Thursday September 27
September 30: National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (School Closed)
October 10: School Pictures
October 10: Parent Teacher interviews
October 11: PD Day (No Classes)
October 14: Thanksgiving Day (School Closed)
October 17: Awards Night
At the end of last week we had the Black Gold “Welcome Back”. This annual event is the one time in the year that the district as a whole gets together. As of September 2024 there were about 1500 employees in the district which includes educational assistants, maintenance, technicians, education assistants, teachers, custodial staff and central office staff. I’ve not been an employee in Black Gold for as long as some (our own Mrs. Verhun has more than 35 years!) but even in the 15 or so years I’ve been here there has been a tremendous amount of growth.
Since 2009 when I went to my first “Welcome Back” (for me a welcome) we assembled in the MacLab at Leduc Composite High School, and there were some seats to spare. We then moved to the Comp’s large gym where we lasted for about 10 years before eventually moving to the Leduc Recreation Centre. As large as that venue is, as I sat there taking the whole thing in I realised that the majority of the seats were filled and there were a lot of people standing.
This, of course, begged the questions “how long will we fit in here?” and “is there a larger venue in the county?”
Thorsby Junior Senior is holding our annual Terry Fox School Run on Friday, September 27. Terry's goal was $1 for each Canadian, ours is $2 per person in the building. If we raise this, we will raise $470. Click this link and donate to help us reach our goal and fight against cancer! Toonies will also be accepted on run day! #tryliketerry #nomatterwhat #terryfoxschoolrun @terryfoxfoundation
Donations can also be made on your Power School Account.
Check out some pictures from the Terry Fox Run. Special kudos to Dillon who ran the run in his cowboy boots to make it more challenging and then proceded to beat the entire school!
Morning drop off and afternoon pick up can be frantic at times; we have had several near misses this week that we would like to prevent moving forward.
Please remember the following in the school zone to ensure the safety of our students:
The High School side is solely for drop off by busses.
If a student is injured and needs easier access to the school, please pull into the high school parking lot for drop off at the parking lot door.
Subsequently, students, please be patient in the parking lot.
Please do not U-Turn in the school zone. Utilize the key at the top of the road to turn around.
Please ensure students have fully crossed the street before proceeding to drive across the crosswalk.
Please do not let your child(ren) out when you are stopped for the students crossing the crosswalk. Please ensure you are pulled over to avoid further delaying traffic and for pedestrian safety.
Everyone must cross the road at the crosswalk.
Students are not to cross in front of busses or between busses. They are to proceed to the elementary crosswalk and then across the high school crosswalk.
Please yield to busses.
Black Gold School Division's insurance company provides a student accident plan that parents/guardians can purchase on a voluntary basis.
For more information about the type of coverage offered on this please check out the link below.
Around the school there are several driveways and areas where bylaw has said they will ticket people parking. For example, on both sides of the street at the entrance to our cul-de-sac, and now also on the high school side of the road outside the new house.
It's also important for student safety, at pick up and drop off time especially, that the area on the town side of the crosswalk is kept free of cars to allow for maximum visibility of students crossing the street.
Please keep this in mind when making your parking decisions around the school.
Last Friday we had our first Spirit Points Day. We had a good variety of twins! Check out some pictures here.
On June 17, the Minister of Education for Alberta announced the ban of cellphones in kindergarten to grade 12 starting in the fall via ministerial order #014/2024. Black Gold Schools have been developing policies and guidelines to support this announcement over the summer and we know parents will need to be partners in making this happen.
Some ideas to become accustomed to this reduced screen time can be:
Using the “Do Not Disturb” or "Airplane" mode to help you set boundaries and signal that it may take you a while to respond.
Do not charge your phone in the bedroom. This will improve sleep quality and reduce screen time.
Turn off notifications.
Remove distraction-based apps from your home screen.
Identify triggers that cause you to open and/or check your phone.
Log each family members screen time and reward the person with the lowest screen time each week.
Alternatively, reward anyone who reduces their screen time.
Create a phone free zone somewhere in the house.
Electronic free mealtimes.
Use the phone only as a phone. Make phone calls. That's it.
Calling all enthusiastic parents! We are excited to invite parents who are passionate about sports and mentoring to consider coaching opportunities for our junior boys' basketball team this upcoming season, running from December through mid-March. Additionally, depending on player interest, we may also be seeking a coach for our boys' volleyball team. Sports play a vital role in our school community, fostering teamwork, discipline, and school spirit.
If you're interested in shaping young athletes and making a difference, please contact Dakota Heise at dakota.heise@gshare.blackgold.ca. Your involvement will make a significant impact on our students' athletic journey! Whether you're interested in basketball, volleyball, or assisting with any other team, we are happy to have you join us.
Next Chapter Chronicles: Post-Secondary Spotlight
As post-secondary institutions begin accepting applications in October, now is a great time for students and parents to explore future options. Many schools are hosting open houses over the next couple of months, providing a chance to tour campuses, ask questions, and learn more about the programs they offer. Some key upcoming dates include:
Olds College – Friday, October 4
SAIT – October 18 & 19
Lakeland College (Vermillion Campus) – October 18 & 19
University of Alberta – Saturday, October 19
NAIT – Saturday, October 26
MacEwan University – Saturday, November 2
For a full list of Alberta post-secondary open houses, along with links to each school's open house information, check Mr. Gourley's Social Studies Google Classroom or come talk to Mr. Gourley.
If you are interested in the RAP or Work Ex Program, come see Miss Powlik. She has all of the paperwork and can answer any questions you might have.
Weekly Round Up
We are once again offfering Subs on Wednesdays. Order forms are up on Powerschool. Please place your orders online on Mondays. Subs are $5.50 each for a 6" sub. Next sub order day is October 2 orders are due September 30
Check out the minutes from the last PTA Meeting here
PTA has kicked off this year's fundraising with a 50/50 cash raffle. We hope to raise enough money for a seacan for storage. We are busting at the seams! Please support our PTA. Ticket sales run until September 30. Click on the link before or capture the QR code.
Our PTA is looking for your help. We are in dire need of volunteers to take on the position of PTA president, vice President and Casino Chair. Check out some details here.
About 20 students from TJSHS and Warburg School are travelling to California during Spring Break.
Check out the latest fundraiser from our Travel Club. Orders can be placed now!
There is also a VIP Meats fundraiser going on until October 2. Come get an order form from the Office or talk to one of our Travel Club kids.
There is a new nation wide suicide crisis helpline that went live Thursday, November 30. You can call or text 24/7/365. Not only is this a great resource for anyone who is having thoughts of suicide, but it is also there for anyone who is concerned about anyone else.
As the holiday season ramps up, we recognize it is not an easy time for everyone. Please reach out if you or a loved one needs support.
More information Below
Vaping is of particular concern, not only at our school but in schools across the world. Our hope is that together with parents and other stakeholders we can increase knowledge of the effects of vaping and, by doing so, reduce their consumption
I have included links to several resources below as well as a link to our statement of fair notice regarding the consequences for failing to adhere to the rules related to illegal substances I have outlined above.
Fair Notice on Vaping For Thorsby Junior Senior High School
Gov't of Canada: Consequences of Vaping
What we do and don't know about vaping
Not sure if your child's bus is running? Download the app! Details on how to do this can be found here: Bus Status 4
We still have lots of yearbooks in stock. Please come in and buy one! Also, you can preorder next year's yearbook for $35.00
Community Events
Check out the info below for more information on indoor soccer in Thorsby.