Calling Lake School
2900 Calling Lake Dr T0G-0K0 Calling Lake, AB, Canada

**New Bus App coming soon for NSD families** A new app will soon be available for NSD parents and guardians to use for monitoring a school bus status! The new app is called StopFinder. The engagement app allows parents and guardians to see their children’s bus schedules in real-time and receive bus cancellations or changes immediately. The Transportation Department and registered users stay connected by sending and receiving messages through the secure StopFinder app directly... on their phone or tablet. This is another example of how we are better leveraging the use of technology, said Dr. Nancy Spencer-Poitras, Superintendent of Schools. The StopFinder app is just another way we connect with our parents and guardians and enhance student safety. Transportation plays an integral role in making sure students arrive safely, attend school regularly and achieve success, said Robin Guild, Board Chair. The Board appreciates the ongoing efforts made by NSD to better leverage technology to support student learning and engagement. The app will work alongside the Bus Status available on the NSD website https://www.nsd61.ca/departments/transportation/bus-status. Parents and guardians who have students riding a Northland/contract bus will receive an email in the coming months to download the app.

**Another opportunity for NSD parents to participate in their child’s education** Parents and guardians have another way to participate in the education system at Northland School Division (NSD). Until the end of April, NSD schools will be working with parents to fill out the Alberta Education Assurance Survey. Alberta Education Assurance Survey, parent and guardian participation rate is of high importance to NSD, said Robin Guild, Board Chair. We want to have as many pare...nts and guardians as possible complete the survey. We need parental involvement so we can learn what is working in schools and what needs improvement. The Alberta Education Assurance Survey uses a set of 16 indicators. Data on these indicators consists of surveys of students, parents, guardians, and teachers on various aspects of education quality, student outcomes such as dropout and high school completion rates, and provincial assessments of student learning. All surveys are anonymous and ask questions about experiences with your school. In addition to English and French, the parent survey is available in Cree and Dene. The responses collected in the survey are provided to and reviewed by all school staff, the board of trustees, and the Alberta Government. The feedback we receive from parents and guardians in the survey will help to shape school and divisional planning which directly impacts the educational experience for each child, said Dr. Nancy Spencer-Poitras, Superintendent of Schools. All of us working together will positively impact the success of NSD students. Thanks so much for participating in this important survey! The surveys are being delivered to all NSD schools. Parents and guardians who have in-school learning or at-home learning students in grades 4, 7, and 10 will be asked to fill out the survey (unless the school has fewer than 120 students in grades 4-12 in which case the survey will be expanded to include all parents and guardians). Schools are implementing strategies to help parents and guardians fill out this important survey. Please contact your local school if you have any questions https://www.nsd61.ca//another-opportunity-for-nsd-parents-.

March Youth Fitness challenge, view poster for details. Call Bigstone Health Centre for questions or more info (780)-891-2000.

**Attention Families on Route 434 - Wallie Gambler*** Effective Tuesday, March 9th there will be a contract bus operating Wallie's route temporarily. The bus will say Sparksman on the side and should look like the image attached. ... We have done our best to provide the route information for the temporary driver however, we ask that you are ready a little early just incase the driver is a little early and also be patient if they are a little late. Timing should get better after a couple of days. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Transportation Department at (780) 624-2060.