Fort High's Weekly Bulletin
September 6, 2020
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, Sept. 15 - 6 p.m. Parent Council Meeting (Virtual Meeting)
Monday, Sept. 28 - Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews
Wednesday, Sept. 30 - Orange Shirt Day
This Week's Update
Hello Fort High Families,
We had a successful first week and it was so refreshing to see students in our building again. It’s amazing how much energy our students bring to our school, it was sorely missed. As with the previous messages, here are some reminders and new pieces of information:
Parent Council
Our first parent council meeting will be taking place virtually on Tuesday, September 15th at 6pm. A google meet code will be posted on our website prior to the meeting.
STAR Reading Assessment
STAR testing will resume for all students from grades 10-12. There will be three required assessment testing windows. Students need to be assessed within these dates.
Fall 2020: Sept. 3 – Oct. 2, 2020
Winter 2021: Feb. 1 – 26, 2021
Spring 2021: May 12 – June 9, 2021 (optional for Grade 12 students)
MIPI Assessments
MIPI assessments will be conducted for all in-school students during 2020-21 school year. Please note the following changes to MIPI administration this year:
To accommodate all math students throughout the year, there may be up to four assessment periods. Students only need to write the MIPI once per year.
Full year & Q1 students: Sept. 3 – Oct. 2, 2020
Q2 and any new incoming students: Nov. 16 – 30, 2020
Q3 and any new incoming students: Jan. 6 – Feb. 12, 2021
Q4 and any new incoming students: April 6 – 30, 2021
Designated Student Entrances
Grade 10: Main Entrance
Grade 11: Gym Entrance
Grade 12: Main Entrance, take immediate left to lockers
Lunch Time
Due to the library being closed and limited seating in the cafeteria, the following options will be available to students during lunch hour:
Students are free to leave during lunch
Eat individually at the social distanced tables in the main foyer
Single seating in the front foyer
At picnic tables outside (weather permitting)
Classrooms throughout the school (maximum of 15/class to ensure social distancing while eating)
Please remember that students will no longer be allowed to sit on the floor in the hallways to eat lunch, they must be in one of the designated areas.
Bathrooms
Each bathroom will have a maximum capacity of 2 people. If a student enters the bathroom and notices that it is occupied by 2 students, they are asked to wait outside the bathroom for their turn.
Students on Spares
Due to the library being closed, we are asking students who are on spares to either work at the social distanced tables in the main foyer or go home if possible.
Exiting the School
Any student leaving the school early for whatever reason needs to check in at the office to get their attendance changed by the secretary.
Online Learning
All families that choose online learning, you should have received an email from EIPS. All online learning will begin on September 8th.
Masks
All students have been provided with two reusable masks from the Alberta Government. If your son/daughter did not receive one, please visit the main office to get one. We also have a supply of single use masks if any students forget their masks at home.
Vehicle Registration
Any student that wants to park in our parking lot will need to fill out a vehicle registration for our school. Please visit the main office to get a registration sheet.
Student AbsencesPlease remember to contact the school at 780-998-3751 or email at fhsattendance@eips.ca if your child will be missing school. It is imperative that we know the reason for the absence, especially if they are sick.
Update Your PowerSchool Information
The "Correction and Verification Form" is now available online through your PowerSchool Parent Portal. Families can use the form to access and update their child’s information—including address, parent and guardian information, emergency contacts and any medical information. Reviewing and updating the form ensures the school has the most up-to-date information regarding your child. In particular, please pay close attention to all phone numbers, email addresses and emergency contact information. We will undoubtedly continue to have important information to communicate with families throughout this school year—whether your child is registered in in-school or out-of-school learning—and we want to ensure you receive this information. If you haven't already done so, we ask all Fort High families to review their child’s PowerSchool information by Sept. 20, 2020.
For more information about the PowerSchool Correction and Verification Form, contact the school directly.
Enhancing literacy and numeracy
As part of Elk Island Public Schools’ (EIPS) ongoing efforts to enhance the literacy and numeracy of students in all grade levels, the Division is once again administering the STAR 360 and Math Intervention/Programming Instrument (MIPI) assessment tools for all in-school learners in the 2020-21 school year. The tools focus on literacy and numeracy, are digitally based and offer an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning. The goal: To provide timely information to teachers, help enhance classroom instruction and ensure student learning needs are identified.
At three points throughout the year, EIPS in-school students in grades 1 through 12 will complete the STAR 360 assessment, which evaluates reading comprehension. The assessment takes approximately 20 minutes and is administered on a digital device. At least once throughout the year, in-school students in grades 2 through 10 will complete the MIPI assessment, which is a mathematic screening tool used to inform teachers about a student’s math skills. For students in grades 7 through 10, the MIPI takes approximately 50 minutes, and for students in grades 2 through 6 it takes approximately 20 minutes. The results offer the teacher a clearer picture of a student’s learning needs and help determine if subsequent instructional planning is required.
The scores of the assessments aren’t used toward a student’s grade, and there is no need to study ahead of time. The tools simply provide the teacher with information to better understand where each student is in terms of reading comprehension and mathematic ability. If, after analyzing the results, it’s determined a student can benefit from extra support, the teacher will contact the family to discuss possible support strategies.
For more information about the Division’s STAR 360 and MIPI assessment tools, contact EIPS Supports for Students at 780-464-3477.
Quick Facts: Video surveillance
Did you know each EIPS bus is equipped with video surveillance? Video surveillance and equipment helps:
- ensure the safety of all students, drivers and property; and
- discourage destructive acts.
On a regular basis, EIPS Student Transportation reviews the video recordings, in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The recordings assist the department with monitoring student and driver conduct and may be used as evidence in a disciplinary matter.
For more information about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, contact the EIPS FOIP Co-ordinator at 780-464-3477.