Peace Wapiti academy
Post #5
January, 2015
Parents, please phone the school if your child will be absent or late
(780) 513-9504
Upcoming Events
Monday, January 5
Early Dismissal – January Newsletter
Tuesday, January 6
WE/RAP Presentation during I-Plan - Conflict Resolution
Tuesday, January 6
ActiParent Meeting @ 5:30 pm in the Staff Room
Wednesday, January 7
WE/RAP Presentation during I-Plan – Conflict Resolution
Wednesday, January 7
Saturday, January 10
School Council Meeting @ 7:00 pm in the Staff Room
On Your Mark Diploma Exam Review
Social Studies 30-1, Social Studies 30-2
At PWA from 9:00 am – 2:45 pm
Diploma Exams for some Students
ALL REGULAR CLASSES ARE ON
On Your Mark Diploma Exam Review
Biology 30 and Chemistry 30
from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at GPRC - room D208 and D308
Attendance Incentive forms available. Return form to the
office one day prior to the date of the exempt exam.
Diploma Exams for some students
ALL REGULAR CLASSES ARE ON
Final Exams and Diploma Exams
for Grade 10, 11 and 12 students
Grade 9 students have REGULAR CLASSES
On Your Mark Diploma Exam Review
Math 30-1 and Math 30-2
at GPRC in room D208 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
No School – District PD Day
Second Semester begins
Early Dismissal – February Newsletter
Travel Club Meeting @ 6:30 p.m. for travelers and parents.
This is the legal meeting and everyone must attend.
ActiParent Meeting
5:30 pm in the PWA Staff Room
School Council Meeting @ 7:00 pm in the Staff Room
Grad Photo Retakes
Last Day for Timetable Changes
Tuesday, January 13
Wednesday, January 14
Saturday, January 17
Tuesday, January 20
Tuesday, January 20
Wednesday, January 21
Thursday, January 22 to
Thursday, January 29
Saturday, January 24
Friday, January 30
Monday, February 2
Monday, February 2
Monday, February 2
Tuesday, February 3
Wednesday, February 4
Thursday, February 5
Friday, February 6
Cosmetology
Our department is open for client
services. Come in for your new look or
a wonderful spa treatment to launch
your new year. Gift certificates are
also available. Remember, Valentine’s
Day is just around the corner. Please
phone for your appointment at PWA
513-9504 ext. 1145.
Timetable Changes
Students can make an
appointment at the office to see
Mrs. Gerard,
Ms. Clevette
Mrs. Thon
Regarding timetable changes for
the second semester any time
from now
until February 6, 2015.
Math Tutor Available
If anyone is needing a math tutor
please contact Samuel Varley at the
following email address.
[email protected]
Notes from the PWA
Counselling Office
Is it stress or anxiety?

Anxiety is actually a reaction to
stress,
that reaction has a lot to do
with fear.

If you’re tempted to treat
stress with avoidance or escape
mechanisms,
you could be suffering from
anxiety

Anxiety can cause you to feel
shaky, have panic attacks or
make you want to stay
home.

Stress can be reduced through
exercise,
relaxation and open
communication.
Thank you Thank you Thank you
A special thank you to the GLSP
students who recycle our school's
paper, bottles and cans every week.
Thank you Thank you Thank you
Legal Meeting - Travel club: Greece –Spring 2015!
ALL Parents and Travelers MUST attend – Feb. 2, 2015 @ 6:30pm. There will be a
lawyer there, volunteering his time, to do the Statutory Declaration so that we
can take your student out of the country; we will also be going over all PWSD76
policies about international travel. These two things MUST be done or your child
does not travel with us.
Accountability Pillar Surveys
In February, PWA parents of Grade 10 students will be receiving a survey in the mail from Alberta
Education. The document is titled “Accountability Pillar Survey”. Students and teachers receive a
similar survey at the school. The survey tools are designed to find out how satisfied parents, teachers and
students are in the following areas:
i.
Safe and Caring School Environment
ii.
Access to a Broad Program of Studies
iii.
Educational Quality
iv.
Student Preparation for the World of Work
v.
Building of Citizenship in Students
vi.
Level of Parental Involvement in Child’s Education
vii.
School Improvement Processes
The information we receive from parents, students and teachers is extremely important in the delivery of
education. The information assists in creating the education plan for the coming school year. I would
encourage all parents, students and teachers to participate.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: The school uses the information as part of the data to build an ongoing
improvement plan for Peace Wapiti Academy. Each of the sub-categories in the survey contains
information that helps us to identify areas of concern, things that are working well, and ideas for what we
need to expand upon or remove. It is important that we get as much information as possible, so that the
survey truly reflects the opinions of a broad range of parents, staff, and students. One of the wrinkles in
the returned data is that “dissatisfied” and “don’t know” are both included in the same category. If
you are indeed dissatisfied with the topic, then please do say so on the survey. That is the only way
we can know what to work on. However, if you are unsure about the question, or feel you don’t
know enough about it, or just have questions, please call the school for further information. In terms
of being able to use the data accurately, it is better for you to leave a question blank than to answer “don’t
know”. Any question left blank shows up in a separate category, so we can tell if we are not doing a good
job of communicating with you about our programs.
CAREERinsite
is your one-stop guide to FREE career planning.
Explore and compare options based on your values, skills and interests, and
develop an action plan for your future.
Sign up and get started today! Work at a career plan as unique as you are.
alis.alberta.ca/careerinsite
Checklist for Grads for January:
 This is your final year of high school! Work hard, and get good grades.
 Continuously check, search and apply for scholarships, grants and bursaries.
 Double check admission and scholarship application deadlines. Make sure you
have met these deadlines.
 Lifetouch will be taking grad photo retakes at the school on Thursday,
February 5th.
Sign up on-line for a photo time. A $10.00 sitting fee is due at the time of your
photo. It is important that all grads get at least a proof done as this photo
is used for the yearbook, the grad folder and the hallway composite
photo.
North West Regionals Skills Canada Competition
Location - Grande Prairie Regional College - Fairview Campus, Fairview High School, St.
Thomas More School - Fairview, AB
April 23, 2015 - Registration & Opening Ceremonies (GPRC Fairview)
April 24, 2015 - Auto Service, Baking, Cabinet Making, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Fashion
Technology, Graphic Design, Hairstyling Jr. & Int., IT Network Support, Outdoor Power &
Recreation, Photography, Robotics, TV/Video Production, Welding & Workplace Safety.
Skills Canada Competitions feature the talents of Alberta’s trade and technology
students. Regional Skills Canada Competitions (RSCC) connect students to local post-secondary
and industry leaders. By taking their skills out of the traditional classroom setting, students gain
an appreciation for where their skills can take them, and are encouraged to reach for their
personal best.
*To compete at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition in Auto Service, Baking, Cabinet Making,
Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Hairstyling - Junior, Hairstyling - Intermediate, TV/Video Production and
Welding students must qualify at their RSCC.
Contact: Faye Randle
P 780.835.6726, E [email protected]
Senior Boys Basketball
Coach: Evan Lloyd
Assistant Coach: Lucas Gorgichuk
Favour Adekojo
David Adelugba
Brandon Berg
Grant Calvert
Jesse Cartwright
Tristin Evans
Colby Fournier
Josh Froese
Del Huls
Ben Livingston
Spencer Lougheed
Brandon Lyons
Reece Monnette
Ryan Pelster
Tyler Zacharias
Senior Girls Basketball
Coaches: Lenka Rohova,
David Ceary
Kat Fialova
Brooke Auclair
Angie Callfas
Chelsey Furlong
Chiara Gorgichuk
Victoria Gorgichuk
Alyssa LaValley
Taylor Lawton
Amanda Pelster
Allison Pilgrim
Anna van der Giessen
Chelsey Williams
Junior Boys Basketball
Brayden Warner – Team Manager
Grant Calvert – Assistant Coach
Ryan Schwindt – Assistant Coach
Miss Kerr – Head Coach
Shawn Gallant
Brayden Lasell
Thomas Diodoro
Bryan Robinson
Cam Hammon
Ajay Head
Darren Head
Noah Parsons
Randy Marshall
Josh Robe-From
10
21
12
22
13
14
5
11
24
23
Junior Girls Basketball
Tamara Hampton - Assistant Coach
Miss Saunders – Head Coach
Krista Frey - Captain
Kylie Minelli
Mallory Gravengard
Emily Edwards
Aimee LaValley
Anika Boden
Brooke Wilson
Gabby Mycroft
Keara Ducharme
Brianna Middleton-Beard
Benefits of Good Mental Health
Just as physical fitness helps our bodies to stay strong, mental fitness helps us to
achieve and sustain a state of good mental health. When we are mentally healthy
we enjoy our life, the environment, and the people in it.
Here are some tips to keep you mentally strong.
1. Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day! Research has shown that physical
activity releases “endorphins”- the feel good hormones. Exercise also
reduces anxiety, tension, and fatigue and enhances self-esteem.
2. Eat well! Follow Canada’s Food Guide and choose whole grains, protein,
fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. Cut back on foods high in
saturated fat and salt! What we put on our plate is the fuel that our body and
brain use so choose wisely!
3. Take control of stress. Stress is a fact of life and can be both positive and
negative. Learning to effectively cope with stress can ease our bodies and
minds. Try meditation, breathing awareness, visualization, enjoying your
favorite hobby and talk about things to a friend, or a Mental Health
Therapist.
Check out the Canadian Mental Health Association website for more
information. http://www.cmha.ca/
Outdoor Education with Mr. Spence
BUS CANCELLATIONS
The purpose of this article is to give our parents some insight into how we reach the decision to cancel a
bus route.
How do we reach a decision to close down all/or any of our District bus routes?
During times of inclement weather, the Director of Transportation in the southern area of Peace Wapiti
School Division, and a Transportation Supervisor located in the northern area of Peace Wapiti are on
call. Between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. they are in contact with a local highway maintenance company. If
they feel possible road issues are developing in their area, these employees are on the road by 4:30
a.m. and over the course of the next two hours, they drive across Peace Wapiti School District on
primary and secondary highways. They discuss the road conditions with the maintenance contractors in
their area to identify road concerns. They cover approximately 150 to 200 kilometers each and during
this time will perform braking tests etc to determine skid conditions. Our first concern is our primary
highways as they have the highest levels of traffic and thus the greatest potential for bringing serious
harm to our students. At about 6:00 a.m. the Director of transportation will contact the Superintendent to
discuss the road conditions and at that time a decision to close down all District buses or just buses within
a certain area of the District is made. Once this decision is made, local radio stations are contacted.
However, the reality is our District is the size of Wales (five times the size of PEI). It is very possible that
we will have acceptable roads in one area and unacceptable roads in another area. It is for that reason
each bus driver has the authority to cancel his/her route.
How does a bus driver reach a decision to close down his/her bus routes?
Each bus driver has the authority to close down his/her route. The bus driver will make a reasonable
attempt to run their route but if after such an attempt, they feel that road conditions are unsafe, they will
cancel their route. In doing so, they will notify the Director of Transportation so that local radio stations
are notified and they will also make reasonable attempts to contact the parents of the students who ride
their bus. It is for this reason that current phone numbers are essential. In the event that our bus drivers
are unable to contact the parents of a small child they will take the necessary steps to ensure that the
child is not left unsupervised. Our bus drivers are dedicated employees who believe in the value of our
schools and the safety of students. If they have chosen to shut down their route, it will be with good
reason. Please work with us to support them in a very difficult decision.
What if the parent feels the route is unsafe?
Peace Wapiti leaves the final say to the parent regarding whether their child rides a bus during times of
inclement weather. Should a parent feel that their area of a bus route is unacceptable, then they are free
to decide not to place their child on the bus. We would ask that should the parent make such a decision,
that they contact our Bus Shop at 532-7734 so that the driver is made aware of the road conditions in
your area and the change in the route.
In addition to the above process, Peace Wapiti School Division #76 buses will not be stopping to pick up
students on primary or secondary highways when weather conditions such as heavy fog have created a
situation of limited or no visibility. The decision not to stop will be left to the driver’s discretion. Should the
bus driver decide not to stop parents will be notified via phone that the bus will not be picking up students
that morning. Parents are encouraged to phone their bus driver or the Transportation Department (5327734) if they feel weather conditions have made their stop dangerous.
For bus cancellations due to inclement weather or temperature, Peace Wapiti School Division is now
divided into 6 zones based on High School attendance areas. All buses associated with a High School
attendance area would be cancelled at the same time. One or all of the zones could be cancelled at any
one time. Parents would need to know which High School their Elementary School is associated with in
order to know if the buses in their area are cancelled. Example. Beaverlodge High School attendance
area would include Wembley Schools, Elmworth School, and Hythe School. Please check the inclement
weather policy on the Peace Wapiti School Division website for a list of High School attendance areas
and their associated schools. You can find the weather stations we use by going to our webpage and
checking the quicklinks at the top. Cancelations will be announced on the local radio stations.
Finally, according to the American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are
nearly eight times safer than passenger vehicles. Our school buses are constructed far stronger than a
family passenger vehicle and are driven by professional drivers, often with years of experience. They are
the safest way to get a child to school; please work with us to keep them that way.
EXAM BANK ONLINE
Practice Exams for Grade 9, 10, 11 and Grade 12 Diploma Exams are
available on the internet.
Go to www.exambank.com and log in with the appropriate subaccount
username (pw.pwa) and exam password (piglet).
Start your studying NOW!
Final Exam Information If you have any questions or issues please see Mrs. Gerard.
Morning
Afternoon
Directions
Wait in cafeteria area
Wait in cafeteria area Enter gym when directed to do so by a teacher
8:45
12:25
 Attendance
 Instructions
9:00 – 11:30
12:40 – 3:10
 Exam begins
 All students must remain in the
examination room for one hour.
 Students arriving late will be admitted
during the first hour of an exam, but they
will NOT be given any extra time to
complete it.
 Hand in exam when finished and then exit
building or go to the library to study.
 Students must provide their own materials: HB pencils, calculators, etc.
 You may bring something to drink, however, the container MUST have a lid.
 Food, cell phones, MP3 players, I-pods and other electronic devices are NOT
ALLOWED.
 Textbooks are to be handed in at the LIBRARY on or before Thursday, Jan. 29th
 Students writing final exams for CONNECT must see Mrs. Terceros by Tuesday,
January 13th to arrange a supervised exam time.
 Students writing final exams for ADLC must see Mr. Horneland by Tuesday,
January 13th to arrange a supervised exam time.
Achievement and Diploma Exams


All grade 9 students will write provincial achievement tests at the end of the year.

All grade 12 students are required to write diploma exams in English and Social
Studies. Some students also write diploma exams in Math, Biology, Chemistry and
Physics. These exams are worth 50% of the student’s final grade. The other 50%
comes from work evaluated by the teacher.
Grade 9 students have regular classes during exam week in January.
 Students writing diploma exams or provincial achievement tests must
write them at the time established by Alberta Learning on the date
specified.

If for any reason a student wishes to rewrite a Grade 12 diploma exam he/she may do so
by paying a fee and making application to write the exam(s). These application forms
are available from the school counselor. The approximate deadline for applying is early
November for the January diplomas and mid-April for the June diplomas. Application to
write diploma exams in August is not required although the re-write fee still applies.
In emergency situations, students who are unable to write a
diploma examination will review their options with school
administration.
If the busses are not running due to an
emergency situation, which includes inclement weather, students
and their parents are encouraged to act in the interest of their
safety first. Students who arrive at school during these conditions
will write their diploma examination as long as they are no more
than one hour late and they will be allowed the full time allotted
for the examination.
Final Exams
Final exams are mandatory and failure to write may jeopardize a student’s final mark. Early
vacation plans, not knowing when the exam was scheduled, sleeping in or minor illnesses are
not legitimate excuses for missing an exam. In cases of extreme illness or other serious
unavoidable emergencies, a parent or guardian must contact the principal BEFORE the time the
exam is written and the appropriate documentation must be obtained. In special circumstances,
a parent or guardian may submit a letter, at least one month prior to the start of exams, to
request a late writing date for in-school exams only. Diploma exams cannot be rescheduled.
Students who do not write a final exam will receive a grade of “0” for the exam.
All students must remain in the examination room for one hour. Students arriving late will
be admitted during the first hour of an exam, but they will NOT be given any extra time to
complete the exam.
Exam Schedule: January 2015
Date
Monday, January 12
Tuesday, January 13
AM
PM
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All
English 30-1 (Part A)
English 30-2 (Part A)
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All Others
Wednesday, January 14
Thursday, January 15
Friday, January 16
Monday, January 19
Tuesday, January 20
Social Studies 30-1 (Part A)
Social Studies 30-2 (Part A)
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All Others
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All
English 30-1 (Part B)
English 30-2 (Part B)
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for all
Wednesday, January 21
Social Studies 30 -1 (Part B)
Social Studies 30-2 (Part B)
Regular Classes for All
Regular Classes for All
Thursday, January 22
Friday, January 23
Monday, January 26
Tuesday, January 27
Wednesday, January 28
Social Studies 10-1
Social Studies 10-2
Social Studies 20-1
Social Studies 20-2
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Biology 30
English 10-4
Biology 20
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Math 30-1
Math 30-2
Math 20-1
Math 20-2
Math 10 Common
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Physics 30
Physics 20
Science 20
Science 10
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Chemistry 30
English 20-1
English 10-1
English 20-2
English 10-2
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
Thursday, January 29
Science 30
Friday, January 30
Monday, February 2
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
NO SCHOOL PD DAY
Semester 2/Quarter 3Begins
Power School Update
Regular Classes for Gr. 9
NO SCHOOL PD DAY
Semester 2/Quarter 3Begins
Power School Update
On YOUR MARK!
Get READY…
PWSD Diploma Exam Tutorials January 2015
A comprehensive 6 hour tutorial session offered to PWSD students
 Review course content
 Further develop strategies to tackle question format
Saturday, January 10
Social Studies 30-1 Diploma Exam Review
Social Studies 30-2 Diploma Exam Review
Teachers: Ms. Bednard, Ms. Viken, Mr. Tanasichuk, Mr. Bowen, Mr. Riding
Location: Peace Wapiti Academy
Time: 9:00 am – 2:45 pm
Saturday, January 17
Biology 30 Diploma Exam Review
Teachers: Mrs. Rief and Mrs. Lario
Chemistry 30 Diploma Exam Review
Teachers: Ms. Houlder and Miss Creighton
Location: GPRC Room D208 and Room D308
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday, January 24
Math 30-1 Diploma Exam Review
Math 30-2 Diploma Exam Review
Teachers: Miss Nagtegaal, Mrs. Lambert and Mrs. Lipon
Location: GPRC Room D208 & 2 rooms in BWing (TBA) Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Lunch and Snacks will be generously provided by Peace Wapiti School Division