SAA Newsflash! August 27, 2021
Sister Alphonse Academy
Arise! Get up, Get going, Go with God!
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Take care, God bless and see you soon!
Christine Samson, Principal
Cindy Phillips, Vice Principal
Upcoming Events!
School Office Closed on Monday, August 30
Our school office will be closed on Friday, August 30 so that all staff can participate in the annual Blueprints Faith Development Day.
STAGGERED ENTRY: GRADES K - 9
August 31, 2021: Last names ending Alphabetically (A-K)
September 1: Last names ending Alphabetically (L-Z)
First day of school September 2, 2021
*Please note more events/dates may be added to the September calendar as staff engage in planning for the month.
Sept. 2: Full day of classes for K - 9
Sept. 3: No Kindergarten
Sept 6: Labor Day Holiday, School Closed
Sept 7: Back to school!
Sept 9: Spirit Day - Wear your spirit wear/blue and green
Sept 10: Arise up: Get up, Get Going, Go with God! Opening Liturgy
Sept 14, September 16: Pre-Kindergarten staggered entry
STAGGERED ENTRY INFORMATION!
STAGGERED ENTRY: GRADES K - 9
August 31, 2021: Last names ending Alphabetically (A-K)
September 1: Last names ending Alphabetically (L-Z)
First day of school September 2, 2021
Pre-Kindergarten:
Sept 14, September 16: Pre-Kindergarten staggered entry. More information to be shared by the Pre-Kindergarten teacher closer to the date.
Safety Protocols
Junior High 2021/2022 Timetables!
Junior High options request form - 2021/2022
Please note that we offer a full range of option choices for our students. Students will also experience different teachers teaching the options this year.
Elementary & Junior High School New Bell Schedule 2021/2022!
We are happy to say that we have been able to extend our homeroom configuration in the Junior High so that students are able to have more teachers teach them in their specialty subjects. Last year we moved all of the junior high students into a homeroom configuration due to the safety protocols and cohorting required, where students had one teacher for almost all of their subjects. With some restrictions being recently lifted, we have been able to move back to a more flexible schedule.
Our Advanced Academic Preparation at SAA
Within the elementary time table, teachers are provided with an opportunity to extend and enhance learning in a daily block of 20 minutes devoted to providing the opportunity to excel and boost their learning!
School Supplies
Click on the link to access the school supplies list: Staples.ca/SchoolTools If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Bokenfohr in the office.
Gear up for School!
Gear Up for School aims to increase school readiness for Métis children, and prepare early learners with the tools they need to begin a successful learning journey, while reducing the financial stress of Métis families. This program supports Métis children and families in all scenarios of back-to-school learning including distance learning. Successful applicants for the Gear Up for School 2021 program will meet the following criteria:
All children receiving school supplies through this program must be entering preschool, kindergarten, Grade 1, or Grade 2 in the 2021-2022 school year.
Successful applicants and their children must currently reside in Alberta and provide an Alberta mailing address on the application form.
Either the parent/guardian applicant or the child receiving a backpack must be an MNA citizen (or citizens)
Eligible families should sign up for the Gear Up for School 2021 program by completing the online Google Form here: https://forms.gle/XidANEAoDJ5bU7PRA
Please see the attached flyer below. Thank you.
Home/School Communication
We do our best to provide as much information as we can about school events through a variety of methods. This includes: SAA School Website and Web Calendar, email, SAA Facebook Page, @Sister Alphonse Twitter, SAA Instagram and our SAA School App. As long as your email address is current you will receive our weekly newsflash on the last day of school each week. The SAA Weekly Bulletin is also posted on our school website.
SAA School APP
The SAA App for iOS and android is available. Just search for “My School Day” on the app store. When you run it, it will guide you through selecting Sister Alphonse Academy- this only needs to be done once. The app is also another means of sending out news and notifications from our school.
Important School Zone Information update
On February 16, 2021, City Council approved amendments to the City’s Traffic Bylaw that have resulted in the following key amendments that will influence your school sites and/or school transportation services.
Reduced Neighbourhood speeds from 50 km/h to 40 km/h – these are applicable on all city Collector and Local roadways.
Playground zones will be in effect from 8 am – 8 pm from April 1 to October 31 annually.
Please note at this time field changes have not occurred so all current playground zones are still signed and operating as 8:30 am – 1 hour after sunset.
School Zones will be adjusted to a 7:30 am – 4 pm period (from 8 am – 4 pm currently). Please note that these changes are now in effect for this school year.
Student Drop Off & Pick up Procedures
Currently parents who need to enter the school must book an appointment with the school office. Individuals without an appointment will not be able to enter the school.
Parents/guardians are required to set an appointment in order to enter the school at this time. Communication will happen through email and phone calls. This means that if a lunch is forgotten, this will be resolved by first calling the school and then meeting the student outside or arranging to drop off the item at the office.
All persons who enter schools or division buildings will need to sign in using the regular visitor/student sign in books.
Transportation and Parking
Transportation & Bussing:
Bus routes stay the same for all families and students only need to get on the bus the day that they attend school as per the above staggered entry schedule. Busses will enter the parking lot via the northwest bus lane. The BUS LANE is reserved for busses between the hours of 8:00 am and 9:00 am and 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm. The bus lane is one way only. Students will board and disembark busses along the sidewalk adjacent to the bus lane.
STUDENT DROP OFF
A passenger drop-off lane has been created along the north sidewalk in front of the school. This lane is only for dropping off of students. PARKING IS NOT PERMITTED in the drop off zone.
VISITOR PARKING
A visitor parking lot is found immediately east of the school. Visitors should enter and exit the visitor parking lot via the northeast entrance.
***PLEASE OBSERVE THE SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT AND PLEASE WATCH FOR PEDESTRIANS. THANK YOU!
Entry and Exit Doors for Students (See Map below):
To facilitate smaller groups of students entering in class cohorts and groupings, students will be reporting to separate entrances and will be dismissed at the end of the day through this same set of doors. Parents/guardians please direct your child in walking to the correct door. Teachers will meet and assist students and guide them into the school each day.
Please see the attached diagram of the school and the designated doors for each grade:
(Please contact the office if you require any assistance or clarification. Thank you)
IMPORTANT BUSSING MESSAGE KINDERGARTEN - STAGGERED DAYS
Message from Transportation: NO NOON BUSSING FOR KINDERGARTEN DURING STAGGERED ENTRY DATES
September 3rd is a NON kindergarten day, so the first day for noon bussing would be Sept. 7th. Kindergarten NOON transport will begin on September 7th after the staggered entry days. The kindergarten students who have registered for the bus are welcome to take the morning and after school regular buses it is just the noon transport that will not be running during the staggered entry days.
Classroom Assignments
*Please note that class lists will be shared during the Staff meet and greet on August 26, 2021.
Sister Alphonse Academy Staff:
Office Staff:
Mrs. Christine Samson - Principal
Mrs. Cindy Phillips (Vice Principal/Diverse Learning Lead)
Mr. David Szynkowski - Counsellor/Teacher
Mrs. Lorna Bokenfohr - Office Support
Ms. Lucy Gamache - Library/Learning Commons
Mrs. Natalie Lang - Educational Assistant
Mrs. Dawn MacDonald - Educational Assistant
Elementary Teaching Staff:
Mrs. Janice Manderson - Music specialist
AM (Morning) Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten: Ms. Jamie-Lee Oliva
Pre-Kinder is Tuesdays and Thursdays
Full Day Kindergarten: Ms. Emily Fraser (Mrs. Kim Shmyr on leave)
Grade 1: Mrs. Kelly Raypold
Grade 2: Mrs. Shelley Harvey
Grade 1 & 2 AM (Morning) Combined: Mrs. Marisol Teixeira
Grade 3: Mrs. Krista Klak
Grade 4: Mrs. Nina Rawcliffe
Grade 5: Mrs. Grace Lobel
Grade 6: Mr. Sean Brass
Junior High Staff:
Grade 7:
Mrs. Cindy Phillips
Mrs. Tina McKinnon - English Language Arts, Math
Mr. Szynkowski - Science 7
Grade 8:
Ms. Carryl Bennett - English Language Arts, Science
Mr. Matthew Parks - Math, Social Studies
Grade 9:
Ms. Carryl Bennett - English Language Arts, Science
Mr. Matthew Parks - Math, Social Studies
Virtual Photos Update
Sister Alphonse Spirit Wear Clothing Online Store is Open!
Knights have Spirit! School clothing as well as a school ensignia mask is available for ordering until September 6, 2021 through the following link: https://sisteralphonsefall2021.itemorder.com/sale
Please see the flyer that is also attached to this newsletter.
(Please note that this clothing order may take three to five weeks to arrive)
Parish Information
St. Albert Parish News
Click on the SAP Parish Link to access the weekly bulletin for St. Albert Catholic Parish.
Holy Family Parish News
Click on the HF Parish Link to access the weekly bulletin for Holy Family Parish