• February 6-14 - Student Council Valentine's Day Events
• February 7 - Grade 9 Immunizations
  
• February 7, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - EIPS Public Engagement French Immersion Programming, @ Heritage Hills Elementary School
• February 8 - Student Council - Dress as Media Couple Day
  
• February 8 - 6:30 p.m.- Grad Parent Information Meeting-Theatre
• February 9 & 10 - North Central Teachers' Convention (No Classes)
  
• February 13, 6:00-8:00 p.m. - AJS Open House
• February 15 , 10 a.m. - MADD Canada Presentation
• Feburary 16, 6 p.m. - First Nations, Métis and Inuit Family Gatherings @ James Mowat Elementary

• February 17 -Random Acts of Kindness Day
• February 20 - Family Day (schools closed to staff and students; Central Services closed)
• February 21, 4:15 p.m. - Ardrossan Music Parents Society meeting
  
• February 21- 28 - Grad Portraits - ICON- Theater Lobby
• February 22 - Black History Month Presentation-Theater
  
• February 22 - Pink Shirt Day
• February 28 -2023-24 returning student registration closes
• February 28- Student Council Twin Day
  

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) will once again conduct an online returning student registration process to confirm student registrations for the 2023-24 school year. Families of all current students—with the exception of graduating Grade 12 students—must complete the process to confirm the school their child plans to attend in the 2023-24 school year or advise the Division of their plans not to return to EIPS. Additionally, students who want to attend a non-designated school need to make that request through the returning student registration process—acceptance is based on available space.

The 2023-24 returning student registration takes place Feb. 1-28, 2023.

Access to the Returning Student Registration Form is provided through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you don’t have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, you need to set one up before Feb. 1, 2023. Create a PowerSchool Parent Portal account

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

Date: Monday, February 13, 2023

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Location: Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High

This years presentation is titled "Tracking Black Canada", which will take participants around the country, while focusing on the often-forgotten histories of early Black communities in Canada. Using OWTA’s trademark edutainment style that combines video, slam poetry, stand-up comedy, and audience participation & interaction, "Tracking Black" Canada will highlight the contributions and achievements made by prominent residents in these forgotten communities, illuminate the conditions that led to their systemic demise, and highlight how their impact is still felt today.

You can't stay in junior or senior high forever - but you can relive those memories over again.

Order your 2022 - 2023 yearbook today!

$43 on the Parent Portal

Grad portraits have been scheduled for February 21-28, 2023. It is time for you to reserve your appointment. The booking will happen online so please make sure to reserve your spot as soon as possible.

Instructions:

• Go to www.iconexp.com and click the “Book Now” button • First Select an event Ardrossan Jr-Sr Grad Portraits (Taken @ Ardrossan in the Theatre Lobby)
• Select your Service ▪ Grad Portraits (At School-$30 Due at Portraits)
• Select your appointment from the available times and dates and complete all required information

You will receive a confirmation shortly after booking your appointment as well as a reminder the day prior to your appointment. Please contact Icon if you have any questions.

At the completion of your sitting, you will receive a receipt of your visit and some information detailing how to access your proofs. 5-7 business days after your sitting you will receive an email giving you access to view your proofs online. Shortly after that, you will receive a complete set of proofs in the mail. You can place your order either online or through the mail.

In order to ensure your safety and that of our staff we have made a few adjustments to our operations:

1. If you are experiencing any symptoms related to Covid-19, as outlined by Alberta Health Services, please do not come to your appointment, we will be happy to reschedule you at a later date.
2. At this time we will not be including pets, friends or family members in portrait sittings.
3. We will only be accepting debit and credit for payment of sitting fees.
4. The use of props provided by ICON is voluntary; we have implemented safety protocols for sanitizing props. Graduates may bring appropriate props to be included in their sitting.
5. We suggest males wear a formal attire for the cap and gown photos – something you are comfortable in. The casual photos can be in any outfit you choose.

Once again, Alberta Education is surveying teachers, students and families through its annual Alberta Education Assurance (AEA) Survey. The survey acts as an annual check-up on the province’s education system. Every year, Alberta Education conducts the survey to gather information about the quality of education provided by Alberta schools and school authorities. The survey looks at various measures such as education quality, citizenship, family involvement, engagement levels, school climate and student wellness.

The AEA survey is sent to

· Small schools (fewer than 120 students in grades 4-12)—based on jurisdiction requests for more reportable survey data at the school level, the survey is expanded to include all students in grades 4 and above and their parents and guardians.

· Large schools (120 or more students in grades 4-12)—only students in grades 4, 7 and 10 and their parents and guardians are included in the survey. These grades are considered to be a reasonably representative sample of students.

Throughout February, Grade 7 and 10 students at Ardrossan Junior Senior 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, either online or by mail. Alberta Education will send 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 3, 2023.

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: Parent letter

AEA Survey: Methodology for rate calculation

AJS School Council is excited to begin a weekly staff recognition initiative! The staff at AJS go above and beyond to care for our kids every single day. What better way to say "thank you" than with a staff kudos!

Parents and students are welcome to fill out the Google form below, offering meaningful recognition to ANY member of the AJS staff. Your positive message will then be shared with the intended recipient.

Ardrossan Jr/Sr High Staff Recognition 2022-2023

Sometimes school can be tough... now is the chance to show your appreciation for the people that make the journey brighter along the way!

Just a quick reminder, Elk Island Public Schools’ (EIPS) second French Immersion Public Engagement takes place on February 7. To complement the engagement session, below are two background documents.

What We Heard Report: French Immersion Engagement No. 1

Frequently Asked Questions: French Immersion Public Engagement

As you know, the Division is exploring ways to enhance its French Immersion program, address enrolment pressures and increase retention at the junior high and senior high levels. Before any decisions are made, several public engagement efforts are planned with school families, students and community stakeholders. Phase 1 took place in fall 2022—read the feedback collected in the What We Heard Report.

Now, the Division wants to continue the conversation. As such, another public consultation is planned for February 7. All EIPS French Immersion families, students and community members are invited to attend. Participants will review the What We Heard Report; discuss French Immersion programming successes, challenges and concerns; and explore possible solutions. Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions and offer feedback.

Public Engagement Session No. 2: Details

Date: Feb. 7, 2023

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

· Part 1: Presentation (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

· Part 2: Breakout sessions (6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

Location: Heritage Hills Elementary, 280 Heritage Dr., Sherwood Park

Room: gymnasium

*childcare provided

Can’t make the meeting? That’s OK. You can still provide input by completing an online survey—open from February 8-21. EIPS will send the survey link to the school community, post it online and share it through social media on February 8.

EIPS encourages everyone to review both the What We Heard Report and Frequently Asked Questions document, attend the upcoming public engagement session and share their thoughts. The Division will use the feedback received to inform next steps, guide future public engagement efforts and develop possible options. For more information, or to subscribe for updates, visit eips.ca.

The First Nations, Métis and Inuit education team has planned a series of in-person gatherings for families of self-identified First Nations, Métis and Inuit students who are curious to learn more about the supports offered throughout EIPS. It's an opportunity for First Nations, Métis and Inuit families to gather together and engage in conversation in partnership with the EIPS First Nations, Métis and Inuit education team. Self-identified First Nations, Métis and Inuit families are invited—all ages are welcome. Dinner will be provided at each gathering. RSVP links will be sent directly to applicable families.

• Thursday, February 16
  6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  James Mowat Elementary
  Explore the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada: Giant Floor Map

On Saturday February 18 our players will be out in the community to collect donations between 10 am and 2 pm. For those of you who would prefer to drop off, a collection trailer will be parked at the front of the school during that time. Players are encouraged to start collecting as soon as possible to help make this a successful event.

Come join the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the theatre lobby. There are many board and volunteer opportunities available and we will be discussing plans for the upcoming season. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Elk Island Public Schools and Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High use a handful of key systems to share information with students and families. Depending on the information you’re looking for, it’s important to know where to look.

PowerSchool is the primary student information system within the Division. There is an associated app, but the functionality is limited, and families don’t need to download it. From the PowerSchool Parent Portal, you can:

• Access student grades and report cards;
• Review student absences;
• Pay school and transportation fees; and
• Submit official updates to student or family information.

The PowerSchool Student Portal provides similar access to grades and absence information for students directly.

Brightspace provides more of a day-to-day look what’s happening with your child’s learning communicated directly from your child’s teacher. From Brightspace Parent & Guardian, you can see your child’s:

• classroom activity feed,
• grade items and grade feedback from instructors,
• upcoming assignments,
• portfolio evidence, and
• quizzes,

depending on which of the program functions are specifically used by your child’s teacher.

Brightspace for Students is where teachers share updates, calendar reminders and learning materials with students. Compatible with Google, it also allows students to submit assignments, complete quizzes, and see grades and teacher feedback. The Pulse app for students is associated with Brightspace for Students.

SchoolMessenger is the system the Division and schools use to send email and phone communication to families. The contact information in SchoolMessenger is populated from PowerSchool. Through SchoolMessenger, families can:

• receive general, emergency and attendance messages by phone, email or both; and
• manage their subscription preferences for these types of messages.

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.

Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers of children and youth. Sessions are offered through Zoom. Upcoming topics include parenting strategies for positive mental health and understanding self-injury. The list of February 2023 sessions is now available.