ABJ Scots Week at a Glance (SWAG)

Gospel Reading
Matthew 16:21-27
Jesus speaks of his Passion and rebukes Peter for his objection.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today’s Gospel continues the story that began in last week’s Gospel. Simon Peter was called the “rock” upon which Jesus would build his Church, and yet Peter continues to show the limitations of his understanding of Jesus’ identity. Now that the disciples have acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he must suffer and die in Jerusalem to be raised on the third day. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely, calling him “Satan.” In opposing this aspect of Jesus’ mission, Peter shows that he is no longer speaking based on the revelation from God but as a human being. Jesus then teaches all of the disciples about the difficult path of discipleship: to be Christ’s disciple is to follow in his way of the cross.

Peter could not yet understand what it meant to call Jesus the Messiah. It is unlikely that the other disciples understood any better. Messianic expectations were a common aspect of first-century Judaism. Under Roman occupation, many in Israel hoped and prayed that God would send a Messiah to free the Jews from Roman oppression. The common view was that the Messiah would be a political figure, a king that would free Israel from Roman rule. This is perhaps what Peter envisioned when he was led to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. In this passage, however, Jesus is beginning to teach his disciples that he would be the Messiah in a different way.

Jesus would be more like the suffering servant described by the prophet Isaiah than the political liberator. Those who would be Jesus' disciples would be called to a similar life of service. Perhaps this is what Peter feared most in Jesus’ prediction of his Passion. He whom Jesus had called “rock” would also be called upon to offer himself in sacrifice and service to others. Christian leaders today are still called to sacrifice and serve others as Jesus did.

Please see the athletics calendar above for all practice information.

Monday, August 31

• Day A - WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!
• Picture Day/School ID (if you didn't attend registration days)
• Gr.10 - 12 VB tryouts: boys 3:30 - 5pm; girls 5 - 6:30pm

Tuesday, September 1

• Day B
• Gr. 9 VB tryouts: girls 3:30 - 5pm; boys 5 - 6:30pm
• Flag Football tryouts 3:30 - 5pm

Wednesday, September 2

• Day A
• Gr. 9 VB tryouts: boys 3:30 - 5pm; girls 5 - 6:30pm
• Flag Football tryouts 3:30 - 5pm

Thursday, September 3

• Day B
• Opening Assembly: gr. 9/10 block 1; gr. 11/12 block 2
• ALL TECH THEATRE STUDENTS - meeting in the theatre at lunch
• Gr. 9 VB tryouts: girls 3;30 - 5pm; boys 5 - 6:30pm

Friday, September 4

• Day A
• ALL BAND STUDENTS - meeting in the band room at lunch

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Tuesday, September 8th - WIN Block schedule begins

Tuesday, September 15 - Parent Advisory Council 6:30pm

Wednesday, September 16 - ABJ Academic Awards

Thursday, September 17 - ABJ Opening Mass - 9:30am

The newsletter is organized based on our four school assurance priorities for this year.

1. Faith Integration
2. Learners and Learning
3. Systemic Wellness
4. Operational Stewardship

Click on the picture for a direct link to our website. Please note that we are introducing a new schedule in the second week of school, which explains the 2 bell schedules pictured below. We will be introducing WIN Block to all of our students during our opening assembly in the first week of school.

Our Academic Counselling team was able to process over 500 course change requests! If you still see an error in your timetable please see the info below:

Starting on Tuesday, September 8th and for the remainder of the 2026/2027 school year, ABJ will be offering WIN (What I Need) Block for the first 28 minutes of the day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The purpose of this time is for students to have access to their teachers for extra help, extra support on concepts, and extra time for homework completion. This time can also be utilized to see counsellors or FWWs, access free breakfast items, open gym and fitness time, practice your musical instrument or finish your art projects. The choices for students are endless!

Students are encouraged to join their specific grade level Google Classroom. Please enter the following code to join:

Grade 9 = qjff4u4n

Grade 10 = gzmsg7yn

Grade 11 = j7ymiqr6

Grade 12 = bhaqmz3o

ABJ is a calm and peaceful environment that welcomes and cares for all students. We achieve this through respecting our students as young adults and by expecting our students to follow the rules and expectations we set each year. We are also aware that in these teenage formative years, poor choices may be made. We enjoy working with families to ensure appropriate consequences are delivered and that we can all move forward from that choice.

Please click on the image below to access our Student Handbook. In this handbook, you will find many topics that will help you through your years of high school.

Most importantly, please review the following:

ABJ Academic Dishonesty policy

• this policy covers many examples of Academic Dishonesty including, but not limited to, cell phone use, plagiarism, AI platforms, and sharing answers with others
• students will receive in-school suspensions for Academic Dishonesty and a 0 for their assignment/assessment
• students will not have access to Academic Awards (including honours), within the year of the incident, if they have resorted to Academic Dishonesty

ABJ Personal Communication Device

• please note that we have changed our process for cell phones and it is expected that students bring their phone to class and put it in the cell phone holding case the teacher will provide each block.

ABJ Attendance Policy

• As a school and a parent community, we all know the importance of attending school on a consistent basis. Please use our attendance process to communicate to the school when your child will be absent.
• As an awareness, our teachers will automatically contact parents once their child has 6 absences. This is regardless of the reason for the absence. We like to be on the same page for supporting students through absences and their academic success

Please note the specifications for calculators below:

Please contact the EICS transportation office if you have any questions regarding your transportation needs on the Yellow bus or Transit ARC with Strathcona County.

Email: transportation@eics.ab.ca

Phone: 780-449-6480

Refer to the following criteria that may help in answering your questions/concerns:

1. Have you submitted a 2026-27 transportation request form in Powerschool?

No- please log into Powerschool, student forms, complete a 2026-27 transportation request form.

Yes- go to #2

2. Do you see fees in your Powerschool account for transportation?

Yes- was the payment made? Payment is needed before the ARC card pass will be issued.

No- our office may not have received a request for transportation. Please complete a request form in Powerschool.

3. ARC pass holders- if you have an ARC Card, that is the same card that will be loaded for the 2026-27 school year.

4. New ARC pass holders and yellow bus passes were mailed to your home earlier in mid August. If you did not receive the pass, please call our office.

5. If you need changes to your transportation, please contact our office