AJS Weekly Bison Tracks
September 29, 2022
Important Dates
- September 29, 9:30 a.m. - AJS Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony
- September 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Division Closure
- September 30 - Orange Shirt Day
- October 3-7 - Read In Week - Choose Your Own Adventure Theme
- October 5 - World Teachers' Day
- October 5 - Wear Pink for Breast Cancer
- October 5, 2:16 p.m. - Early Dismissal
- October 7 - Professional Learning Day No Classes
- October 10 - Thanksgiving Day - School Closed
- October 11 - 5:30 p.m. - Jr High Awards in the Theater
- October 11 - 7:00 p.m. - Sr High Awards in the Theater
- October 12 - Picture Retakes
- October 12 - Wear Pink for Breast Cancer
- October 14 - Mount Royal University lunch booth
- October 16 - 22 - Bus Safety Week
- October 18, 5 - 8 p.m. - Parent Student Teacher Conferences
- October 20, 5 - 8 p.m. - Parent Student Teacher Conferences
- October 19 - Your Future: Post-Secondary & Career Fair
- October 19 - Wear Pink for Breast Cancer
- October 26 - Wear Pink for Breast Cancer
- November 2, 2:16 p.m. - Early dismissal
- November 7 - 11 - Fall Break
- November 11 - Remembrance Day
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Truth & Reconciliation
AJS Truth & Reconciliation Ceremony
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Read In Week - October 3 - 6
Award-winning Sherwood Park author Katie Bickell is coming to AJS
Read In Week 2022 is taking place October 3-7.
Read In Week returns on October 3. This year’s theme is: “Choose Your Own Adventure.” Through various activities, students will spend the week learning tips on choosing the right book; the art of storytelling; and how stories have the power to teach lessons, broaden perspectives and foster empathy. Some of the activities planned for Read In Week include:
- Award-winning Sherwood Park author Katie Bickell is coming to AJS to do a flash fiction workshop! Students will be taught all the ins and outs of fiction writing and even have a piece of mini fiction completed by the end of the session. Additionally, Miss McFadden will periodically post some of her favorite “Choose Your Own Adventure” books on Instagram.
Read In Week is a division-wide initiative held annually to encourage a lifelong love of reading and to enhance literacy awareness among students, staff, families and community members. Ardrossan Junior Senior High School invites all families to participate in Read In Week by reading yourself, with your child or with someone in the community.
Don’t forget to share what you’ve learned. Throughout the week, you can post your own stories about Read In Week using the hashtag #eipsreads.
For more information visit readin.ca.
Parent Student Teacher Conferences
Bookings for Parent Student Teacher Conferences will open on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 4 p.m. and continue until Friday, October 14, 2022 at 4 p.m.
Stay tuned for the booking codes, they will be coming soon.
Yearbooks have arrived
Senior High students will continue to
pick up their yearbooks next week.
Junior High students will begin to pick up their
yearbooks starting Monday, September 26.
All pick ups are to be done at breaks or lunch.
Celebrating World Teachers’ Day: October 5
October 5 is World Teachers’ Day! Launched in 1994 by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually around the world as a way to recognize teachers and the integral role they play in providing quality education to students. On October 5, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) encourages all of its students, parents and community members to show their appreciation for their teachers and the positive impact they make on our lives.
EIPS extends its heartfelt thank you to all Division teachers for their dedication, hard work and commitment in guiding and educating students through their kindergarten to Grade 12 years.
Introducing Permission Click
EIPS has begun migrating school and Division forms to the online Permission Click platform. Many families will have already received one or more forms within the new system. Permission Click makes the form submission process for families simple and straightforward. Forms are also easily accessible and fillable from your mobile device. Families will generally receive forms in one of two ways—sent as a link within a SchoolMessenger email or in a direct email from Permission Click sent to the first parent or guardian on record in PowerSchool. Be sure to add notifications@permissionclick.com to your safe sender list to ensure required forms aren’t mistakenly directed to your junk mail folder.
Important - Permission Click forms
Look for your Permission Click forms:
Student Health and Safety Contract
and
Student Responsible Technology Use Agreement
These forms need to be completed for all students.
Update your PowerSchool information
The EIPS Correction and Verification Form is now available online through your PowerSchool Parent Portal. Use the form to access and update your child’s records information—including address, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts and medical information. Reviewing the form and submitting updates ensures the school has the most up-to-date information regarding your child.
When reviewing the form, pay close attention to all listed phone numbers, email addresses and emergency contact information. Also, if you recently moved, now is the time to ensure the Division has your updated address. Throughout the year, the Division and school uses the listed information to communicate with families about important information, including updates, the latest news and event.
EIPS Correction Verification Form
Review and update the form by Sept. 22, 2022.
For more information about the PowerSchool Correction and Verification Form, contact the school office at 780-922-2228.
Sync the School Calendar to your calendar
Did you know you can sync the school calendar to your own calendar? You can. Simply, visit https://www.ardrossan.ca/calendar and click on the applicable subscription option:
· Download to iCal
· Add to Google Calendar
· Subscribe to Calendar
NOTE: Options are located above the calendar.
Once you click on the desired subscription option, follow the instructions. Within seconds, your calendar will contain all Ardrossan Jr-Sr High School’s important dates including holidays, school-closures days, planned activities, events and more.
Student Parking
Please scan the QR code to fill in the online form to recieve your parking pass. Passes will be available during lunch in the office.
• Traffic flow is one way entering and exiting the new student parking lot.
• Grade 12's can park in any of the parking stalls available.
We have reserved the parking stalls highlighted in pink as "Grade 12 Only" spots. These include all of the plug in stalls, except for the 3 highlighted in blue for staff. This will be enforced.
Grade 10/11 students may park in any of the areas highlighted in orange.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED YOUR PARKING STICKER PLEASE ENSURE IT IS VISIBLE WHILE IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT.
Ardrossan Music Parents' Society - AMPS
Hello Ardrossan Band Parents!
A giant hello to all! My name is Lee Dempsey, and I am humbly your new AMPS President. Just a thank you and welcome returning and new board members. Elections were held on Monday, September 26 at our AGM.
Congratulations to our 2022/23 Board members:
Vice President – Kasia Spiker
Treasurer – Heather Bayne
Secretary – Christie Wiens
Director of Special Events – Wendy Marty
Director of Fundraising – Stacy Da Silva
Director of Social Media – Santha Krishnasamy
Director of Sponsorships & Grants – Emelia Dororec.
We have a ton of fun fundraisers coming your way, and all to support an amazing program for our kids to grow musically and travel to showcase those skills.
World's Finest Chocolate Sales have soared this year! I believe we are down to our last 15ish cases. If you have a sweet tooth, come and grab a case to sell (or consume – we won’t tell). Check with Mr. B to see what’s available, but all are guaranteed 100% Peanut Free. Cases can be purchased from Mr. B for $90 (30 items/case) via E-Transfer, cash or cheque. Payment must be received before cases can be released. Each box of chocolates is only $3.00 and can be purchased from band students!
DON’T FORGET: this fundraiser is a Student Band Account fundraiser - so for every case your Band Student sells, $15 goes into their own band account to be used towards band camp, trips, and festivals!
Bear Trax Ice Melt is going live for sale Thursday, September 29th until October 21st! Please use the QR code to access the order form and information. This Ice Melt is a proven success. Who doesn’t need Ice Melt?? It’s PET FRIENDLY and won’t harm your concrete (see flyer). Each pail is $30 and seals great for storage. Each band student will collect their own orders and payments and submit those prior to October 21st. This is an E-transfer only fundraiser. Pick up of your Ice Melt will be announced and will be sometime in November.
We look forward to your support! If you have any questions, please contact Mr. B or the AMPS President (AMPSpres@gmail.com).
Don't forget to complete the AMPS Membership Form and either email it back to AMPSPres@gmail.com or send it to Mr. B! AMPS is a society and only 'members' can be involved.
Yours in Music,
Lee Dempsey
AMPS President
Your Future: Post-Secondary and Career Fair
Thinking about attending post-secondary school after graduation? Not sure on the career or sector? Plan to attend this year’s Your Future: Post-Secondary and Career Fair on Oct. 19, 2022.
Hosted by Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS), in partnership with the Educational Liaison Association of Alberta, Your Future is an annual educational fair that brings together colleges, universities, polytechnic and private schools, and sector experts in one place—one of the largest events of its kind in Alberta.
The event is free and open to all students in grades 9 through 12 from both EIPS and Elk Island Catholic Schools. Both students and family members will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from each attending post-secondary institutions; ask questions; talk to experts about various career sectors; learn about future career trends; and much more.
Event Details:
Date: Oct. 19, 2022 Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Strathcona County Agora 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park
EIPS Career Pathways
The September 2022 Career Pathways News is now available.
What is Career Pathways? Career Pathways is a Division model designed to foster the growth of every student by supporting their journey from early learning through high school completion and beyond. From kindergarten through to Grade 12, students develop awareness of self and discover possibilities for life beyond school through competency-focused experiences. Students will have the opportunity to learn about themselves, explore multiple career possibilities, set goals and make plans.
Why is Career Pathways important? Career Pathways is designed to help students develop a curiosity about the world around them, develop a personal inventory of strengths and interests, and learn how to build upon them. Through purposeful, student-centred activities and experiences connected to curricular outcomes, teachers in all grades will encourage students to develop the transferable skills required for success in the future.
The Career Pathways model encourages student, caregiver and teacher conversations to learn about self-reflection, goal setting and creating a personal skills inventory. Career Pathways fosters an environment where parents and guardians, as well as the local community, are seen as partners in education. Opportunities to build and demonstrate competencies essential for work and life is the foundation for Career Pathways planning in the classroom.
Enhancing literacy and numeracy
As part of Elk Island Public Schools’ (EIPS) ongoing efforts to enhance the literacy and numeracy of students in all grade levels, the Division is once again administering the Star Early Literacy and Star Reading assessment tools in the 2022-23 school year. The Division’s also launching a new assessment, called Star Math. These tools focus on literacy and numeracy, are digitally based and offer an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning. The goal: To provide timely information to teachers, help enhance classroom instruction and identify student learning needs.
Three times a year, EIPS students in Grade 1 complete the Star Early Literacy assessment and students in grades 2-12 complete the Star Reading assessment. Both assessments are administered electronically and take about 20 minutes. Students in grades 2 through 10 also complete the Star Math, a mathematic screening tool. It, too, is administered electronically and takes about 30 minutes for students to complete. The results offer teachers a clearer picture of a student’s learning needs and help determine if subsequent instructional planning is required. NOTE: Semester students, complete the Star Math twice, at the start and end of the course.
In addition to the Star assessments, Alberta Education now mandates all students in grades 1-3 complete additional literacy and numeracy assessments. Students in Grade 2 and Grade 3 completed these provincial assessments in September. Grade 1 students will complete the assessments in January 2023. EIPS also administers the assessments to all Grade 4 students to gauge learning loss from the pandemic, which the Division is now analyzing.
The scores of the assessments aren’t used toward a student’s grade, and there is no need to study ahead of time. The tools simply provide the teacher with information to better understand where each student is in terms of reading comprehension and mathematic ability. If, after analyzing the results, it’s determined a student can benefit from extra support, the teacher will contact the family to discuss possible support strategies.
For more information about the Division’s Star and MIPI assessment tools, contact EIPS Supports for Students at 780-464-3477.
School Bus Safety Week: October 16-22
Schools throughout Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) are celebrating School Bus Safety Week October 16-22. The theme: ‘Make the World Green, Ride Yellow,’ which focuses on transportation choice and the environment. Throughout the week, various activities are planned, including information sessions, bus-safety lesson plans and bus-evacuation drills.
As part of School Bus Safety Week, Ardrossan Junior Senior High School reminds students and families all Division school buses are equipped with a bus-pass scanner, GPS technology, the Child Check-Mate system and surveillance equipment, which allows Student Transportation to better monitor and manage its more than 170 buses. Families and students also have access to the Traversa Ride 360 app, a mobile tool to help determine the location of a bus, projected arrival times and when a child is scanned onto a bus.
For more information visit EIPS Student Transportation or contact 780-417-8151.
Strathcona County Child and Youth Coalition: September newsletter
Talking to Children About Sexuality and Sexual Health Workshop
The Centre for Sexuality is hosting a workshop on how parents and guardians can talk to their children about healthy relationships, sexuality, and sexual health. Recommended for parents and guardians from ages 8 - 12.
Tuesday, October 18
7 p.m.
Virtual
Cafeteria Menu
Athletic Dates
- October 4 - Jr High Cross Country Div 2
- October 4, 4:00 p.m. Jr Sr Girls Volleyball vs F.R. Haythorne @ F.R. Haythorne
- October 4, 5:00 p.m. Jr Sr Boys Volleyball vs F.R. Haythorne @ F.R. Haythorne
- October 4, 5:30 p.m. Jr. Varsity Women's Volleyball vs. Mother Margaret Mary @ AJS
- October 5 - Jr High Cross Country Div 1 @ Wilderness Centre
- October 5, 4:00 p.m. - Jr Jr Girls Volleyball vs. Sherwood Heights @ Sherwood Heights
- October 5, 5:00 p.m. - Jr Jr Boys Volleyball vs. Sherwood Heights @ Sherwood Heights
- October 5, 5:00 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Men's Volleyball vs. M.E. LaZerte @ M.E. LaZerte
- October 5, 6:30 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Women's Volleyball vs. M.E. LaZerte @ M.E. LaZerte
- October 11, 4:00 p.m. Jr. Sr. Girls Volleyball vs. Fultonvale @ Fultonvale
- October 12 Jr High Cross Country Zones @ Wilderness Centre
- October 12, 5:00 p.m. - Jr. Varsity Women's Volleyball vs. Spruce Grove @ Spruce Grove
- October 12, 6:30 p.m. - Jr. Varsity Men's Volleyball vs. Spruce Grove @ Spruce Grove
- October 13, 6:00 p.m. - Bison Football vs. McNally @ Clarke Stadium
- October 13, 6:30 p.m. - Jr. Varsity Women's Volleyball vs. J. Percy Page @ Leduc
- October 14 - 15 - Jr. Varsity Women's Notre Dame Tournament - Red Deer
- October 14 - 15 - Sr. Varsity Men's Volleyball - Lions Western Canadian Challenge @ Morinville
Community News
AHS Addiction & Mental Health School Newsletter
Caregiver Series
Caregiver Education Sessions
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.
Ardrossan Junior Senior High
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