École Hillgrove
Friday, February 2nd
A Note from Mrs. Bruinsma
It feels as though I was just welcoming you back after the holiday break and already we are turning the page on another calendar month. With a new month we have also welcomed beautiful spring-like temperatures this week, a wonderful reprieve after our frigid cold snap. As always, students are reminded to dress for the weather knowing that they will be outside for lunch and through the school day. Looking ahead at the new month our calendar continues to remain full of lots of student activities. In addition our students have a few shorter weeks due to Teachers’ Convention and the Family day long weekend.
Hillgrove Happenings
Jr. Girls Basketball Huskies Hoops Champions
Outdoor Ed. 7 at the Strathcona Wilderness Center
Jr. Boys Basketball Huskies Hoops Champions
We would like to wish Madame Dickie all the best as she begins her maternity leave and we would like to welcome Madame Lampron to Hillgrove School!
Month of February
Thursday, February 1st
- Semester 2 Begins
Friday, February 2nd
- Grade 8 TWOS Field Trip 8:45am-2:45pm
- Grades 5-6 Rabbit Hill Ski Trip 10am-6pm
Monday, February 5th
- Jr. Girls & Boys Basketball vs. ESG
- Sr. Girls & Boys Basketball vs. WDC
- Grade 9 Outdoor Ed. Jasper Trip
- Fit for Life 8A/8B Servus Place Field Trip
Tuesday, February 6th
- Grade 9 Outdoor Ed. Jasper Trip
- Grade 9 Drama Field Trip 12:30-2:30pm
Wednesday, February 7th
- Grades 5-9 Assemblies A.M.
- Grade 9 Outdoor Ed. Jasper Trip Return
- Early Dismissal 12:00pm
Thursday, February 8th- Friday, February 9th
- Teachers' Convention, No School
Monday, February 12th
- Grade 8 TWOS Field Trip 8:45am-2:45pm
- Fit for Life 7A Servus Place Field Trip
Tuesday, February 13th
- Grade 9 Outdoor Ed Jasper Trip
- Fit for Life 7B Servus Place Field Trip
Wednesday, February 14th
- Grade 9 Outdoor Ed Jasper Trip
- Sr. Girls & Boys Basketball vs. RSF
- Fit for Life 7A Servus Place Field Trip
Thursday, February 15th
- Grade 9 Outdoor Ed Jasper Trip Return
- Fit for Life 7B Servus Place Field Trip
- Stakeholders Workshop 8:30am-12:30pm
Friday, February 16th
- Grades 7-9 Rabbit Hill Ski Trip 9am-6pm
Monday, February 19th
- Family Day, No School
Tuesday, February 20th
- School Council & Fundraising Committee Meetings 7pm
- Hockey Academy Parent Info. Night at WD Cuts 6pm
Wednesday, February 21st
- Jr. Girls & Boys Basketball vs. ESSMY
- Sr. Girls & Boys Basketball vs. VJM
Thursday, February 22nd
- Grade 8 TWOS Field Trip 8:45am-2:45pm
Friday, February 23rd
- Grades 5-6 Hot Lunch: The Lunch Lady
- Jr. Girls & Boys Basketball vs. SAA
Monday, February 26th
- Jr. Girls & Boys Basketball vs. WDC
- Fit for Life 8A/8B Servus Place Field Trip
Wednesday, February 28th- Thursday, February 29th
- Grade 9 Immunizations
Thursday February 29th- Sunday, March 2nd
- Jr. Basketball SAPEC Tournament
Save the Dates
Thursday, March 14th
- Hillgrove Open House 6:30-8:00pm
Tuesday, March 19th
- Parent-Teacher Interviews 5:00-8:00pm
Wednesday, March 20th
- Parent-Teacher Interviews 4:30-7:30pm
Semester 1 Report Cards
The Semester 1 (S1) report cards are available on-line through your Parent Portal account. If you have any difficulty accessing the report card for your child or you do not yet have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please email hg@spschools.org or call the school office at 780-459-4456.
New Curriculum Implementation
Revised Report Card
Report cards are intended to summarize and communicate student achievement at a point in time. They provide information about how your child is progressing towards outcomes outlined in Alberta Education’s curriculum. Beginning in September 2023, we began implementing a new curriculum in the following subjects:
Science (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
French Immersion Language Arts and Literature (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
English Language Arts (Grades 4 - 6)
Mathematics (Grades 4 - 6)
Please note that during the transition period, the changes described here will apply only to subjects and grades experiencing implementation or began implementation last year. Subjects not experiencing implementation will continue to be reported on as they have in previous years.
In St. Albert Public Schools, we formally report student progress and achievement twice a year in Grades 1 to 6, in January and June. For Kindergarten students that information is reported in an Exit Document once a year, in June. The timing and physical structure of the report card will remain the same as previous years. The proficiency scale used to report on student progress also remains unchanged, remaining at three levels: Excellent, Meets the Acceptable Standard, and Has Yet to Meet the Acceptable Standard. For more information on the proficiency scale, please consult the Proficiency Scales for Reporting (Grades 1 - 6) page of the division website.
To align the reporting of student progress to the new curriculum, we have made some changes to the implemented subjects. In the past, we used Key Learner Outcomes (KLOs) to describe student learning. These KLOs were highly specific and often represented each small part of the learning process.
With the new curriculum, we are expected to report student progress using the Learning Outcomes from the curriculum. Learning Outcomes are a much broader expression of student learning and capture the foundational concepts and skills of the curriculum. The Learning Outcomes are supported by more detailed Skills and Procedures from the curriculum. For more information about the Learning Outcomes and Skills and Procedures, please consult the division website.
As they have all along, teachers will gather a variety of pieces of evidence of student learning, including conversations, observations and products, to summarize student progress towards a particular Learning Outcome. Rich information about students as learners will be captured in the comments, providing details about a student’s individual strengths and areas for growth.
The report card remains one of many ways that teachers communicate about student learning and you are welcome to contact your child’s teacher for more information about their progress.
If you have any questions regarding reporting with the new curriculum, please contact your child’s teacher and/or school administration.
2024-2025 Student Registration
The 2024-2025 Returning Student Registration form will be released on March 4, 2024. This form is to be completed online through your Parent Portal Accounts.
Please note:
- One form for each student must be completed every school year.
- Registration submissions are important in assisting our planning for the upcoming school year. Option choices for Jr. High & High School students will not be processed until the student online registration has been completed.
- Do not complete a New Student form, even if you are transferring schools within St. Albert Public Schools next year. The New Student form is for families who are new to the school division.
Winter is Here
Students should be arriving to school with weather appropriate clothing as they need to be prepared to go outside for recess/lunch and their physical education classes.
As the temperature changes from morning to afternoon we are asking students to always come prepared with their winter clothing, regardless of the weather forecast.
Parent Parking Reminder
To ensure the safety of the students:
- Do not drive through the staff parking lot to drop off and pick up students during peak times (8:00am-8:30am and 2:45pm-3:15pm) unless an arrangement as been made with the school administration.
- Do not park in the school bus lanes during peak times (8:00am-8:30am and 2:45pm-3:15pm)
- Do not park in the school's designated accessible parking stalls unless you have a valid provincial parking placard.
- Please keep residential driveways clear in our school community. Do not park within 1.5 meters of the neighbourhood driveways or garage entrances.
Homework Club
Homework Club will be available Tuesdays from 3pm - 4pm in the Hill Library for all students in grades 5-9. During this time students can access teacher support for their course work or utilize a quiet space to get caught up on their homework. Please reach out to Mme. Girard, megan.girard@spschools.org for any specific queries regarding Homework Club.
Parent Council & Parent Fundraising Committee
Hillgrove's Parent Council and the Fundraising Committee meet the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Parent Council will begin at 7pm, directly followed by the Fundraising Committee meeting.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024.
Please note that no meetings are held in June.
School Division News
High School Open Houses for Grade 9 Students
Hockey Academy
Understanding Grade 1 - 6 Proficiency Scales for Reporting
Please visit the link below for information on the three levels of the proficiency scale along with student learning outcomes.
Provincial Funding Information
Community News
Important School Reminders
Morning Routine
School doors will open at 8:15am. Please ensure students dress appropriately for the weather if you plan to arrive early. The first bell rings at 8:22. Registration and attendance begins promptly at 8:27. Please arrive on time.
Student Attendance
Regular attendance at school plays a key role in student learning, achievement and social-emotional health. Should your child be absent from school, please contact the office by:
- Phoning (780)459-4456
- Submitting an online absence report here
- Emailing hillgroveattend@spschools.org
Automated phone messages will be sent out to notify families of any unexcused absences.
If your child is late or is being picked up early, please ensure they sign in or out at the office. The office must receive notice from a parent/guardian before a student can be dismissed early during school hours.
Student Cell Phones
During instructional blocks and transitions between blocks, student cell phones are required to remain secured in their locker. Students may use their cell phone during their scheduled lunch break.
The school is not responsible for lost, broken or stolen cell phones.
Zero Tolerance of Illegal Substances
Our school has a zero tolerance policy for being in possession or using illegal substances on or off school property during school hours or school sponsored events. As all Hillgrove students are under the age of 18, these substances include:
- drugs of any kind including alcohol or marijuana
- vaping or vape supplies
- cigarettes
Inclusive School Environment
Non-Perishable Food Items for Families
We have non-perishable food items available for families that could benefit. If you are interested, please email jacqueline.brown@spschools.org or call Jacqueline at school, (780)459-4456 to connect.
Hillgrove Student Services
Referrals can be made to outside agencies where families and students need access to more intensive support.
Please get in touch by phone at (780)459-4456 or email; jacqueline.brown@spschools.org: justin.pysar@spschools.org
Class Connect
Class Connect is a homeroom-based class activity that occurs every Friday from 8:30am - 9:00am. The objective of Class Connect is to provide the homerooms with the gift of time to connect, share, and build a sense of community and belonging within our buildings. Topics that are covered during Class Connect include mental health, healthy relationships, goal setting, organization, special celebrations such as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or celebrating Terry Fox, and whole school-wide activities. You can check out Hillgrove's Class Connect website here.
Transportation Information
Bus Location
The following buses park in front of the "Grove" building: 103, 105, 109, 118, 119 (shuttle bus), 128
The following buses park in front of the "Hill" building: 101, 104, 110, 124, 129, 130, 131
Going to both locations: 152, 153, 154
If you have questions regarding transportation you may contact the transportation department at transportation@spschools.org or (780)460-3712.
Contact Us
50 Grosvenor Boulevard, St. Albert, AB, Canada, T8N 0X6
780.459.4456