AJS Weekly Bison Tracks

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Radium Girls. A wonderful performance by our talented students in the a.d.c. Your hard work and dedication rewarded the audience with a fantastic show.

Our Semester 2 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences are taking place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on March 21 and 22. The booking system opens to parents at 4:00 pm on March 14. To access the booking system please go to School Interviews and use the booking code u5c84 or scan the QR Code to access the system. All interviews will take place in person. We look forward to meeting with you!

• March 17 - Jazz Band Night
• March 20 - Journée internationale de la Francophonie/International Francophonie Day Tous les élèves sont invités à porter du bleu, du blanc et du rose pour la, le 20 mars. Nous distribuerons des tatouages de drapeau franco-albertain ce jour-là aussi.

• (All students are encouraged to wear blue, white and pink on March 20 for International Francophonie Day. We will also hand out Franco-Albertan flag tattoos on this day.)
• March 20 - 24 - Francophonie week/semaine de la francophonie.

• March 21 & 22 - Jostens Grad Rings/Jewelry
• March 21 & 22 - Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• March 22 - Circo Balanzo fait un spectacle pour tous les élèves (7e-12e) en immersion française durant bloc 2, le 22 mars au théâtre pour célébrer « la semaine de la francophonie. "Circo Balanzo" will be performing to all (7-12) French Immersion students during block 2 on March 22 in the theatre to celebrate "la semaine de la francophonie".
• March 22 - Junior High Locker clean out
• March 24 - 31 - Spring Break
  
• April 3 - Classes Resume
• April 3 -5 - Grad Portrait Retakes - Icon
• April 5, 2:16 p.m. - Early Dismissal
• April 7 - Good Friday (school closed)
• April 10 - Easter Monday (school closed)
• April 12 - EIPS RAP info night- AJS Theatre
• April 14 - High School Class Drop Deadline
• April 14 - In house Drama Festival
• April 14 - Junior High Report Cards
• April 30 - Deadline for parents to have the "Parent/Guardian Information Verification Form" submitted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is currently reviewing and updating all parent and guardian contact information within the Division’s student information system. This one-time, full-scale review is to ensure the Division has complete and accurate data on file as Alberta Education moves to a new way of capturing information in the provincial database.

As part of the data review, EIPS requires all families to carefully review the parent and guardian information on file for each student in your family—even if you’ve recently completed a Student Correction and Verification Form. Families can quickly and easily indicate no updates are needed, if that’s the case, or provide updated contact information as needed. The form also includes a handful of new questions to help the Division understand each parent and guardian’s relationship to the student and their preferences for receiving communication from the school and Division.

To review your information, simply log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal and open the “Parent/Guardian Information Verification Form” from the left-hand menu or notification at the top of the page. Review all information carefully, provide updates where needed and submit your form by April 30. One form is required for each student currently registered at an EIPS school. Only one parent/guardian will complete the form for each student—all associated parent/guardian information for each student is available to review on the same form.

If you have any questions about your Parent/Guardian Information Verification Form, reach out to the school at (780)922-2228.

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you. Make sure to complete the 2023 EIPS Annual Feedback Survey: For parents and caregivers—open from March 1-23.

Every year, EIPS conducts the feedback survey to gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Families are asked a series of questions about their experiences with EIPS and the school their child attends, the overall performance of the Division, the quality of education being provided to students and areas for improvement. The survey input helps the Division develop new strategies to better serve students and the wider community.

VISIT EIPS.CA TO TAKE THE SURVEY: March 1-23

NOTE: The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete. If you want to share the experience of more than one child attending an EIPS school, simply complete the survey again.

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.

Starting on February 21, 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 17, 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

Assurance and Accountability: Alberta’s K-12 education system

Tous les élèves sont invités à porter du bleu, du blanc et du rose pour la Journée internationale de la Francophonie, le 20 mars. Nous distribuerons des tatouages de drapeau franco-albertain ce jour-là aussi.

All students are encouraged to wear blue, white and pink on International Francophonie Day, March 20th. We will also hand out Franco-Albertan flag tattoos on this day.

« Circo Balanzo » fait un spectacle pour tous les élèves (7e-12e) en immersion française durant bloc 2, le 22 mars au théâtre pour célébrer « la semaine de la francophonie ».

"Circo Balanzo" will be performing to all (7-12) French Immersion students during block 2 on March 22 in the theatre to celebrate "la semaine de la francophonie".

This semester has introduced the Reset Room for Junior High students. This room is designed to help students who need a moment to regulate to have the designated space and tools to help them acquire these skills.

We are looking for donations to furnish this room for students. If you are able to help with any donations, take a look at our wish list on Sign Up Genius .

Junior High Drama Club meets on Thursdays at lunchtime. The "Ardrossan Drama Players" will be led by grade 12 students.

Check out the AJS Drama department website for more details and rehearsal schedules. Updates and announcements about the junior high and senior high shows will be found here.

https://sites.google.com/eips.ca/ajsdrama

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 retakes have been scheduled for April 3-5, 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.

AJS School Council is excited to have 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 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!

Starting March 8 and running for the month - Grade 7 and 8's will be participating in a Tic Tac Toe Tournament for Intramurals.

Floor hockey playoffs will be begin Monday. We will have the team lists and schedule posted Thursday at noon. Playoffs will continue until March 15. Then Basketball will follow until the end of the month.

• March 17 - Archery Provincials
• March 20, 4:45 p.m. - Sr. High Men's Handball @ ABJ
• March 21, 5:30 p.m. - Sr. High Badminton @ AOB
• March 22, 4:45 p.m. - Sr. High Men's Handball @ Queen Elizabeth
• March 23, 3:00 p.m. - Sr. High Badminton @ LSL

Go Bisons!

Hello Band Family!

Band Jazz Concert – It’s TONIGHT!!! Jazz music put on by our most dedicated musicians. Let us entertain you with music, song and snacks.

“Wine, Movies & Munchies Raffle” – we also kick off our latest fundraiser and its AMAZING! Only $10 for 1 ticket, $20 for 4, $50 for 20 and $100 for 100 chances! What’s in the “Wine, Movies and Munchies” Raffle?

- Mead, 4 Bottles of Wine, Baileys, Prosecco

- Blackberry Ginger Ale

- Chips, Pretzels, Tortilla Chips, Queso, Salsa, Dynamitas

- Cotton Candy

- Chocolate

- Beefy Jerky

- Popcorn and multiple seasonings

- Movie Passes

- Gift card to 70 Acre Brewery

- A Ukelele and 3 lessons!

Over $500 worth of items for you to kick back and enjoy your weekend! Go to https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/amps to buy your tickets! Contest closes March 31st and draw is April 2 at noon.

SCHOLARSHIPS!! For more information, please reach out to the AMPS President (Lee Dempsey) for more information and requirements. ¯¯

Did you know we have social media? Find us at “Ardrossan Music Parent Association” on Facebook and on Instagram!

Our next AMPS meeting is Tuesday, April 25th at 4:15 pm in the band room. Everyone is welcome to attend. 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

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.

Are you a student with a hearing loss and entering full-time studies in September 2023? Take advantage of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s (CHHA) Scholarship Program. The online application format saves you time and effort: only one application needs to be filled out to apply for any of the six scholarships CHHA has to offer, including two new scholarships added in 2022.

Scholarships are open to anyone with a hearing loss who will be enrolled in a full-time program in a post-secondary institution next September. For more information, contact scholarship@chha.ca or visit the CHHA National Website. The deadline to apply is April 20. Application form

If you had a direct line to the minister, what would you say? Are you interested in sharing your ideas to help shape Alberta’s education system? Applications for the 2023-24 Minister’s Youth Council are open now. Approximately 40 junior and senior high school students between the ages of 14 and 19 with diverse interests, identities, backgrounds and perspectives from across Alberta will be selected for the council.

The deadline to apply is March 24.

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 understanding depression, anxiety and parenting teens in the 21st century. The list of March 2023 sessions is now available.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has launched an enhanced respiratory assessment tool to provide Albertans with guidance to manage a wide range of respiratory illnesses, provide advice on caring for symptoms at home and when to seek additional care. The tool will help guide schools and individuals to the best care options for symptoms, including self-care at home, or seeking care through a walk-in clinic, family physician, or pharmacy for mild to moderate symptoms.

The growing opioid crisis has brought to light devastating effects on individuals, families and communities across Canada. Since 2016, there has been more than 9,000 opioid-related deaths. In 2017, approximately 11 lives were lost each day because of opioid poisoning. In 2022, there were 1,346 opioid-related fatalities in Alberta. Many others have been hospitalized because of opioid poisoning—and 94 per cent of opioid-related deaths happen by accident.

Young Canadians aged 15-24 are the fastest growing population requiring hospital care from opioid poisoning. Schools can all play a part in raising awareness about the stigma and reducing barriers to treatment and social services for people who use prescription or illicit drugs. A free online First Aid for Opioid Emergencies Course is available to individuals 16 years of age and older who want to learn first aid skills and knowledge to prevent, recognize and respond to an opioid poisoning emergency. Learn more

Join in a morning of fun and learning at Newcomer Mornings! Held every Thursday, Newcomer Mornings feature two events:

• Conversation Circle: Practice your English for free through conversation with others. From 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Newcomer Connector: Connect with other newcomers and learn about community resources. From 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information, contact FamilyResourceNetwork@strathcona.ca or visit strathcona.ca/families.

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