
AJS Weekly Bison Tracks
November 3, 2023
Bison Football - City Championship Game - Saturday, November 4
Come and cheer for our Bison Football team on Saturday, November 4 at Clark Park.
They will be playing against M.E. LaZerte.
Game starts at 12:30 p.m.
IMPORTANT DATES
- November 6-10 - November Break - No School
- November 10 or 18 - Young Women In Trades & Technology Camp (Register at Student Services)
- November 11 - Remembrance Day
- November 13 - First day back from break
- November 13-17 - National Bully Awareness and Prevention Week
- November 15 & 16 - Saffron Centre Presentation for Jr. High - Learning about Trauma
- November 17, 9 a.m. - Educational Liaison Association of Alberta Career Fair @ AJS- Gym B
- November 20 - National Child Day
- November 20 - High School Course Withdrawal Deadline
- November 20, 6:00 p.m. - Canadian Parents for French Meeting
- November 20, 6:30 p.m. - School Council Meeting
- November 21 - Your Future Post-Secondary and Career Fair (Strathcona County Agora)
- November 23 - Jill Of All Trades - NAIT Campus (Register at Student Services)
- November 28, 11:37 a.m. - University of Calgary Info Booth
- November 28, 12:30-3:00 p.m. - University of Alberta 1:1 sessions
Do you want to support our students at Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High?
We are looking to provide support to our graduating students in the form of scholarship awards, but we need your help! We rely on our community to sponsor these monetary awards for our students. If you or your business would like to sponsor an award this year, please contact our business manager, Suzanne Cleet, at suzanne.cleet@eips.ca or (780) 922-2228. We would love to work with you to determine the criteria for the award and then honour your contribution at our annual awards ceremony in the fall.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Diploma Exam Prep Sessions - Registration opens November 1
Courses are designed for preparing students to write their Grade 12 diploma exams. The material presented is based on a 12-hour schedule over a weekend. Courses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a half hour break for lunch. Courses will be offered at Salisbury Composite High School (20 Festival Way) in Sherwood Park. Students can only register for one review course each weekend. Cost is $125 per course, $75 for Science 30. Registration will close on January 2 for English and Social Studies sessions, and on January 16 for Math and Sciences sessions. Register at www.eipscontinuinged.ca
January 6/7 ELA 30-1 and Social Studies 30-1
January 20/21 Math 30-1, 30-2, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30
January 27 Science 30
If you have questions regarding Diploma Exam Prep sessions, please reach out to nextstep@eips.ca or 780-992-0101.
Student Council Upcoming Events
Ardrossan Drama Club Audition Info
National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week - November 13-17, 2023
AJS marks Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week with Student Council sending out positive, hopeful messages via Instagram, messages and treats.
As well, Saffron Centre is presenting on Wednesday, Nov. 15 and Thursday, Nov. 16, to give a presentation, “Learning about Trauma” to our junior high students.
Pay School Fees Online!
School fee information for the 2023-24 school year is now posted on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. All fees are due within 30 days of being posted. To access your fee information, simply log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and go to “Student Fees.” There you can view your fees and pay them online.
Don’t forget to also log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal regularly throughout the year. Fees are often added to your child’s account to cover the cost of various school activities such as field trips, class projects, extracurricular activities fees and more.
If circumstances exist where you’re unable to pay your fees, you can apply to have certain fees waived by submitting an Application for a Waiver of Fees. The application deadline is Dec. 15, 2023.
For more information about school fees, waivers and payment deadlines, visit www.eips.ca/schools/fees and www.ardrossan.ca/about/fees. Alternatively, contact Suzanne Cleet, Business Manager, at Ardrossan Jr. Sr. High School at 780-922-2228.
Join the Canadian Parents for French committee
Have a French Immersion student at Ardrossan? Become a member of the Canadian Parents for French (CPF) Alberta chapter, furthering bilingualism by promoting and creating opportunities for students to learn and use French.
CPF meet just before all AJS School Council meetings at 6:00 p.m.
Next meeting is November 20, at 6:00 p.m.
YEARBOOKS - 2023/2024 Order Now!
Yearbooks for 2023-2024
You can purchase a yearbook for this school year through your Power School Parent Portal, then go to "Student Fees".
You must pre-order yearbooks as we only make what is ordered.
Yearbooks for 2022-2023
We have 10 additional 2022/2023 Yearbooks for sale in the office. If you forgot to order one last year, bring $43.00 to the office and pick one up today - first come, first served!
What's Happening
Grade 9 Take Your Kids to Work Day
Band Camp October 26 & 27, 2023
Student Council - Halloween Costume Contest Winners!
AJS Staff - Happy Halloween!
AJS Halloween Drama Show - Grades 7 & 8
AJS Fabrication team - Wicked Welding Competition
D.A.R.E. Presentation to Grade 7 Class
ATHLETICS
Check out the new and improved athletics web site here or click the button above. All information regarding teams, including schedules, tryout dates, games, and forms will be located here.
Athletic Dates
Football
- November 4, 12:30 p.m. - Football Division Championship Game vs M.E. LaZerte @ Clark Park
- November 11, 12:00 p.m. - Provincials vs Bonnyville Voyageurs (Emerald Hills)
- November 18 - Provincials - TBD
- November 25, 11:00 a.m. vs TBD (Great Chief Park in Red Deer)
Volleyball
- November 3 & 4 - Sr. Varsity Mens Volleyball Strathmore Tournament
- November 3 & 4 - Sr. Varsity Womens Volleyball Vegreville Tournament
- November 14, 3:30 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Girls and Boys Volleyball vs OLPH
- November 14, 4:00 p.m. - Jr. Sr. Boys Volleyball @ St. Andre Bessette
- November 14, 5:00 p.m. - Jr. Sr. Girls Volleyball @ St. Andre Bessette
- November 16, 3:30 p.m. - Jr. Jr. Girls and Boys Volleyball @ SCA
- November 16, 3:30 p.m. - Jr. Sr. Girls and Boys vs SCA
Basketball
- November 3, 3:30 p.m. - Sr Mens & Womens Basketball Tryouts
WHAT'S HAPPENING
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, email, SMS, alerts posted on 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 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.
Your Future: Post-Secondary and Career Fair
Thinking about attending post-secondary school after graduation? Not sure on the career or sector? Plan to attend this year’s Your Future: Post-Secondary and Career Fair on Nov. 21, 2023.
Hosted by Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS), in partnership with the Educational Liaison Association of Alberta, Your Future is an annual educational fair that brings together colleges, universities, polytechnic schools, and sector experts in one place—one of the largest events of its kind in Alberta.
The event is free and open to all students in grades 9 through 12 from EIPS and Elk Island Catholic Schools. Both students and family members will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from attending post-secondary institutions; ask questions; talk to experts about various career sectors; learn about future career trends; and much more.
Event Details:
Date: Nov. 21, 2023
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Strathcona County Agora
401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park
Navigating ADHD: Understanding, Managing, and Thriving
Join us for a Parent session at Sherwood Heights Junior High on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29TH at 6:30pm.
We will be hosting ADHD Edmonton’s President Rachel Rogers who is a psychologist that specializes in supporting families with children managing ADHD.
Rachel has worked with Edmonton Public Schools as a teacher, counselor, and Psychologist on multidisciplinary teams and is a wealth of knowledge to parents.
Rachel will be talking about the history of neurodivergences, what is ADHD and the brain, will briefly talk about the role of medication, multimodal treatment, strategies, and self-regulation. She will also talk about ADHD Edmonton and the supports available (there’s a lot!) and finish with Q&A to address questions.
This session is open to caregivers and professionals and will be held in person at Sherwood Heights Junior High as well as a virtual option.
To help us gage numbers:
https://forms.gle/yRTvsps2GpYuBoVS7
Please click on the google form link above ^ to RSVP to this parent night.
Career Pathways - Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a highly competitive program that requires significant student preparation to be successful. Career Pathways will be hosting monthly virtual RAP Prep information sessions to help students, families and staff better understand the requirements:
- November 14: 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Join the meeting
- December 13: 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Join the meeting
For more information, contact Kristin Oleksyn.
Respiratory Illness Guidance
The health and safety of staff, students and visitors is a top priority. Continue to reinforce the following hygiene habits to protect staff and students from spreading respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
- Stay home if you’re feeling sick.
- Wash or sanitize your hands often.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly.
- Wear a mask if you get sick or develop symptoms while at school or work.
As per Alberta Health guidelines, staff, students, contractors and visitors who have symptoms of respiratory Illness or test positive for COVID, should stay home until:
- symptoms have improved,
- they feel well enough to resume normal activities, and
- they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
For anyone who has a respiratory illness or has tested positive for COVID, it is recommended that they wear a mask for a total of 10 days from the onset of symptoms—even if the symptoms have resolved or improved—when in indoor settings with other individuals.
Student Parking
Please scan the QR code to fill in the online form to receive your parking pass. Passes will be available during lunch in the office.
• Traffic flow is one way entering and exiting the student parking lot.
• Grade 12's can park in any of the parking stalls available. This will be enforced.
Grade 10/11 students may park in any of the areas highlighted in orange.
Counsellor's Corner
Parliamentary Page Program Information
Is your dream to study in the nation’s capital? Are you fascinated by politics? Are you bilingual?
Perhaps you should consider the Parliamentary Page program.
Parliamentary Pages are first year university students, who work in the House of Commons supporting MPs. It’s a paid position, with travel paid to and from Ottawa.
Applications are being accepted now until November 5.
Visit https://www.ourcommons.ca/about/pageprogram/index-e.html for more information.
Young Women In Trades & Technology Camp - November 10 or 18
Female-identifying students in grades 10-12 are invited to join us at Women Building Futures for a full day of exploration! Students will have an opportunity to connect with industry professionals, tour the workplace, and try hands-on activities to learn more about skilled trades and technologies. Pick-up and drop-off will be at the CAREERS office on November 10 and at Nait Campus on November 18.
Register at Student Services.
ELAA Post Secondary Fair at AJS
The Educational Liaison Association of Alberta (ELAA) is hosting a post-secondary fair at Ardrossan Junior Senior High School on November 17, 2023. Students will have the chance to learn more about post-secondary opportunities available in Alberta, exploring a variety of career options, programs and course offerings.
For more information about the school’s ELAA Post-secondary Fair, contact the school office at 780-922-2228.
Jill Of All Trades - November 23 @ Nait Campus
Jill of all Trades is a day-long event with the goal of introducing female and female identifying high school students to the prospect of a rewarding career in the skilled trades. You will participate in hands-on workshops across NAIT’s main campus and hear from women currently working in the field to discover a trade you can pursue.
Register at Student Services.
Cafeteria Menu
*NEW* - Cafeteria payment methods - Debit Cards
We are excited to announce that you can now use your debit card to pay for your delicious lunches in our cafeteria!
Community News
Caregiver Education Sessions
Alberta Health Services hosts a variety of virtual caregiver information sessions throughout the year focused on ways to support students’ mental health. The sessions are free and geared toward parents, caregivers, teachers and community members who want to learn more about challenges impacting children and adolescents. Session topics include anxiety, ADHD, depression, self-harm, technology, teens and teaching leadership skills, communication, resiliency and more. Visit Caregiver Education to see the monthly caregiver sessions.
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