SWH Cougar Tracks 2023-2024
Friday, September 15, 2023
Cougar Corner
To help parents and students stay in the loop as far as all things Sherwood Heights, our Cougar Tracks newsletter will be our weekly communication tool. Be sure to watch for email notifications at the end of each week and you can also find each of the latest and greatest Cougar Tracks newsletters posted on our website!
Cougar Mile News: It’s almost here!! The Cougar Mile is set for Wednesday, September 27, during periods 2-4, Students will run in their grade-level groups and then enjoy the rest of the morning outside.
We will have games set up and a cheering section for those not running to hoot and holler the runners back over the finish line 🏁💥📣
The day is THEMED so students and staff dress up in your best Cougar Wear!! Get out your blue, orange and white and get ready to RUNNNN!!!
We’ve also organized for there to be a food truck between 11 and 1 for lunch - Starvin Marvins and Big Wayne's Mini Treats!
Meet the Teacher - Wednesday, September 20 - 5:00-6:00 pm
- Mr. Mali will be bbq hot dogs, so come out and meet your students teachers and enjoy some bbq
School Council - meeting to follow meet the teacher from 6-7 pm on September 20, 2023, so please feel free to stay for this first meeting.
Here are a few reminders we would like everyone to keep in mind:
- Doors will be open at 8:20am. Please be mindful of this particularly as the outdoor temperature starts to dip.
- When dropping off your student(s), please ensure you are doing so in the designated drop-off areas. Staff parking lots are not to be used for student drop off or pick up.
- While we are an open campus; students can leave campus at lunch, student must return to school by 1:09pm as afternoon classes begin shortly thereafter. School rules and expectations for behaviour still apply when off school property.
- Student Attendance: If your student(s) will be late or absent, please notify our Mrs. Shiloff, our Attendance Secretary. You may call SWH directly at 780.467.5930 and press 1 for 'Attendance' or click the Attendance button below to be redirected to our Contact page on our School Website where you can select 'Student Attendance - Mrs. Shiloff' in the dropdown box.
Enjoy your weekend and we will see you all bright and early on Monday morning!
Be sure to check in frequently for updates as the come!
Sept 15-17: Senior Volleyball tournament
**Boys' venue is at ABJ, Girls' venue is at Lakeland Ridge School
Sept 20: Meet the Teacher @ 5:00- 6:00pm with free BBQ followed by School Council meeting at 6:00pm
Sept 22-24: Junior Volleyball tournament
**Boys' venue is at FR Haythorne, Girls' venue is at St. Theresa/OLPH
.....Stay tuned for the official League schedule.....
Sept 27: Cougar Mile: Cougar wear! - Food truck available for lunch purchases
Sept 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Athletics Corner
Our senior volleyball teams are competing in the EIAA volleyball tournament. Girls compete at Lakeland Ridge and Boys at ABJ. Good luck to our athletes, and we hope you have an awesome weekend! Our junior teams are hard at work preparing for their first tournament, which will be held September 21-23. Our Junior B teams will be selected this week, and will begin practices next week. As always, check out our website Athletics Calendar for the most up to date times!
Our Running Club has seen some great numbers, and we’ve had some great practices already! If you’re still interested, you can check it out on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays from 3:15-4 PM. Our division cross-country meets are October 4th and October 11th. We select runners for our cross-country team based on qualifying times during our Cougar Mile.
Our school’s version of the Terry Fox Run, the Cougar Mile, is set to take place on September 27th during the school day! We have booked food trucks for the event, so bring some money to buy yourself a tasty treat! Our food trucks are: Starvin Marvins and Big Wayne’s Mini Treats (mini donuts!!). For an idea of prices, you can check out Starvin Marvin’s menu here: https://www.starvinmarvins.ca/menu . Mini donuts cost around $6 per bag.
Cougars Canteen
Canteen now open
Our canteen is now open with a variety of fun foods and snacks to purchase. We also have brought back the use of microwaves in the hallways during the first half of lunch. We ask that students wait in line patiently and be respectful with your peers and the microwaves.
Orange Shirt Day Friday September 29
At Sherwood Heights Junior High, we're gearing up for a meaningful and impactful Orange Shirt Day event! On this important day, we unite as a school community to honor the Indigenous survivors of residential schools, acknowledge the intergenerational impacts, and commit to reconciliation. Donning our orange, we stand together to foster awareness, understanding, and respect for Indigenous cultures and histories. Let's paint our school with a sea of orange as we demonstrate our solidarity and support for a brighter, more inclusive future. Join us in spreading love, compassion, and education this Orange Shirt Day at Sherwood Heights Junior High! #orangeshirtday #unityindiversity
Student Supports at SWH
Mental Health has been identified as an EIPS priority this year and in response, Sherwood Heights has introduced several new ways to access student support.
Mrs. Jessica Moen is in the role of School Based Social Worker this year at SWH. Mrs. Moen’s primary role is to facilitate connections among family, school, and community to assist with positive growth. She works as part of the multidisciplinary team to help our families set goals, integrate interventions, plan strategies and arrange resources that will help students be successful in school, at home, and in their community. She offers support services in a variety of formats (individuals, families, and groups), in a variety of settings (school, home, community settings) and is the primary connection with many community agencies. Mrs. Moen can be found in her office beside the drama room and beside the vending machines.
Referrals for ALL student support services can be done using any of the following ways:
Scan the QR code posted around the school and on the Student Support Bulletin
Email jess.moen@eips.ca
Visit us in person in person in office
2022-2023 School Fees will be posted before the end of September
School fees for the 2023-2024 school year will be posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. Throughout the year, fees are often added to cover the costs for various activities, such as field trips, extracurricular activities, and late, damaged or lost textbooks. Please watch for "School Fees Due" in our newsletter in the next couple of weeks.
To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view fees and pay them online using a credit card. Make sure to monitor your child’s account on an ongoing basis.
For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit eips.ca/schools/fees. And, if you have questions, think there is an error or need help creating a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, contact your child’s school directly before the summer break.
NOTE: Pursuant to Board Policy 23: School Fees and Administrative Procedure 505: School and Administrative Fees, EIPS will forward any unpaid 2022-23 fee amounts to a collection agency. To prevent this from happening, remember to pay your fees before August 31, 2023.
Administration Team
Mr. Amit Mali – Principal
Mr. Aaron Tuckwood – Assistant Principal
Mrs. Malori Sparrow - Acting Assitant Principal
Guidance Team
Mrs. Jessica Moen – School Based Social Worker
Teachers
Mrs. Kristin Alexander
Mrs. Krystal Bavaro
Mr. Tyler Behnke
Mme Sydnie Belland
Mrs. Michelle Blonski
Ms. Angelina Fleck
Mrs. Amanda Fayed
Mrs. Fiddler-Berteig
Mr. Warren Foley
Mr. James Gieringer
Mr. Jesse Gobbels
Mr. Armin Gottstein
Mrs. Karen Hauca
Mr. Don Hui
Mr. Rob Koning
Ms. Erin Malec
Miss Lynn Mekechuk
Mme Tessa Nally
Mr. Brad Olsen
Ms. Katie Oszip
Mr. David Parr
Mme Kari Provencher
Mr. Des Uniat
Mr. Darcy Verrier
Office Staff
Mrs. Candace Lyles -- Business Manager
Mrs. Johanna Ryan -- Registrar
Mrs. Michelle Shiloff -- Administrative Assistant
Library Technician
Ms. Kenzie Marchant
Educational Assistants
Mrs. Averil Geoghegan
Mrs. Charlotte Kirkby
Mrs. Kyla Loewen
Mrs. Mychalina Wever
Lunch Supervision & Canteen
Mrs. Lisa Braun
New Online Cougar Wear Store
Enjoy browsing a wide selection of products from a variety of brands that you can then customize with the approved logos and graphics found on the site. Display your pride in fantastic apparel customized entirely by you. Our site lets students, parents, fans, & staff choose from approved merchandise to fit their needs 24/7 with no minimum order quantities. All orders are shipped directly to your own home!
Resources for Families
Community Supports
Family and Community Service
(FCS) call-in hours 780-464-4044
Monday, Fridays: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
The Distress Line 780-482-4357
Strathcona Food Bank - 780-449-6413
About Sherwood Heights Junior High School
Email: general.swh@eips.ca
Website: www.sherwoodheights.org
Location: 241 Fir Street, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 2G6
Phone: 780-467-5930