January 30 - Professional Learning Day - School Closed

January 31 - Semester 2 Begins

February 1 - Early Dismissal

February 1 - Returning Student Registration for 2023-2024 Opens

February 9-10 - Teachers Convention - NO SCHOOL

February 15 - Final Day for Timetable Changes

February 16 - OPEN HOUSE for Incoming Grade 10's

February 20 - Family Day - NO SCHOOL

February 22 - Pink Shirt Day

February 28 - Returning Student Registration for 2023-2024 Closes

Hello Fort High Families,

Exam week is wrapping up and all marks are currently being finalized. For our students who wrote diploma exams, Alberta Education usually releases the marks during the middle to end of February.

The second semester timetable has been set and there is limited space in many classes. If a student wishes to make a course change please make an appointment with myself or Mrs. Bennett to discuss the potential options. The final day for timetable changes will be February 15th.

A special congratulations goes out to one of our staff members, Sue Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy will be retiring as of January 27th. Mrs. Kennedy has spent over 25 years as a valuable member of the Fort High community. We wish her all the best in her retirement.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Have a great weekend.

Resume & Interview Prep for Teens

How do you write a resume with no job experience? How do you prepare for common interview questions? What are employers looking for? Find the answers in this informative 45-minute session with expert Christy Ciezki.

4-5pm, Wednesday, January 25

Fidget Making

Learn how to make your own puzzle cube fidget toy. Fidgets are a great way to improve focus and help with stress management.

4-5pm, Monday, February 27

Women's History Month Scavenger Hunt

Search the library building to find clues about revolutionary women and then make your own themed buttons.

March 1-31 (during library hours)

Students and families, please click on the link below to open The New Career Pathways Newsletter.

Happening now! Whether your students want more information on their top program choices or are still exploring multiple options, there are events geared towards helping them find their path at the U of A available until the end of the week. Registration is available at uab.ca/programweek.

U of A Getaway

We are inviting 20 lucky Grade 11 students to get away to the U of A! Their adventure will include transportation reimbursement (up to a maximum based on location), accommodations, meals and a packed schedule of events. They will stay in residence, explore state-of-the-art facilities, uncover campus gems and experience U of A student life first-hand. Students can learn more and apply at uab.ca/getaway. The application deadline is January 31, 2023.

Thank you 😊

Penny Smith (she/her), Counsellor

Fort Saskatchewan High School

(780)998-3751 (ext 4231)

Contacting 911

Kids Help Phone

Alberta’s Mental Health Help Line

Alberta’s Children and Mental Health Crisis/Mobile Response Team

Crisis Contact Numbers for Strathcona County

Fort Saskatchewan Community Mental Health Supports and Services

Hope for Wellness Help Line for Indigenous Peoples: 1-855-242-3310

https://mykickstand.ca/

Kickstand is an integrated youth service initiative that is currently available online (through Kickstand Connect) with the goal of opening in-person services at sites throughout the province.

AMH, AHS and other community partners are working together to provide this integrated community service for those aged 12-25.

Here is some info from the Quick Facts document attached:

What is Kickstand Connect?

Kickstand Connect offers a virtual walk-in clinic with trained professionals and a safe space for group sessions, exclusively for young Albertans aged 12-25 and their parents or caregivers. It is a free online portal and mobile app where young people can virtually ‘walk in’ or pre-book appointments (up to a week in advance) with a mental health professional, peer support worker, employment specialist or participate in group activities and workshops. Based on a single session model, Kickstand Connect offers various walk-in and pre-booked services, none of which require a healthcare card, referral, or any form of payment.

What services do we offer?

• Mental Health and/or Substance Use Counselling

• Peer Support for young people

• Employment Services

• Groups and Workshops

• Coming in the future: primary/physical care appointments, pharmacy consultation, family peer support and more!

Wellness together Canada was created 2 years ago in the beginning of the pandemic. WTC is funded through the Government of Canada. They have a large amount of counsellors throughout every province ready and available to support. When someone calls in they reach intake right away and can be put through to a counsellor in the moment. If there is a high volume of calls, they may have a wait time of an hour (counsellor calls you back) but this should be rare as they have many counsellors on hand. Phone counselling is available 24/7 at 1-866-585-0445. You can also connect through your computer by using a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) such as Skype, Facetime, or Google Voice. If you don’t already have a VoIP installed, you can do an online search to find an option that works for you. In addition to a VoIP, you’ll also need: speakers/headphones and a microphone, or headphones that have a microphone built in, a reliable Internet connection, and a quiet, private place to talk.

If it is crisis calls are bumped to immediate.

In addition to WTC, Hope for Wellness is the same service but for the Indigenous community and is offered only by phone or text. Supports are available in Cree, Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin), and Inuktitut. Combined with WTG, it can provide many options.

The Basics:

· This is a free service available 24/7

· Once you have a single counselling session you can receive 5 sessions with that same counsellor, no wait times. 1 week in between sessions

· If you want ongoing counselling, you can simply close your case after 5 sessions and then call to reopen and request the same counsellor or a new one. There’s no limit. They work with everything! Addictions, trauma, crisis, grief, gender identity, etc… etc… I asked if there was anything they wouldn’t work with – no they work with everything.

· Counselling available in multiple different languages and regions

· Specific supports, Healthcare workers/ frontline, Kids, grief and loss coaching, Peer support,

· Available phone, video, text and live chats

https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/

https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/

Immediate/distress

Adults text WELLNESS to 741741, Youth test WELLNESS to 686868

Frontline workers text FRONTLINE to 741741

Indigenous peoples 1-855-242-3310, chat online through hopeforwellness.ca

If someone you care about is in distress 1-866-585-0445

From Feb. 24-26, 2023, Strathcona County will host the 2023 Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games. The County is seeking enthusiastic volunteers from the community to join in the celebration. They welcome students and adults 16 years of age and older to sign up to be part of the event. View all volunteer positions on the 2023 Games website.

Check out the picture gallery containing many of our Grad Composites that is posted on our website. The composites from years 2001-2012 will be added in the future as they have not yet been digitized.