24 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For Parents and Caregivers—open March 1-21.
Annually, EIPS conducts the survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Parents and caregivers are asked a series of questions about:
- their experiences with EIPS and the specific school their child attends;
- the quality of education being provided to students;
- areas for improvement; and
- new this year, the survey includes an additional series of questions—focused on stakeholder confidence in EIPS’ priorities and strategic direction as a whole.
Collectively, the Division uses the survey feedback to help guide future planning, decision-making and strategies—all aimed at enhancing student learning and better serving the wider community.
TAKE THE SURVEY NOW! open March 1-21
Upcoming events
March 5 SAFRON student presentations (SPO 9 a.m. & 1 p.m.)
March 6 Early dismissal (2:15 p.m.)
March 7 SPO Grad Portraits
March 8 FSO Grad Portraits & International Women's Day
March 11 Commonwealth Day
March 11 SAFRON student presentations (SPO 9 a.m. & 1 p.m.)
March 11-15 Substitute Appreciation Week
March 14 Pi Day activities
March 15 Summer School Registration opens
March 16 NorQuest College Open House norquest.ca/OpenHouse
March 17 St. Patrick's Day
March 19 Parent Teacher Student Conferences (FSO) 5-7:30 p.m. Conference Sign Up
March 20 Parent Teacher Student Conferences (SPO) 5-7:30 p.m. Conference Sign Up
March 21 World Poetry Day
March 22-April 1 Spring Break No School
Grad 2024 Update
Graduation Photos are taking place this week. Please be in touch with your success coach (Aley.Kulbaba@eips.ca or Janet.Clarkson@eips.ca) to confirm your graduation photo time. Remember to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to get prepared in your cap and gown! We will provide you with the graduation cap, gown and stole. Traditionally, male students wear a collared shirt and tie, and female students wear a collar that will not be seen under the graduation gown.
Photo dates: Sherwood Park– Thursday, March 7 & Fort Saskatchewan– Friday, March 8
See the attached document for details about Next Step’s Graduation 2024. Highlights include:
- Grad Google Form to be done in May (baby and school age photos needed, thank you message written, ticket orders)
- Grad Gown pick up May 31 – June 5, 2024
- Grad Lunch 11:45 a.m. Tuesday June 4, 2024
- Graduation Ceremony at the Shell Theatre, Fort Saskatchewan Thursday June 6, 2024 – Doors open at 1:45 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m.
SAFFRON Centre Presentations (Sherwood Park)
On March 5 & 11 we will be hosting Saffron Education Team to present age-appropriate education on boundaries, consent, identifying abuse and harassment, and other issues relevant to sexual violence prevention. For more Information on Youth Violence prevention see https://www.saffroncentre.com/
March 5 Healthy Relationships 101 (9 a.m. & 1 p.m.)
Healthy relationships with friends, family, and partners impact every part of our lives. This presentation sets the tone for more in-depth conversations around healthy versus unhealthy relationships, boundaries, and consent. They also cover feelings of entitlement within romantic relationships and strategies to manage rejection from peers.
March 11 Internet Safety Essentials- Privacy, Autonomy and Security (9 a.m. & 1 p.m.)
Informed by the youth in Saffron’s outreach programs, this presentation highlights the major differences between privacy, autonomy, and security online. Topics covered include privacy settings, location sharing, adding new friends to chat-based apps, chatrooms, cyberbullying, and sexting laws.
Parent Teacher Student Conferences March 19/20
Our first round of Parent Teacher Student Conferences for semester 2 are scheduled for March 19 & 20. You can sign up via the booking tab on the eipsnextstep.ca website or via Conference Sign Up link.
- Fort Saskatchewan campus -join us Tuesday, March 19 in person, virtually or by phone to speak with teachers from 5:00 to 7:30 pm.
- Sherwood Park campus -join us Wednesday, March 20 in person, virtually or by phone to speak with teachers from 5:00 to 7:30 pm.
Our second round of Conferences are scheduled for April 24 & 25. Conversations regarding student support, academic progress or check ins can happens at any time. Please feel free to reach out to staff throughout the semester should questions or concerns arise.
NorQuest College
Join us for Open House on March 16! Tour our campus, attend info sessions, meet instructors, learn about student services, & more. BONUS: No application fee for domestic students applying to Spring & Fall 2024 programs during the event! Register at http://norquest.ca/OpenHouse
School Advisory Council
Our next hybrid meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 at the Sherwood Park campus. We hope you can join us in-person or virtually. Meeting starts at 6 p.m. Regular attendance is not required. Please check out our school calendar and NSO Weekly News for scheduled School Advisory Council Meetings. Tentative agenda is below. Remaining meeting: May 28
Virtual link: Join HERE
Parent Resources
Cannabis: Get to know more about cannabis and explore the effects that early use of cannabis products can have on a young person’s life, then have a conversation with your child.
https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/drug-spotlights/cannabis/
Health Education and Learning Website: www.ahs.ca/heal is a resource aimed at providing families easily accessible, reliable information about common minor illness and injuries in children. This resource offers general information about the causes, symptoms and home management options for common minor illnesses and injuries, and when to seek medical care.
Parent Support Hub: is safe virtual space for parents, guardians and families to get guidance and support. This free service is available 24/7 for anyone who is concerned about the use of substances by a young person in their life.
https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/support/supporthub/
Vaping: Vaping’s popularity among youth has grown significantly over the past five years – and there is a lot of concern that this increase may have a negative impact on the overall health of young people. https://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/issues/vaping/
Teaching Sexual Health: For up to date, evidence based information and strategies for parents to deliver effective sexual health education https://teachingsexualhealth.ca/
Our Vision
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.
Hours of Operation
Students, parents, and caregivers can access our campus locations during the following times:
Monday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.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.
Next Step Outreach
Email: nextstep@eips.ca
Website: eipsnextstep.ca
Phone: 7804641899
Twitter: @eipsnextstep