“In Pursuit of Excellence”

École Okotoks Junior High School 1 Pacific Avenue, Okotoks AB T1S 2A9

Telephone: 403-938-4426 Fax: 403-938-4410

okotoksjr.fsd38.ab.ca

THE PAW PRINTS NOVEMBER 2016

Important Dates Nov 30 – Global Sport Academy Info. Night Nov 30 – Dec 1 Learner profiles mailed Dec 1 - Jasper Music forms due Dec 1 - Grade 9 Vaccinations – Round 2 Dec 2 - Choir Concert at Okotoks United Church, 7 pm start Dec 5 - Grade 7 Hike Dec 5 - Poinsettia orders pick up Dec 7 - Grade 8/9 hike Dec 9 - PD Day (No School For Students) Dec 12 - Instrumental Concert at EOJHS, 7 pm start Dec 23 - School Dance 9:00am – 12:00pm Dec 23 - Early Dismissal for Christmas Holidays at 12:05pm Dec 24th – Jan 8th Christmas Break

Hey Families! Did you know…?

As we respond to the data from the “Tell Them from Me Survey”, students were telling us that they would like more CLUBS at OJ. The following clubs are occurring regularly at lunch and after school:

• Visual Journaling Club • HASS (Healthy Active Schools

Symposium) • Student Council • Open gym • Outdoor Leadership/Hiking Club • ÉOJHS Chamber Choir • GSA (Gay/Straight Alliances) • Tuesdays with Friends (open to all

girls)

• Anime Club • Games Club

Please encourage your children to participate in extra-curricular activities, clubs and teams. It’s a great way to make new friends and build the caring and inclusive environment at ÉOJHS. Our doors are always open and the coffee pot is always on! We welcome your feedback and value the positive relationship that we have with our families and community. With Ocelot P.R.I.D.E., Leah, Bill and Rhonda

Principal…………………Mrs Leah Kingston 403-938-4426 ext 19107 Vice-Principal…………Mr. Bill Holmes 403-938-4426 ext 19106 Vice-Principal…………Mrs. Rhonda Bymak 403-938-4426 ext 19104 Attendance Line………………403-938-4426 press “1” Attendance Email……………ojattendance@fsd38.ab.ca OJHS website…………………..http://ojhs.fsd38.ab.ca Twitter at…………………………. OK_Ocelots

“In Pursuit of Excellence”

DON’T MISS …Inclusive Learning Plan Signing Night! Monday, December 5th 3:15pm to 5:00pm If your child is on an Inclusive Learning Plan (ILP) and you have not had a chance to sign a copy of the document this year, please come to the Learning Coach Room (ROOM 143) to sign and receive a copy of your child’s ILP. The Learning Coach Team will be present in order to answer any questions you may have. See You Then! Music Department News Hello Music Families! We’ve had a fantastic start to the year. The choirs and bands have come together extremely well. Jazz band has had a slow start, but we’re looking forward to its inclusion within the time table this year to really give it a good kick start. Please come and pick up your poinsettias on December 5th after school. We will be using the East Courtyard as our sorting space. Please also ensure that your car is nice and warm. It would be a sad day for your customers if you delivered them some dead flowers. We have cancelled the concert on December 5th. Here’s how the concert season is laid out: December 2nd – Okotoks United Church – Choral Concert – A suggested donation of $5.00 per person to help offset the cost of renting the facility.

I’ll need all choir members there at 6:30 to run Homeland with the guest conductor. Grade 9s need to be there at 6:00. Carlos Foggin with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra will be guest conducting the finale, as well as a couple of the Grade 9 songs. Dec 12 – ÉOJHS Eastlick Gym – All students to be at the school for 6:30. Grade 9 band students are on set up crew. They need to be at the school for 5:00. Band 7 and Band 8 students are tear down duty after the concert. ALL OF MR. SHUMKA’S STUDENTS ARE ROADIES, and are expected to either set up or tear down. The chairs will need to be taken to the East Courtyard and set up for the theatrical performances that are taking place the following day. We strongly encourage folks to stay for the whole concert, as it discourages the students at the end of the show if half the audience has mysteriously vanished. Students are expected to be at their concerts. Every single person in a band or choir is important, and is integral to giving the audience a whole experience. If there are extenuating circumstances such as a death in the family, please let me know right away. This is your chance to hear your child truly shine. Please have your forms in for the Jasper trip by December 1st, so I can determine final numbers and costs in a timely fashion.

A huge thank you is in order for the ÉOJHS Parent Council and Chris Friedlos with DIRTT. Through their generous donations, we have installed a Yamaha C7 Grand Piano (see attached photo). This is a 7 foot 6 inch semi-concert grand. This opens up a world of opportunities for our choral and band students. For those parents whose kids are taking Royal Conservatory examinations, I am willing to run a master class free of charge in the spring to give your kids an alternate point of view on their pieces. Once upon a time, I was a private piano teacher. I’m still called upon to adjudicate quite regularly. As well, your kids can book a time, and they can practice on Shirley (that’s her name) in preparation for their exams. Again, to Chris and the members of the Parents Council, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. As we ramp up for the nuttiness that is the holiday season, I want to give all of you a heartfelt thank you for your continued support of everything we do here at EOJHS. It’s an amazing feeling to come to work, and have my work be something I love. I wish all of you a beautiful December filled with family, friends, and wonderful memories. Happy Holidays…..(in a month) Student Messages Urgent student messages can be left by calling the school’s main number 403-938-4426, ext 0. Student with messages will be called to the office at 12:30 pm (lunch time) and 3:05 pm (end of the day) only.

“In Pursuit of Excellence”

$$ Win Your School Fees $$ This School Council initiative is back by popular demand. Tickets are available by completing the “Win Your School Fees” form posted on ÉOJHS Webpage. Simply complete and return the lower portion of the form along with $5.00 for 1 ticket or $20.00 for 5 tickets. Once payment is received, your child will return an envelope to you with your raffle ticket(s) enclosed. All cheques are to be made out to ÉOJHS School Council.. If you have any questions, please contact the School Council Secretary, Naydene Lewis at 403-938-6629. Thank you and good luck! Senior Boys Volleyball Team Congratulations to the senior boys volleyball team on their season. The boys finished the season with a silver medal in the Foothills League play. Thanks to the following players for representing ÉOJHS! Angel D. 9D, Arjay D. 9G, Carson D. 9F, Jackson D. 9F, Andrew F. 9A, Liam G. 9C, Karson H. 9B, Joey H. 9E, Preston L. 9C, Tait M. 9E and Sam M 9G.. Global Sport Academy Do you have a Hockey player in your family? Do you know someone who is? We have confirmed our Global Information Nights for our school program beginning November 30, 2016. Please see the attached poster for details and contact information.

We are Rafikis ÉOJHS Student Council has decided to embark on a journey to help Kenyan families and Kenyan Mamas! This week, our team will be responsible for advertising and selling Rafikis (Swahili word meaning friendship) chains on behalf of Me to We/Free the Children! Here's how they work: There are packages of 5 rafikis (1 education, 1 food, 1 income, 1 water, and 1 health) = $50.25 1 education rafikis = $10.25 multicolored 1 food rafikis = $10.25 green 1 water rafikis = $10.25 blue 1 health rafikis = $10.25 red 1 income rafikis = $10.25 purple 1/2 profit goes to the village, people, and mamas of Kenya. Other $5.00 goes to create the FREE We Day activity that is put on every year in Calgary by Free the Children/Me to We! (tickets are only available due to great community ‐ local, national, or international ‐ work) bellow are some links to view about the CANADIAN company! Rafikis: http://shop.metowe.com/ca/rafikis/ How it all started: http://www.freethechildren.com/about‐us/our‐story/ Free the Children: http://www.freethechildren.com/about‐us/our‐story/

Screenagers at STS ÉOJHS parents have been extended an invitation to attend a special screening of the documentary “SCREENAGERS”, to be held on Tuesday January 17, 2017 at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School (STS) –see attached document. The movie is appropriate for parents of children grade 3 and up. We are encouraging our parents to bring their children with them if they are grade 5 and up so that they will have some common language as they discuss this topic in their home. There is one scene, only a few seconds long, from a video game that depicts graphic violence. SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in The Digital Age is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids, and to offer parents and educators proven solutions that work. The film is selling out audiences around North America. STS welcomes teens and adults in our community to join us as we delve into this important and far-reaching issue. After the film, a panel of experts will lead a conversation with audience members about the impact of screen usage on our youth from a variety of perspectives. For more information and to purchase tickets ($10.00 each) please visit: https://www.sts.ab.ca/screenagers This is a ticketed event which is expected to sell out, so please get your ticket early.

“In Pursuit of Excellence”

Movember The total funds raised was $255.41 for Movember from students and staff participating in the Hats on for Charity/ These funds were in support of men’s cancers and mental health. Hats on for Charity donations for the month of December will support Foothills Country Hospice! Recycle, Reduce, Reuse…….. The Foods and Textiles room are accepting any unwanted magazines (old Sears catalogues included), both Foods and Fashion related, to be used for different projects throughout the year. Also being accepted are any clean yogurt or sour cream containers with lids. Please drop them off at the front office or to Mrs. Schaan in the Foods Room. Thank you. Absenteeism All students are expected to be in school on time and to attend all classes. It is the parents’ responsibility to confirm with the front office at the school whether or not these absences are excusable or inexcusable. The attendance number is 403-938-4426, then press 1. Alternatively you may email us at ojattendance@fsd38.ab.ca and provide the student’s name, homeroom and reason for and approximate length of absence/lateness. Any student absences not reported to the office will be recorded by the office as inexcusable.

Student Illnesses At EOJHS, we endeavor to provide all students with a safe and caring environment. As such, we have students who have a high risk medical condition and we believe it is our responsibility to support them to the best of our ability. For this reason, we ask that you communicate to us any suspicions or occurrences of illnesses, particularly measles, chicken pox or flues. Thank you for your support! School Fees Invoices for school fees for 2016/2017 school year have been mailed home and are now PAST DUE. Payment can be made online or we accept Cash, Cheque, and Debit Card at the school. If you wish to Pay online with Visa or Master Card please follow the link using your Maplewood User Name and Password. The link to login to our schools Maplewood is https://hosting.maplewood.com/ab/fsd/OJHS/parents If you have any questions or concerns regarding your billing or wish to make arrangements for a payment plan, please contact Mrs. Tracy Thorbjornsen at thorbjornsent@fsd38.ab.ca or 403-9384426 ext 19105. To view your most current and up to date account balance, please log onto your Maplewood account.

How to Order School Day Photos Did you miss the deadline for School Day photo orders? If you were unable to submit your fall school day photo order on/before the deadline date and want to order photos please do ONE the following:

• Go online to www.mylifetouch.ca enter in your student‘s unique portrait ID and access code located on their proof sheet. Once in the website order from the various package and a la carte options.

o Lost your Portrait ID and Access Code? Call 1.866.457.8212 and they will find the codes for you or you can order packages over the phone

• Call the Lifetouch Customer Service line to order photos via phone – 1.866.457.8212

• Mail in your photo order using the envelope provided in the proof photo package with the preprinted Winnipeg address on it

“In Pursuit of Excellence”

School Council Meeting Thanks to all of the parents that attended November’s meeting. There will not be a School Council meeting in December due to the Christmas Break. The next meeting will be as follows: Date: Tuesday January 24, 2017 Location: École Okotoks Junior High Time: 7:00pm We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Criminal Record Check (CRC) for Volunteers All volunteers for the school are required to have a criminal record check on file with ÉOJHS. If your family is new to EOJHS, and you need to obtain the required CRC please contact the office (938-4426, ext. 0) so we can prepare the letter you will need to take to the RCMP. The detachment is charging a $5.00 fee- exact change, cash only. Parent volunteer drivers are also required to have a CRC as well as completing the Volunteer Driver Form and providing a copy of their driver’s license and insurance coverage of $2 million. ÉOJHS 2015-2016 Year Books The yearbooks for last year have arrived and have been distributed to students whose parents have purchased one. The office does have extra for sale and they are available for $20.00 each.

Optional Athletic Wear –Sweat Shirts We have available the optional Ocelot athletic wear available for sale in the front office. The EOJHS Sweat Shirts - $40.00 each The EOJHS Sweat Pants -$20.00 each The athletic lightweight wicking jersey – great as a warm up shirt or gym shirt in sized youth medium to adult XXL for $30.00. Please see Mrs. Thorbjornsen any time to pick up these great items that will help keep you warm on those chilly outdoor PE Days. Canadian Tire Money Donations Ms. King is once again collecting Canadian Tire money on behalf of the Okotoks Pound Rescue. Donations are collected all year and then given to the organization to help them purchase supplies. If you can donate, please bring $ to Room 001. Thank you. School Twitter Information ÉOJHS is now using Twitter on our home web page to get you information about what is and will be happening in our school. Check it out! Visit http://okotoksjr.fsd38.ab.ca Contact holmesb@fsd38.ab.ca for more information. Tuesdays Are Pizza Day at ÉOJHS Pizza is for sale at the school every Tuesday at lunch time. Pizza selection includes Pepperoni, Hawaiian and Cheese. $3.00 for 1 slice and $5.00 for 2 slices.

Sobeys/Safeway Gift Cards Gift cards are available from the school and are a dollar to dollar program where anyone can purchase pre-loaded gift cards in variable denominations from $25.00 to $500.00. Cards can be purchased from the office and the forms are located on our website. Up to 8% of you purchases will be credited to your students account and can be directed to the program of your choice, School Fees, Athletics, Field Trip, Band Camps and trips. If you need any further information please contact Tracy Thorbjornsen at 403-938-4426 ext 19105. We accept Cash, Cheque, Visa, Master Card and Debit Cards.

Special screening at Strathcona-Tweedsmur School

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017 @ 7 PM

For more details and to purchase tickets visit:www.sts.ab.ca/screenagers

$WIN YOUR SCHOOL FEE$ In Support of the Health and Wellness Conference at EOJHS

This School Council Initiative is back by popular demand. Please enter our “Win Your School Fees” Raffle

(Open to ALL students, even if school fees have not yet been paid. **To a maximum of $250**Hockey and complimentary fees excluded; individual student entries only, not per household)

The Health and Wellness Conference will take place February 1, 2017. Its purpose is to provide students with access to various Wellness workshops and public speakers during this all day event.

School Council is an integral financial supporter of our students and school. School Council meets the 4th Tuesday of each month (excluding December). We welcome all parents as members at our table.

Tickets are available by completing the lower portion of this form and returning it to the school office along with $5.00 for 1 ticket or $20.00 for 5 tickets. Once payment is received, your child will return an envelope to you with your raffle ticket(s) enclosed. All cheques are to be written out to EOJHS SCHOOL Council. Ticket Stubs will be issued to purchaser and ticket stub numbers will be recorded and emailed to address supplied, before the draw date. Please contact School Council Secretary if you have any questions. Naydene Lewis 403-938-6629

DRAW DATE: DECEMBER 14, 2016 at the Office.

Thank you for your support!

(PLEASE RETAIN THE UPPER PORTION OF THIS DOCUMENT)

CUT LINE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CUT LINE

STUDENT NAME:_________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME:_____________________________PHONE:______________

Email Address: Please print clearly:___________________________________________

# OF TICKETS:_______ HOMEROOM TEACHER:__________________________________

1 ticket for $5, 2 tickets for $10, 3 tickets for $15 or 5 tickets for $20

Deliver payment with completed lower portion of form—cash or cheque (EOJH School Council) to School Office until noon December 7, 2016