November 21, 2025

Dear ÉSBCHS Families,

I hope you have had a wonderful week. There is always a great energy in our hallways, and I wanted to take a moment to share some of the amazing things happening right now at our school.

🤝 Thank You: Parent-Teacher Conferences

First, I want to extend a huge thank you to all the parents and guardians who were able to attend our two Parent-Teacher Conference evenings this week. It was wonderful to see so many of you in the building. We truly value these opportunities to connect face-to-face, as your partnership is essential to your child's success. If you were unable to attend, please know that you can always reach out to your child's teachers via email with any questions or updates.

🌟 Student Award Recipients

We are incredibly proud of our recent Student Award recipients! All students have now been recognized for their hard work and contributions to our school community. To help celebrate this achievement, a photo of the presentation will be sent home of your student so you can share in the moment. Please join us in congratulating them!

🌭 New: The "Bandits Burrow"

We are thrilled to launch a new opportunity for students to connect and unwind. Every Wednesday at lunch in Room 122, we will be hosting the "Bandits Burrow."

This is designed to be a "chill" space where students can eat their lunch, play games, and meet new people in a low-pressure environment. Whether a student is looking for a quiet place to hang out or hopes to make new friends, everyone is welcome. There will be fun, connection, and snacks! If you think your child would enjoy this, please encourage them to stop by Room 122 this Wednesday.

🍎 Nutrition Program

We know that mornings can be rushed and that rising food costs are a reality for many in our society. To ensure every student is fueled and ready to learn, we are pleased to offer a morning nutrition program.

• When: Every morning from 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
• Where: The Conference Room (located near the Library)

All students are welcome to access food during this time to start their day off right.

🌏 Upcoming: Culture Week (Nov 24–28)

Our Leadership Team has been working hard to plan a fantastic Culture Week! We are excited to celebrate the diversity of our student body with a week full of activities. Here is the schedule:

• Monday: Cultural Trivia in the Atrium (with prizes!)
• Tuesday: Cultural Activity Booths – Students can complete a "passport" by visiting various booths to win a prize.
• Wednesday: Cultural Scavenger Hunt – Students will locate items from various cultures around the school (similar to a holiday elf hunt).
• Thursday: Cultural Potluck – This is the highlight of the week! Students and staff can purchase 10 tickets for $7.50 to go around and sample amazing foods from different cultures.
• Friday: Dress Up Day – We encourage everyone to wear their cultural clothing with pride!

Semester One Schedule and Final Exams

In alignment with the Alberta Government's decision to cancel Provincial Achievement Tests and Diploma exams, we are making a change to our Semester One schedule.

Key Points:

• No Final Exams: Due to recent labour disruptions and the Alberta Government's decision, final exams will not be administered in any courses.
• Final Grade: The student's course mark at the end of the semester will serve as their final grade.
• Classes Continue: There will be no change in the regular class schedule. Regularly scheduled classes will take place until Tuesday, January 27.
• January 28: This day is available for students who need to meet with a teacher for conflicts or additional support, as directed by the classroom teacher. Students who require a course change for Semester Two are also welcome to come in.
• Semester Two Start: Semester Two begins on Monday, February 2.

This change allows us to regain lost instructional time and ensures students have the necessary time to focus on learning the curriculum.

What This Means at ESBCHS

The following points regarding the cancellation of final exams still apply:

• Students will not have large, multi-unit final exams. However, they will likely still write their last chapter or unit test during the week of January 19-23, 2026.
• Students taking a CTS (Career and Technology Studies) course that is based on modules will have the opportunity to attempt all the credits awarded for that class (e.g., attempt all three credits for a three-credit course).
• The final exam category will remain in the PowerSchool gradebook but will be left empty. 100% of a student's mark will be based on coursework. 
• All students will have January 28-30th off with no classes. This time is for teachers to finalize and submit all student marks for the end of the first semester.

Classes for the Second Semester will begin on Monday, February 2.

Thank you for your continued support in making ESBCHS a supportive and vibrant place to learn.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mr. Sean Flanagan, Principal

SCHOOL INFORMATION

ATHLETICS

Junior Girls Volleyball

Thank you Mr. Fensky for the amazing shots!

COMMUNITY INFORMATION