NSO Weekly News

We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Monday is instructional day #15 of 83 for semester 2 or 18% complete. Reminder there is no school Friday, March 1 as a result of a Professional Learning day for staff.

February 26-29 is Kindness Week at Next Step. Throughout the week we will be engaging students in several activities linked to spreading kindness in our community. As Maya Angelou best said “It takes courage to be kind.” It is our hope to instill and spread kindness to those around us.

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.

Our next hybrid meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27 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 meetings: April 23, May 28

Virtual link: Join HERE

February 27 School Advisory Council 6 p.m. Join HERE

February 28 Pink Shirt Day

March 1 Professional Learning Day- No School

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.

March 20 Parent Teacher Student Conferences (SPO) 5-7:30 p.m.

March 21 World Poetry Day

March 22-April 1 Spring Break No School

Students are completing the survey online at school and participation is voluntary and anonymous. Parents and guardians are also asked to take a survey online. Survey deadline is March 1.

Parents that wish to participate in the survey may contact us to request a RAC be generated. Advise parents to contact directly at EDC.SystemAssurance@gov.ab.ca with the following information:

1. Name of school (Next Step Sherwood Park 3307 or Next Step Fort Saskatchewan 3310)
2. Name of school authority (Elk Island Public)
3. Grade of student

Parents do not need to provide any personal information about their child such as name, date of birth, or ASN.

On March 5 & 11 we will be hosting Saffron’s Education Team to present age-appropriate education on boundaries, consent, identifying abuse and harassment, and other issues relevant to sexual violence prevention.

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.

For more Information on Youth Violence prevention see https://www.saffroncentre.com/

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

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/

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.

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
Twitter: @eipsnextstep