AJS Weekly Bison Tracks
November 4, 2022
AJS will remember them
Important Dates
- November 7 - 11 - Fall Break
- November 11 - Remembrance Day
- November 14 - 18 - Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
- November 14 - 15 - Jr. High Health Class Presentation
- November 17 - Rupertsland "Get Ahead of Your Future" Career Fair
- November 20 - National Child Day
- November 21, 6:30 p.m. - School Council Meeting
- November 21 - Last day to withdraw from high school courses
- November 22, 1:30 p.m. - ELAA Post-Secondary Event
- November 23, 11:30 a.m. - Presentation for RAP, Work Experience
- December 1 - Grade 9 Immunizations
- December 2 - University of Calgary visit
- December 6 - Christmas Band Concert
- December 7, 2:16 p.m. - Early dismissal
- December 9, 11 a.m. - NAIT One-on-one Sessions
- December 21 - Christmas Break Begins
In the Spotlight
Congratulations to our Bison RAP Scholarship Recipients
On November 2, 2022, the following Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High graduates will be recognized as recipients of the Government of Alberta High School Apprenticeship Scholarship for their participation in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). Each scholarship is valued at $1000, for a total of $20,000 in scholarships.
Please join us in celebrating this year’s recipients:
Hunter Barnes AJS Plumber
Cheyenne Fleming AJS Welder
Roman Fuhsl AJS Welder
Dayton Horton AJS Cook
Miller Scrimshaw AJS Electrician
No Stone Left Alone
Social 10-1H class participated in the NSLA at Fairmount Cemetery. Joined by WO Derek Rosendal from South Alberta Light Horse Regiment.
No Stone Left Alone
No Stone Left Alone
A little science in Halloween
Halloween class pictures
Halloween
Biology 20
Spanish 10 20 30
Science 9 FI
Sherwood Heights Visit
Band Camp
Band Camp
Band Camp
WHAT'S HAPPENING
New Report Cards
To best communicate student learning, some changes have been made to report cards, including a slight redesign. This November, parents and guardians will continue to access junior high report cards through PowerSchool—simply log in to your account and click on the “Report Card” button in the lefthand sidebar.
Reminder to parents, the PowerSchool Parent Portal will be unavailable starting November 4 at 4:00 p.m. until November 8 at 8:00 p.m.
January Diploma Prep Sessions
Diploma Prep Sessions
Courses are designed for preparing students to write their Grade 12 diploma exams. The material presented in the classroom over 125 hours will be condensed and highlighted in this focused, 12-hour review course over a weekend. Courses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a half hour break for lunch. Course will be offered at Salisbury Composite High School (20 Festival Way) in Sherwood Park.
- January 7 & 8 - English 30-1, 30-2 and Social Studies 30-1, 30-2
- January 14 & 15 - Mathematics 30-1, 30-2, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, and Physics 30
Registration will open on Monday, October 17. https://www.eipscontinuinged.ca/
Registration will close on January 4 for English and Social Studies sessions, and on January 11 for Math and Sciences sessions.
Student refunds will not be given after registration closes.
Limited quantities available of items below
You can purchase these items in the front office with cash, or you can have the cost added to your PowerSchool fees account.
Where to Find the Information You Need
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.
Inclement Weather
With the winter season almost here, we want to remind families to dress children appropriately for the weather when getting ready for school or the bus. The weather often changes unexpectedly throughout the day, so please select suitable outerwear and ensure your child is prepared for changing conditions.
If inclement weather conditions occur, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) advises families of any bus cancellations using various communications tools—automated-telephone messages, alerts posted on www.eips.ca and school websites, Twitter, Facebook, local radio stations, and notification through both the Bus Status and the Ride 360 apps. Morning bus cancellations are posted on www.eips.ca by 6:30 a.m.
Decisions regarding bus cancellations are guided by EIPS administrative procedures that state, “school bus service may be suspended…when there is a forecast or current temperature of -40 C, including wind chill factor, in one or more regions.” Other reasons for suspending or delaying school bus services include adverse weather and poor road conditions. When school bus services are suspended, schools remain open to students. EIPS believes families have the right and responsibility to make choices for their children based on their beliefs and perceptions of safety during times of inclement weather.
For more information, contact EIPS Student Transportation at 780-417-8151.
EIPS 2023-24 Division Calendar: Now Available!
The official 2023-24 EIPS calendar is now available.
The calendar includes important dates during the 2023-24 school year, such as school-closure days, breaks, the first and last day of classes, professional learning days, early dismissal days, plus more.
Highlights from the 2023-24 EIPS calendar include:
first day of school – Aug. 31, 2023
November break – November 6-10
Christmas break – December 25 to January 5
second semester starts – February 1
Teachers’ Convention – February 8-9
spring break – March 25-29
last day of classes – June 26, 2024
To view the 2023-24 calendar, visit eips.ca.
Did you know you can sync the Division calendar to your personal calendar? You can. Simply, visit www.eips.ca/calendar and click “subscribe to calendar.” It’s that easy.
French Immersion Programming
Latest Updates
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) has begun a three-year public engagement initiative to enhance programming offered throughout the Division. One of the programs EIPS is looking at is French Immersion and how to improve French Immersion retention at the junior high and senior high levels.
The Division will begin Phase 1 of its public consultations, starting with an engagement session on October 26—details below. Those who attend will learn more about EIPS’ junior high and senior high French Immersion program and review feedback from previous consultation efforts. Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions and offer feedback.
Couldn’t make the meeting? That’s OK. You can still submit input by completing the online Enrolment Pressures Survey. The survey is anonymous and takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Take the Survey Now!
Survey closes November 14
Cafeteria Menu
Basketball Tryouts
See Ms. Monea if you have any questions!
Athletic Dates
- November 11 @ 1 p.m. - Bisons Football Provincial Quarter Finals
- November 15 @ 3:30 p.m. - Jr Sr Boys Volleyball vs Strathcona Christian Academy @ SCA
- November 15 @ 3:30 p.m. - Jr Sr Girls Volleyball vs Strathcona Christian Academny @ SCA
- November 17 @ 4:00 p.m. - Jr Jr Boys Volleyball vs OLPH @ OLPH
- November 17 @ 5:00 p.m. - Jr Jr Girls Volleyball vs OLPH @ OLPH
- November 19 - Bisons Football Provincial Semifinal
- November 21 @ 3:30 p.m. - Jr Jr Boys Volleyball vs Rudolph Hennig @ Rudolph Hennig
- November 21 @ 3:30 p.m. - Jr Jr Girls Volleyball vs Rudolph Hennig @ Rudolph Hennig
- November 22, 24 & 29 - Jr Sr Boys and Girls Volleyball Playoffs
- November 23, 24 & 29 - Jr Jr Boys and Girls Volleyball Playoffs
- November 25 - Bisons Football Provincial Final
- December 1 - EIPS Jr Sr Volleyball Championship Evening
- December 2 & 3 - Jr. Varsity Basketball Stampede Classic Tournament
- December 9 @ 6:30 p.m. - Bison Football Banquet
Student Council News
Community News
Caregiver Education Team
Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers of children and youth. Sessions are offered through Zoom. Upcoming topics include understanding depression and self-injury, substance use and building executive functioning skills. The list of November 2022 sessions is now available.
Caregiver Education Sessions
Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers of children and youth. Sessions are offered through Zoom. Upcoming topics include understanding depression and self-injury, substance use and building executive functioning skills. The list of November 2022 sessions is now available.
Adult Education Sessions
Alberta Health Services offers free online programming for parents and caregivers of children and youth. Sessions are offered through Zoom. Upcoming topics include understanding depression and self-injury, substance use and building executive functioning skills. The list of November 2022 sessions is now available.
Spread the Word: EIPS is Hiring Substitute Educational Assistants and CTS/CTF Teachers
Do you know someone who may be interested in part-time, flexible work as a substitute educational assistant (EA) or substitute teacher specializing in Career and Technology Studies (CTS) and Career and Technology Foundations (CTF)? Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is hiring—spread the word!
EAs are integral to the school team, assisting teachers with instructional and non-instructional tasks in the classroom and other school activities. Whether it’s working one-on-one with individual students or with a small group of students in a class or special program, EAs provide support and assistance to help students achieve success.
Substitute teachers are needed every day across the Division, and vacancies in CTF and CTS classrooms require a specific skillset. Applicants must have or be eligible for an Alberta Teaching Certificate and have related CTS/CTF training or experience.
Substitutes are needed to fill positions at all school locations until the end of the school year. The application deadline is November 18. If you know someone who’d be great in one of these roles, encourage them to apply today.
Do you know someone who may be interested in part-time, flexible work as a substitute educational assistant (EA) or substitute teacher specializing in Career and Technology Studies (CTS) and Career and Technology Foundations (CTF)? Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is hiring—spread the word!
EAs are integral to the school team, assisting teachers with instructional and non-instructional tasks in the classroom and other school activities. Whether it’s working one-on-one with individual students or with a small group of students in a class or special program, EAs provide support and assistance to help students achieve success.
Substitute teachers are needed every day across the Division, and vacancies in CTF and CTS classrooms require a specific skillset. Applicants must have or be eligible for an Alberta Teaching Certificate and have related CTS/CTF training or experience.
Substitutes are needed to fill positions at all school locations until the end of the school year.
The application deadline is November 18. If you know someone who’d be great in one of these roles, encourage them to apply today.
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