AJS Weekly Bison Tracks

• March 1 - PD Day - No School
• March 6, 2:16 p.m. - Early Dismissal
• March 6 to 9, 7:00 p.m. - ADC Variety Show
• March 7, 5:00 p.m. - Concordia University Info Night (at Concordia University)
• March 8, 11:37 a.m. - Candy Bag Sales - Grade 9 French Immersion fundraiser
• March 14, 11:37 a.m. - Student Council Pi Day Events
  
• March 15, 11:37 a.m. - Student Council St. Patrick's Day Events
• March 15 - Jr. High Report Card Term 2
• March 15 - Summer School Registration Opens
• March 15, 6:00 p.m. - Band Jazz Night
• March 16, 10:00 a.m. - Norquest College Open House
• March 18, 6:00 p.m. - Canadian Parents for French Meeting
• March 18, 6:30 p.m. - School Council Meeting
• March 19 & 20, 5:00-8:00 pm - Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews
• March 19, 10:30 a.m. - La semaine de la francophonie - Cristian De La Luna
• March 20, 2:00 p.m. - La semaine de la francophonie Robert Walsk et Pierre Sabourin
• March 22 - PD Day - No School
• March 23 - April 1- Spring Break & Easter Holiday - No School
• April 2 - Back to school (Day 2)

Once again, Alberta Education is surveying teachers, students and families through its annual Alberta Education Assurance (AEA) Survey. The survey gathers feedback on the quality of education provided by school authorities and their schools, which they then use to help understand how they’re doing and plan for the future.

Throughout February, Grades 7 to 12 students at Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High School are completing the survey online at the school. Student participation is voluntary and completely anonymous. Students are assigned a random username and password to ensure survey responses aren’t linked to any individual student. The survey doesn’t take long to complete and is done within the school day during regular class time.

Additionally, parents and guardians of students in these grades are also asked to take a survey online. Alberta Education has mailed families information about the survey directly. As with the student and teacher survey, it’s anonymous and asks questions about your school experiences. If you have a child in these grades, we encourage you to participate. The survey deadline is March 1, 2024.

Results from the AEA Survey are provided to Elk Island Public Schools each spring. The Division then uses the data to inform its four-year education plan, school education plans and strategies for continuous improvement. Each fall, the results are also shared with EIPS families and school communities in the Division’s Annual Education Results Report.

RELATED INFORMATION
AEA Survey: Information for parents and guardians
AEA Survey
Assurance and Accountability: Alberta’s K-12 education system

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Make sure to complete the 2023-24 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For parents and caregivers—open from March 1-21.

Every year, EIPS conducts the feedback survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Families 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

To preview the questions before completing the survey, see Question Preview - 2023-24 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For parents and caregivers.

NOTE: To share the experiences of more than one child, or if you have a child who attends classes at more than one EIPS school—such as Next Step and an EIPS senior high school—simply complete the survey again.

The survey is anonymous and only takes roughly 10-15 minutes to complete. EIPS will share the survey results in next year’s Annual Education Results Report 2023-24.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23
EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23: Overview

EIPS Four Year Education Plan: 2022-26

The background links are also provided throughout the survey, which you can use to help inform your survey answers.

Parents can purchase tickets through their PowerSchool parent portal:

https://powerschool.eips.ca/public/home.html

For guests without a PowerSchool account:

https://www.studentquickpay.com/EIPS/

Instructions on how to create a guest account:

EIPS Guest Account Instructions

Jazz night is coming up March 15, 2024 - Mr. B will send out ticket/event info.

The Casino planning is underway. We will need Volunteers for May 6, 2024. Please watch your email for info from the AMPS Secretary.

The QR code to enroll as a member is below, all parents/guardians of band students are welcome to join. Membership is a great way to know what's new and upcoming with the Ardrossan Music Parents and, as always, membership is free!

AMPS has again partnered up with CTS/Mechanics our 2nd annual Car Show & Shine, which will be held on June 1, 2024. Please save the date to show off your ride, attend upcoming meetings to be a part of the planning, or plan on helping us out with the many volunteer positions that will need to be filled for the day of.

Director of Fundraising and Director of Grant Writing positions are still open.

If you have an interest in either of these positions, or have any comments or questions please feel free to reach out to

Kas Spiker at ampspres@gmail.com anytime.

Please join us for the Grad Parent Meeting on February 29 at 6:30 pm in the Ardrossan Theatre. During this meeting we will update parents on the general details of the commencement and dance, information about tickets, and updates on remaining tasks that the students still have to complete. We hope that you will be able to join us!

• Grad Slideshow photos - Students should be submitting group photos from elementary school, junior high and high school. These can be photos of field trips, birthday parties, athletics, band, drama, etc. Send in any and all memories students have together as a graduating class. Deadline is May 22.
• February 7- March 13 - Students should submit their baby photo and their grad quote for the yearbook.
• February 26 - March 8 - Grad song voting
  
• February 29, 6:30 pm - Grad Parent Meeting in the Ardrossan Theatre
  
• March 4 & 5 - Jostens ring and other Grad product sales at lunch
• March 4-6 - Grad portrait retakes
• March 4-15 Nominations for guest speaker and class historian
• April 1-12 - Grad ticket sales through PowerSchool Parent Portal
• April 29 - May 3 - Table seating selection

More information can be found on our Grad 2024 website or by emailing any of the staff members on our graduation committee:

Trudi Williamson - trudi.williamson@eips.ca

Nadine Stefiuk - nadine.stefiuk@eips.ca

Chrissy Parker-Young - christine.parker-young@eips.ca

Ray Basaraba - raymond.basaraba@eips.ca

Don't forget to order your yearbooks for this year! You can order and pay for them on PowerSchool Parent Portal - Student Fees. Yearbooks are all pre-ordered so don't forget to add them to your cart so that you don't miss out!

Please return all outstanding textbooks and novel studies.

Fees have been applied to your student fees account. To avoid paying, return all books to the library ASAP!!!

Remember, be aware of thin ice this time of year. Depending on changing temperatures, ice can form and melt to varying degrees on outdoor bodies of water. Try to remind your child about the dangers of thin ice, obey all posted signs, take proper care and remain a safe distance from the ice.

For more information about ice safety, visit the Canadian Red Cross.

Did you know?

The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength. Clear blue ice is the strongest. White opaque is half as strong as blue ice. And, grey ice is unsafe—greyness indicates the presence of water.

Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, opportunities for growth and how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2022-23 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

March Spotlight: cultivating high-quality learning environments and experiences

· Power of Kindness: Creates welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and safe learning environments in schools

· Building Blocks: How effective planning, management and infrastructure is supporting learning

· Raising the bar: Evidence-based practices that are enhancing teaching and learning in EIPS

RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2024-27

Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed? Ardrossan Jr Sr High encourages families to review the information the Division has on file to ensure it’s up to date. Using the Student Information Update available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, families can review the current information on file for each student—including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts, medical details and other related information—and submit any updates needed.

Reviewing and updating the form ensures the school and Division have the most up-to-date information regarding your child. Your review is especially important as the Division prepares for 2024-25 registration processes beginning in the new year.

NOTE: Only submit updates for the changes that have already taken place. If you’re moving later this school year, you’ll submit the necessary updates to your information through the Student Information Update after you’ve moved.

If you have questions about the form or any trouble with your Parent Portal account, contact the school office at 780-922-2228

Registration Opens March 15, 2024 through the

PowerSchool Parent Portal Registration Closes June 24

4-week and 2-week sessions are available

Full Session 4-week classes: July 2-26

Session 1: July 2-12 (8:30am-1:30pm)

Session 2: July 15-26 (8:30 am-1:00pm)

For more information, see the Summer School page on Next Step’s website.

Check out the new and improved athletics website here or click the button above. All information regarding teams, including schedules, tryout dates, games, and forms will be located here.

Basketball

• February 29, 4:00 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Girls Basketball @ RHJ
  
• February 29, 5:15 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Boys Basketball @ RHJ

Archery

• March 1 & 2 - AJS Archery Tournament
  

Handball Tryouts

• March 5, 3:30 p.m. - Sr. Womens Handball Tryouts
  
• March 11, 5:45 p.m. - Sr. Mens Handball vs Eastglen @ Memorial
• March 11, 6:45 p.m. - Sr. Mens Handball @ Memorial
• March 13, 4:45 p.m. - Sr. Mens Handball vs Queen Elizabeth @ ABJ
• March 13, 6:45 p.m. - Sr. Mens Handball vs Archbishop Jordan @ ABJ
• March 14, 4:45 p.m. - Sr. Womens Handball vs Queen Elizabeth @ ABJ
• March 14, 6:45 p.m. - Sr. Womens Handball vs Vimy Ridge @ ABJ
• March 18, 5:30 p.m. - Sr. Mens Handball vs Vimy Ridge @ ABJ
• March 21, 5:30 p.m. - Sr. Womens Handball vs Archbishop Jordan @ ABJ

Badminton

• March 4, 4:15 p.m. - Sr. Badminton Games @ Ardrossan
• March 7, 4:15 p.m. - Sr. Badminton Games @ Holy Trinity
• March 12, 4:15 p.m. - Sr. Badminton Games @ Ardrossan
• April 3, 4:15 p.m. - Sr. Badminton Games @ Spruce Grove
• April 17, 5:00 p.m. - Sr. Badminton Games @ Bev Facey
• April 18, 5:00 p.m. - Sr. Badminton Games @ Paul Kane
  

To register for the Open House, use the QR code and follow the "Register for Open House" button on the website.

High School Youth Researcher Summer Program (HYRS)

The Alberta Innovates High School Youth Researcher Summer Program (HYRS) offers paid, six week summer research experiences for Grade 11 students in health and medical sciences, including priority areas in digital or data driven health research, commercialization, and health system transformation. For more information, click on the QR code!

Discover CUE at our Info Night

Thursday, March 7, 2024 | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm

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 2025 through our Jump Start program.
• Grade 12 students who have already applied.
• Grade 12 students who are undecided; applications are open for Fall 2024 until June 30, Winter 2025 applications now open.
• Family, supporters, counsellors, and anyone interested in finding out more about CUE!

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS ATTEND?

• Application fee will be waived – Admission 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 2024 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: https://concordia.ab.ca/infonight
• Campus tours!
• Students who sign up will receive an application code by email to apply for free!

PLUS, new this year:

• Students who pre-register AND attend will be entered to win a FREE CUE hoodie!

Grade 11 Students in Financial Need and Planning on Post Secondary School after High School apply online at https://www.horatioalger.ca/en/scholarships

To apply for the Horatio Alger Association of Canada Scholarship Programs you must have completed your online application by March 15, 2024.

Alberta Health Services hosts a variety of virtual caregiver information sessions throughout the year focused on ways to support students’ mental health. The sessions are free and geared toward parents, caregivers, teachers and community members who want to learn more about challenges impacting children and adolescents. Session topics include anxiety, ADHD, depression, self-harm, technology, teens and teaching leadership skills, communication, resiliency and more. Visit Caregiver Education to see the monthly caregiver sessions.

Email: general.ajs@eips.ca
Website: https://www.ardrossan.ca/
Location: Ardrossan Junior Senior High School, Range Road 222, Ardrossan, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-922-2228
X : @ArdrossanJrSr