AJS Weekly Bison Tracks

• February 8 & 9 - Teachers' Convention - No School for Students
  
• February 8 - Returning Student Registration Begins
• February 12-16 - Grad Photos
  
• February 12 & 13, 11:37 a.m. - Student Council Valentine's Day Charity Card/Crush Can Sales
• February 13, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - AJS Open House
• February 13, 12:00-3:00 p.m. - University of Alberta 1-on-1 sessions (sign up at Student Services)
• February 14, 11:37 a.m. - Student Council Valentine's Day Charity Prize Wheel Game
• February 14 - Student Council Valentine's Day Charity Card/Crush Can Delivery
• February 15, 8:45 a.m. - NAIT Next In Trades - NAIT Main Campus
• February 17 - Random Acts of Kindness Day
• February 19 - Family Day - No School
• February 20, 6:30 p.m. - AJS Quebec Trip Parent & Student Meeting
• February 23 - Band Pops Concert
• February 29, 6:30 p.m. - Grad Parent Meeting

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

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.
• February 1-7 - Students should come to the office to be measured for their grad gown.
• February 1-16 - Grad song nominations will be accepted.
• February 7- March 13 - Students should submit their baby photo and their grad quote for the yearbook.
• February 12-16 and March 4-6 - Grad photos will be taken in our theatre lobby. Appointment booking will take place next week. Look for the email, Instagram post and Grad Website update that will come out next week with more information and the link to access the booking system.
• February 29, 6:30 pm - Grad Parent Meeting in the Ardrossan Theatre

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

Pops Concert Feb 23 - We will need a few parent volunteers to run the concession (ideally parents who have band students in Jr. High as the Sr. High parents will want to attend this concert). It's only one shift, from 5:30 to 8pm. Sign up below at Signup Genius. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DADA92DA2FFC07-47330190-pops

Archery Tournament Concession - Mar 1 & Mar 2 - will require MANY volunteers. Students can volunteer for this one to add cash to their student accounts!
Ardrossan Music Parents Society: AMPS Concession at Archery Tournament (signupgenius.com)

If you ordered, Bandwear is available for pick up in the band room

The Casino planning is coming along. Casino responsibilities and funds are shared between the Band and Football programs. We will need Volunteers for May 6 & 7. First planning meeting will be February 22, 5 pm at AJSH.

AMPS has again partnered up with CTS/Mechanics our 2nd annual Car Show & Shine, it 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 day of.

Director of Fundraising and Director of Grant Writing positions are still open. If you have an interest in either of these positions, please reach out to Kas Spiker at ampspres@gmail.com.

Next AMPS meeting is on Wednesday Feb 21 at 6pm in the band room. All Parents/Guardians are welcome to attend. It's a great way to get involved in what's going on with our band kids! Thank you to everyone who has already jumped in and helped out, it is really great to see how our little community gets together to support our school and enhance the already amazing programs at Ardrossan Jr-Sr High!

If you have any questions, please email Kas Spiker at ampspres@gmail.com

As part of EIPS’ ongoing commitment to maintaining a secure and effective digital learning environment for students, the Division is implementing an important update to its cybersecurity protocols Jan. 19, 2024.

Enhanced Location-based Security for Student Accounts

Starting Jan. 19, 2024, access to student user accounts—used for platforms like PowerSchool, Brightspace and Google—will be limited to within Canada's geographical boundaries. This change is an essential step in strengthening our cyber defenses and ensuring the digital safety of students.

What Does This Mean for You and Your Child?

Location-limited Access: Your child's account will be accessible only when they’re physically located in Canada. This includes all activities related to their schoolwork, such as submitting assignments, accessing study materials or sending EIPS account emails.

Seamless In-country Use: While in Canada, students will experience no change in how they access and use their accounts. The process remains as straightforward and user-friendly as always.

PowerSchool Access for Parents and Caregivers: This change will NOT impact parent and caregiver access to PowerSchool during periods of travel.

Why This Change?

The safety and privacy of students are paramount. This location-based access control is a proactive measure to prevent unauthorized access to students' accounts and protect sensitive information from potential cyber threats.

Questions?

For more information, contact the school office at (780)922-2228.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Together, we can ensure a secure and thriving digital learning environment for all students

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 the most recent 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.

February Spotlight: Student Growth and Success

· Early Learning: Ensuring early learners reach developmental milestones

· Culture of Literacy: Dive deep into the data and learn how students are developing strong literacy skills

· Math Matters: Enhancing reasoning, understanding and achievement through numeracy-rich classrooms

· Boosting Educational Outcomes: Discover how EIPS supports the growth and achievement of students who self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit

· Beyond High School: Supports and strategies that are creating real-life career pathways for learners

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

Mark your calendars! Registration for EIPS Summer School opens March 15. 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 7, 4:00 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Boys Basketball @ OLPH
  
• February 7, 5:15 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Girls Basketball @ OLPH
• February 7, 5:00 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Mens Basketball vs Memorial
• February 7, 6:30 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Womens Basketball vs Memorial
• February 12, 5:00 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Womens Basketball vs St. Oscar Romero
• February 12, 6:30 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Mens Basketball vs St. Oscar Romero
• February 13, 4:00 p.m. - Jr. Sr. Boys Basketball vs LLR
• February 13, 5:15 p.m. - Jr. Sr. Girls Basketball vs LLR
• February 13, 6:30 p.m. - Jr. Varsity Mens Basketball @ Queen Elizabeth
• February 14, 5:00 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Mens Basketball @ Dr. Anne Anderson
• February 14, 6:30 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Womens Basketball @ Dr. Anne Anderson
• February 15, 4:00 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Girls Basketball vs LLR
• February 15, 5:15 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Boys Basketball vs LLR
• February 15, 5:30 p.m. - Jr. Varsity Mens Basketball vs St. Albert

Archery

• February 10, 10:00-6:00 p.m. - Archery Tournament - Stettler

Current high school applicants who have not been admitted or who are still waiting for an offer to their first-choice program can update their courses and new final marks beginning February 12 in their UAlberta Launchpad account.

Students looking for support are invited to our Updating Courses & Marks virtual workshop where we will walk students through the process and answer their questions. Registration is available at uab.ca/recruitmentevents.

Sessions are on Feb. 12, 5-6 p.m. and Feb. 13, 6-7 p.m.

Empowering diversity and inclusion in the trades

NAIT recognizes that Aboriginal peoples, Black and racialized communities, newcomers, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are underrepresented in the trades.

Next in Trades is a free event series that encourages and empowers people from all backgrounds and abilities to explore careers in the skilled trades industry. As a leading skilled trades training and education provider, NAIT provides training and mentorship to prepare you to succeed in the trades.

Explore your potential and discover a career that works for you in the skilled trades.

Register

Upcoming dates:

Thursday, February 15, 2024, NAIT Main Campus

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
Twitter: @ArdrossanJrSr