AJS Weekly Bison Tracks

• May 18 - 24 - Grade 9 FI Quebec Trip
• May 19: School Closure Day (schools closed to students and staff)
• May 22: Victoria Day (schools closed to students and staff; Central Services closed)
• May 23 - Grade 8 Social FI - Japanese Cultural Center Fieldtrip
• May 25 - Physics 30 Field Trip
• May 26 - Shoebox Theatre
• May 29- 31 - DELF - Preparation Session
• May 30 - Jr. High Band Concert
• May 31 - Sr. High Band Concert
• May 31 - Art Walk
• May 31 - Science 9 AEP Fieldtrip
• June 2, 6 p.m. - Grade 9 Celebration
• June 5 & 6 - DELF Exam
• June 7 - Grade 9 Immunizations
• June 9 - Grad Superlatives
• June 9, 5 p.m. - Blue and White Awards
• June 15 - Senior high last day of classes
• June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
• June 23, 2 p.m. - Graduation Ceremony
• June 27 - Last instructional day

Please keep checking ardrossan.ca to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information. Students are expected to write their exams as scheduled. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent your student from writing an exam as shown on the exam schedule, please contact your grade level administrator to discuss.

NOTE: PAT exams and division common exams cannot be written earlier than the scheduled date. Diploma exams must be written as scheduled or deferred to the scheduled writing date in August.

We will be celebrating with our Grade 9 students as they prepare to move into high school. The Grade 9 Celebration will take place on Friday, June 2 with a certificate ceremony beginning at 6:00 pm in the theatre. Each student will be provided with 2 tickets for family. Due to capacity constraints we have a limited number of tickets. If your family would like to request extra tickets please use this ticket request form to do so. A dance for Grade 9 students only will follow from 7:00 to 10:00 pm in the cafeteria. The ticket cost of $15 has been added to PowerSchool fee accounts and must be paid in advance. If your student will not be attending the dance please contact your grade level administrator, Trudi Williamson, at trudi.williamson@eips.ca to ask for the fee to be removed from your account.

We need parent volunteers to help us to make this event a success! Please use the link below to sign up for one of the available volunteer roles:

Volunteer sign up sheet

Every year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) publishes an Annual Education Results Report, which outlines the Division’s Four-Year Education Plan, opportunities for growth and how it’s supporting students to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read through this year’s EIPS Annual Education Results Report 2021-22 and discover how EIPS fosters learning environments for all students to learn, grow and thrive—and why it matters.

May Spotlight: cultivating high-quality learning environments and experiences

· Power of Kindness: Creates welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and safe learning environments in schools

· Building Blocks: How effective planning, management and infrastructure is supporting learning

· Raising the bar: Evidence-based practices that are enhancing teaching and learning in EIPS

RELATED INFORMATION
EIPS Four-Year Education Plan: 2022-26
EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan: 2024-27

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 8:45 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. Students can only register for one review course each weekend. Cost is $125 per course. Spaces are limited for each course, register early to avoid missing out.

Registration for EIPS Summer School is open now. Organized through Next Step, the Summer School program offers more than 25 senior high courses that allow students to earn credits, upgrade marks, lighten workloads or finish pre-requisite courses.

Courses include: Open to EIPS students entering grades 10 to 12 next fall, and students in their Grade 12 year.

· English Language Arts 20-1, 20-2, 30-1 and 30-2

· Social Studies 20-1, 20-2, 30-1 and 30-2

· Mathematics 10-3, 10C, 20-1, 20-2, 30-1 and 30-2

· Science 10 and 30

· Biology 20 and 30

· Chemistry 20 and 30

· Physics 20 and 30

· Physical Education 10

· Personal Fitness 10, 20 and 30

· Career and Life Management (CALM 20)

· Foundations in Industry Workplace Safety

· Work Experience and RAP

For summer 2023, all Summer School courses are in-person. Classes take place at schools in Sherwood Park. Learn more about the 2023 summer program

Strathcona County is inviting youth in Grades 7-12 to share their feedback to help plan for the next four years of recreation and culture opportunities in the community, by completing an online survey between May 1 to May 22. Youth completing the survey can enter to win 1 of 10, $50 Recreation, Parks and Culture gift cards!

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 .

Parent Council is hosting an appreciation luncheon for the staff of Ardrossan Junior Senior High on June 7. If you would like to contribute please sign up here.

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!

Intramural Bag Activities! What are Intramural Bag Activities, you ask? Students will have access to volleyballs, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls and tennis/pickleball equipment.

If the weather does not permit for outdoor activities then students will head back inside to the gyms for volleyball and basketball.

High school students will participate in intramural bag activities as well.

If the weather does not permit outdoor activities then students will head back inside to the gyms for volleyball and basketball.

• May 23 - Jr. High EIAA Track Meet
• May 23, 4:15 p.m. - Sr. Varsity Men's Soccer Game vs. Beaumont
• May 24, 4:15 p.m. - Slo Pitch Game vs. SAL
• May 27, 11:00 a.m. - Bison Football Exhibition game vs. Cold Lake

Go Bisons!

Way to hustle Bisons! A game against ABJ resulted in a 20-4 victory! Great team work Bisons!

Hello Bisons!

We are offering a Stawnichy's Fundraiser 2023! Just in time for summer BBQ Season!

Click on the link to access the order form to see the great selection of sausage products from the famous Stawnichy's Mundare Sausage!

Order Deadline: May 29, 2023

Order payments can be made via E-Transfer (bisonfootballpayments@gmail.com). Payments are due May 29, 2023.

Order Delivery/Pick-up: June 15, 2023

Hello Band Family!

AMPS Car Show & Shine!!! – YES! You heard it right! AMPS, in partnership with Mr. Basaraba & Mr. Bell, are hosting a Car Show & Shine on June 10th, 2023 at the high school! All are welcome to enter their vehicles - $10 for advanced entry, $15 on June 10th. Register your ride early as we can only guarantee 100 spots! There will be trophies, prizes, concessions and raffles available. It will be a fantastic day to come out, listen to some great music, have some treats and appreciate everyone’s vehicles!

For more info, visit https://www.ardrossan.ca/fine-arts/band/ardrossan-show-and-shine. There will be a concession, music, and, of course, all the cars you can drool over. Can’t wait to see you there!

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 May 23rd at 4:15 pm in the band room. Everyone is welcome to attend.

We will be discussing upcoming band activities (Car show, Marching Band) and we would love to have band parents join us to share their ideas.

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.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. B or the AMPS.

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.

Opportunity Scholarship $3,000 value

The Bayer Crop Science Opportunity Scholarship is available to Canadian high school students who are enrolled in their final year of high school as of June 8, 2023 and eligible to graduate from high school in 2023. Those eligible for a scholarship must be planning to enroll at a Canadian post secondary institution (degree or diploma) in a first-year agriculture, food science or culinary program.

Up to 32 successful applicants will each be awarded a scholarship valued at $3,000, based on demonstrated academic standards and leadership in the community. Selection will be made by an independent panel.

Preference will be given to two (2) applicants of Canadian indigenous heritage.

If you have applied for entry into a college or university, but have not yet been accepted, you can still apply for the Opportunity Scholarship. However, if you are awarded a scholarship, you must provide an acceptance letter from your educational institution.

MCSnet, Alberta’s largest rural internet provider, is accepting applications for their High School Scholarship Program. Each year, they offer four $1,000 local scholarships to graduating Grade 12 students. To be eligible, students must be pursuing post-secondary education in computer science or related studies and must reside in the MCSnet service area. The deadline to apply is August 31. The application package can be completed online or downloaded and sent by email or physical mail.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International seeks to promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. As such, the Eta Chapter in Sherwood Park annually offers a $500 grant to one graduating student from either Elk Island Public Schools or Elk Island Catholic Schools who’s planning to enter the field of teacher education. One grant will be awarded for applicants attending post-secondary in September 2023. The deadline to apply is June 15. Application package

From July 24-28, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Youth Camp takes place at the RCMP “K” Division Headquarters in Edmonton. The camp runs Sunday to Friday and is open to any individual between the ages of 16 to 19 who is a resident of Alberta. The camp offers young adults a chance to find out what it’s like to be a police officer in training. These activities may include drill, fitness, police defensive tactics, forensics, Major Crime Unit, Emergency Response Team and much more! To request an application package, contact the RCMP Youth Camps team.

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.

On July 7-9, come celebrate the 50th annual Vegreville Pysanka Festival! From delicious food and beautiful folk art to musical performances and fun activities, the festival has something for everyone. The celebration exhibits and preserves some of the finest aspects of Ukrainian cultural heritage in Alberta, allowing the younger generation of Ukrainians to learn more about their rich culture, and promotes an understanding of each other's ethnic values through music, song and dance.

Want to show off your creativity? Submit your Ukrainian folk art piece to one of the festival’s Ukrainian Folk Art Competitions. The competitions are open to children and teenagers in grades 1-12, in addition to adults. Competition categories include pysanka decoration, embroidery, poetry, drawing and wood burning. The deadline to submit items is June 30.

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