NSO News & Information October 14-26

Hey all, please check out the information link for the latest NSO News Oct 14-26 (Incudes detailed information regarding Parent Teacher Conference bookings, School Advisory Council, Post-Secondary open house’s). Welcome to Assistant Principal D’Anne Bennett (SPO) who joins us Tuesday!

We hope everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving long weekend! This time of year, reminds us of the importance of gratitude, and we want to express our thanks for the continued support and dedication of our families, students, and staff. As we return to our routine, as of Tuesday, October 15 we are at instructional day #30 of 84 or 36% of the way through Semester 1.

Every small step count, and our progress together is a testament to our shared commitment to growth. Let’s continue to encourage and uplift one another as we move forward, keeping in mind that "small steps are still progress." We are grateful for all of you as we journey through this school year together.

Parent Teacher Student Conferences Oct 16-17 Bookings (You will need to sign up in advance via Conference Sign Up link)

• Fort Saskatchewan (FSO) -join us Wednesday, October 16 from 5-7:30 p.m. in-person, Google Meet or by phone.
• Sherwood Park (SPO) or Vegreville (VGO) -join us Thursday, October 17 from 5-7:30 p.m. in-person, Google Meet or by phone.

School Advisory Council Virtual Meeting - Our first virtual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22 at 5 p.m.. We hope you can join us! Regular attendance is not required. Please check out our school calendar and NSO News for scheduled School Advisory Council Meetings. Tentative agenda will be added below. Virtual link: JOIN US

Student Engagement Expectation- we believe that consistent engagement in learning is key to academic success. Students who do not actively participate in their course for a period of 30 days will be withdrawn from the course. Should a student wish to reengage, they will be required to meet with our Student Success team to discuss their commitment and develop a plan to ensure future success. This policy ensures students remain committed to their learning, while also providing them with the necessary support to reengage effectively.

Student Success Team- Our Student Success team at Next Step is designed to maximize school engagement, increase academic success and enhance social, emotional and physical well-being for students.

• Guidance Counselor (all students): Elli.Hansen@eips.ca & direct line 7804102952 (educational support and accommodations)
• Sherwood Park: Success Coach for grade 8-11 Jennifer.Martinez@eips.ca & direct line 7804102948 (student/family strategies & community connections) & Success Coach for grade 12 & R12 Sara.Wood@eips.ca & direct line 7804102942 (student/family strategies & community connections)
• Fort Saskatchewan: Success Coach for grade 8-12 Janet.Clarkson@eips.ca & direct line 7804103981 (student/family strategies & community connections)
• Vegreville: Family School Liaison Worker Carlin.Adams@eips.ca & direct line 7804103989 (student/family strategies & community connections)

Upcoming events

Oct 15 Out of Province Post-Secondary Fair 5-7:00 p.m. @Salisbury

Oct 16 Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:30pm (FSO)

Oct 17 Parent Teacher Conferences 5-7:30pm (SPO & VGO)

Oct 18-19 Lakeland College Open House

Oct 19 University of Alberta Open House

Oct 19 The King's University Open House

Oct 22 Virtual School Advisory Council 5pm JOIN US

Oct 26 NAIT Open House Info

Oct 26 Concordia University Open House

Oct 26 Red Deer Polytechnic Open House

Oct 28 ELA 30-1/2 Diploma Part A (Quarter 1 students)

Oct 30 Social 30-1/2 Diploma Part A (Quarter 1 students)

Oct 31 Math 30-1/2 Diploma (Quarter 1 students)

Next Step Educational Goals 2022-2026

Goal #1: Building staff capacity by engaging in best alternative learning practices will result in improvement in course completion, graduation rates and attendance.

Goal #2: Students and families are connected in meaningful, authentic, and engaging ways with an inclusive school community through a variety of communication and interactive opportunities wherein diversity is embraced.

Goal #3: Students will be introduced to a variety of career prospects via presentations, seminars and hands-on learning opportunities facilitating diverse career exploration opportunities.