Sister Alphonse Academy Newsflash!
19/March/2021
Dear Sister Alphonse Academy Families!
Our staff and students had fun celebrating St. Patrick's Day as there were many students who dressed up in green! We also had the opportunity to create some creative St. Patrick's Day crafts in our classes.
We are enjoying some beautiful weather as we look forward to spring break which commences on March 26th, 2021. We are also reminding parents that today is the last day to fill out the notification to switch from online to in person or from in person to online learning for the next semester.
Dear Parents/Legal Guardians:
This is a FINAL reminder that if you are interested in requesting a change (from face-to-face, online, or home education), please complete this short survey (2-3 min) by March 19th, 2021.
If you have already completed the survey, there is no need to do so again.
Please also check out the GSACRD Voice Parent Cafe, which provides families with resources in supporting physical and mental health. There are some interesting sessions that take place through zoom! Please feel free to click on the link to explore some of these sessions and resources.
God bless and take care.
Christine Samson, Principal
Lisa Kleparchuk, Vice Principal
SAA Upcoming events:
Upcoming events: Month of March, 2021
March 22 - 25th:
Our students have been coming up with some unique and engaging ways we can raise additional dollars for our Lenten campaign! Please stay tuned for more details on our event days which will be happening at SAA during this week.
March 24th - Booster Juice Treat Day! Students are being treated with the student activity fee to a booster juice to celebrate the end of term 2.
K - 6 Report Cards. Junior High marks: Please check marks online for Junior High students.
March 26 - April 5th - SPRING BREAK! NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED.
April 6th - Students return to classes.
April 6 - New Options for Junior High. Details on Grade offerings through the homerooms will be shared before the option start up.
April 6 - 30 Student Event Days for CSS - Vulnerable Youth
We will be excited to share some of the great activities and events that our students have come up with to raise dollars for this worthwhile cause.
Congratulations Mrs. Kleparchuk!
Greetings from Mrs. Phillips!
Student Health & Safety
SAA held the second "Shelter-in-Place" drill this past Wednesday, March 17th. All of the classes completed the drill in a safe and orderly manner. Generally, Shelter-in-Place is used during an environmental emergency, such as severe storms or chemical spills.
During a Shelter-in-Place, students and staff retreat to safe zones to seek shelter. Staff and students will move away from windows into hallways areas during this drill. This drill also includes having students or staff who are outdoors come back into the school. Each school’s emergency response plan identifies the safest location for its occupants and how to seal a room from hazardous conditions.
During this upcoming week we will also be conducting a Lockdown drill with our students.
Lock-Downs are usually used in response to acts or threats of violence to students and/or staff directly impacting the school. During a Lock-Down all doors to and within the school are locked. No one is permitted in or out of any area once it has been locked. Students and staff must respond very quickly to a Lock-Down command to get to a safe location before doors are locked. No one, other than law enforcement, is permitted access to the building until the Lock-Down is over.
What does it mean to be a Knight?
SERVE
ACHIEVE
ASPIRE
Our school-wide approach to positive behaviour promotes a safe, orderly and predictable environment for learning and teaching. This approach has significant effects within the school community: it creates a positive school culture that students, parents and staff perceive as safe and caring.
Career and Technology Foundation Options
St. Patrick's Day Fun at SAA!
Returning Students: Please remember to complete your registration for 2021/2022
Thank you!
SAA Friends of Sister Alphonse Academy
Thank you to all of the SAA Friends committee and the parents who have been joining the Friends meetings. The SAA Friends committee was excited to share that there have been 19 parents/guardians who have volunteered to assist with fundraising events.
Confetti Cookies Curb side pick up
Dear Parents/Guardians:
A message from Sister Alphonse Academy Friends:
The intent for this fundraiser is that the proceeds from these sales will allow for each SAA staff member to receive one dozen freshly baked Confetti Sweets cookies to take home to enjoy over Spring Break.
Curb side order pick up is taking place at Sister Alphonse Academy on Wednesday, March 24 between 3-5 pm.
Thank you!
Grade 6 Celebration & Grade 9 Grad!
The is the first year that SAA will have a graduating class! We are excited to plan a grad for this group of hard working students. Plans in the development process so please know the dates and more information will be shared shortly. Thank you!
Grade one fun with Chromebooks!
New Beginnings Baskets for Youth Information:
GSACRD students, staff and families are invited to help raise money for Catholic Social Services staff to purchase the items for the New Beginnings Baskets.
For $150, each New Beginnings Basket will include a number of necessary items for youth in their first homes, including blankets, sheets, pillows, and pillowcases, a phone charger, grocery or Easter dinner card, towels and face cloths, dish towels and dish rags, a toaster, and cutlery.
Please go to the donation page linked here to contribute.
“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” Matt 25:40
The class that raises the most dollars will enjoy an ice cream treat!
Safe Playground Play in Action!
School Council thank you!
St. Albert Parish Food Bank Drive - Thank you!
Covid - Health & Safety Updates: Important message
Parents/Guardians:
Please check our our Covid-19 protocol updates in our parent handbook each week. Thank you so much for your continued diligence and support.
https://www.gsacrd.ab.ca/schoolreentry/parentguidebook
The Alberta Government has established stronger mandatory province-wide public health measures to help slow down the spread of the COVID-19.
Please open the link below to see an important change in the symptoms and isolating:
Alberta Health Daily Checklist - Please continue to screen your children for any symptoms BEFORE choosing to send them to school.
Covid-19 - How long to stay home from school
Thank you so much for your support!
Junior High Final Exam Information
Dear GSACRD Junior High Families,
For the 2020-21 school year, we will be approaching our final exam process differently. As a result of the very unusual year we have experienced, we endeavour to ensure that our students have maximum learning and preparation, without the pressure of high stakes final exams. We have therefore taken an approach that focuses on exam writing in a context of support and this approach is inline with our senior high counterparts:
All grade 7-9 students will be expected to write final exams. The rationale for this is to teach students how to prepare for exams, both mentally and academically. We believe that exam writing is a skill in and of itself and that students require practice to be confident in their ability to approach exams in the future.
All exams will be treated as a replacement exam. This means that students will be allowed to use the exam grade to replace their lowest unit test grade over the course of the year. As a result, the exam can only serve to benefit the student.
Parents will be able to see how their child(ren) performed on the final exam.
All GSACRD junior high students will write exams for each subject and grade.
Note for grade 9 families:
Final exams are a useful tool for grade 9 teachers to make accurate course recommendations for students entering high school.
Please note that teacher recommendations for high school course selections will be listed in the report card comments for each subject in June.
We encourage all students to approach these exams with diligence and care, and ask that as parents, you reinforce the importance of taking the process seriously.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Yours in education,
GSACRD Junior High Administration Teams
SAFETY PROTOCOL STUDENT RE-ENTRY REMINDERS
Before coming to school each day, all staff and students must complete the Alberta government’s COVID-19 Information Screening Questionnaire, which is available in multiple languages, to determine whether they can attend or must stay home. The form does not need to be submitted to the office. If your child has any symptoms, contact your school office to let your child’s school know. Everyone who enters a school will see a sign that reminds them to complete the daily COVID-19 Information Screening Questionnaire before entering the building.
Please remember to bring with you all of your books and supplies that are needed for school on Monday morning. Monday is a regular, full day of classes.
Please remember that we have four entrances for students. When you arrive at school please report to the same school door that you were using before the Christmas break.
On August 4, grades 4-12 students and all staff have been asked to wear masks and mask use will be mandatory in common areas and when physical distancing of 2m is not possible. K-3 students are not required to wear masks, but mask use is encouraged as much as possible. Masks are to be worn while riding the bus as well.
Students with pre-existing health conditions that cause symptoms of illness should be tested for COVID-19 at least once before returning to school. A negative test will help show that symptoms are related to their pre-existing conditions, and not to COVID-19. This will establish what their baseline for being healthy looks like. Families should notify their school about any pre-existing condition and the symptoms it causes. As long as these symptoms remain the same, the student can attend school.
Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in every school and division office and additional hand sanitizer has been provided to schools to enable individuals to practice good hand hygiene.
It is recommended that individual-sized hand sanitizer bottles be purchased for your children so that they have this with them throughout the day. If you need to purchase another one for Monday please do so. Thank you.
Students please bring your own water bottle to school and do not share them. Water fountains will remain open and be cleaned regularly.
All students are asked to wear a mask to wear upon entry at school and when riding a school bus. Teachers will provide mask breaks. Prior to the break, students needed more reminders of continuing to do this so let’s have a new start again.
Grades 4 - 9 students: Please remember to wear your mask at all times when walking in the classroom and/or hallway and continue to maintain physical distance between one another.
Approved cleaning protocols have been put in place in all Division buildings. Custodial staff have been trained to identify high touch areas and to know how to clean, sanitize, and disinfect them.
If your child becomes ill at school, your child will be placed in a safe space until you or your emergency designate picks up your child.
Lunch Hour: All students in the elementary and junior high school need to eat their lunch in their own classrooms. We have always had this guideline in place, but students needed a few reminders to adhere to this prior to the break. Students in Junior High who are leaving the building for lunch please follow all safety protocols with masks use, physical distancing and sanitization upon exit and entry.
Junior High - Nutrition break: You are to eat your snack at your desk in your classroom. If you would like to go for a short walk in the school, wear your mask and continue to maintain a physical distance of two metres while walking.
Gym use - Students will have grade cohort assigned time to use the gym. Please listen for the announcements for your day of use.
SIGIS Childcare available
Please note that we have SIGIS Childcare within our building at SAA! If you are in need of before school or after school childcare, please read some information below. This may be a convenient service you may be interested in. Thank you.
Sister Alphonse Academy!
Email: info@sisteralphonseacademy.com
Website: https://www.saa.gsacrd.ab.ca/
Location: 1 Joyal Way, Sturgeon County, AB, Canada
Phone: 7808092296
Facebook: facebook.com/sisteralphonseacademy
Twitter: @sisteralphonseacademy