Tuesday, May 6 - Parent/Teacher Interviews 3:30-6pm

- Beading circle - 12:30-1:30pm

Wednesday, May 7 - Hats On for Mental Health!

- Ribbon skirts/Shirts - talk to Ms. Cardinal

Thursday, May 8 - Thrilling Thursday - see what Jaden our Mental Health Capacity Builder has planned!

After surveying our staff and our students, we would like to unveil to the world, the BRACE Bear!

The BRACE Bear represents strength, courage, and leadership and the ultimate symbol of bravery and power.

The bear is well-known in Alberta and has actually been found in our area, so while it is not common in Central-East Alberta, it is local.

The bear is independent, but incredibly loyal and protective and is seen as a protector and provider.

The bear is versatile and well-rounded living in a variety of habits from forest to mountains to plains. As an omnivore, the bear eats a variety of foods. And the bear is skilled in a variety of things, dig, climb, run, saunter, etc.

It is a reminder of the strength and resilience needed to survive in a harsh and unforgiving environment, and of the need to always be prepared for the challenges that life may bring.

It is a powerful reminder of the need to honour and respect the land, animals, and traditions of Indigenous peoples, and to work together to build a more just and sustainable future.

Go Bears!

Students and parents, please complete one more survey - but this survey is more focused on us here at BRACE and our programs as we begin to plan for next year!!

Baby pics, future plans, guest numbers, song choices are due tomorrow!

Check your email for your cap and gown pictures from Mrs. Olson - they have all been sent out!

May 5 is Bus Driver Appreciation Day! BRSD is thankful for our dedicated bus drivers. Please remember to thank your bus driver and tell them how much they are appreciated!

BRSD is planning to host Rock the Diploma study sessions to prepare for the June diploma exams.

• Location: Ecole Camrose Composite High School

To proceed we need a minimum of 25 registrations per course.

If you are interested, please complete the registration form. Incomplete registrations will not be considered. Once registration closes, and if there are enough students enrolled, you will receive a payment link.

Our first season competing in eSports was a great success! Thank you to our players and parents and coaches for getting this first season off the ground!

Our team played Rocket League in two leagues - an Alberta league and a North American League.

In the Alberta League we finished 13th out of 19 - just out of the playoffs as top 12 got to move on. Some very close matches!

In the North American League we finished 32 out of 82 teams! We made it to the first round of playoffs where we lost to a very, very competitive team!

We will be back next year!

Go Bears!

Scholarship applications are in full swing for grade 12 students with many generous local scholarships being offered. Please check with your school’s awards coordinators to ensure you have up-to-date information and deadlines for the scholarships in your area and watch your HS+ Google Classroom for updates.

Brett attended PACE in 1998 and graduated in June of 2001. In a milestone demonstration of their love for Brett, the Starcheski family created the Starcheski Memorial Scholarship.

To apply, write a letter about yourself, your story, and your accomplishments.

To apply, you must have been accepted into a post-secondary institution, so you need to include the letter of acceptance in your application.

Email applications to brace@brsd.ab.ca

4-H Alberta Elmer and Ona Hansen Memorial Scholarship

- open to all Alberta rural farm youth and designed to help rural farm youth who must leave home to pursue a post-secondary education or trade

Please note a rural farm youth is defined as a youth who has lived on a farm in Alberta for the majority of their life and the farm is the primary source of family income.

The following scholarship amounts will be awarded in 2025:

• One scholarship: $20,000

• One scholarship: $15,000

• One scholarship: $10,000

• Seven (7) scholarships at $5,000 each

Student Eligibility/How to apply:

• Must be enrolled as a first-year student at an acknowledged post-secondary institution and not have previously started or completed a post-secondary program.

• Must be a young Alberta rural farm person.

• Applicants must provide confirmation that they have or are currently living on a family farm as well as provide the farm’s legal land description.

• Must have graduated from high school, have received their high school diploma, and be no older than 25 years of age. A copy of their high school transcript must be included with the application form.

• Must need to leave home to pursue a post-secondary education or trade. Proof must be provided that the student is not living at home, i.e. through a rental or dorm receipt.

• A photo of the applicant must be submitted with the application. The photo must be suitable for publication – a grad picture is ideal. Photocopies or proofs are not suitable. Quality scanned photos are acceptable.

• 4-H experience is NOT mandatory to qualify for this award.

The application for the Elmer and Ona Hansen Memorial Scholarship will open Thursday, May 1, 2025 until Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Noon with the application available on the 4-H Alberta website. To go directly to the application, please click here.

For more information: scholarship@4HAB.com and 639-638-2231

I am excited to share information regarding the upcoming Asclepius Medical Camps available to high school students. These medical camps will be happening this summer in both Edmonton and Grande Prairie.

The Asclepius Medical Camp for Youth is an initiative aimed at increasing the enrollment of underrepresented populations in medical school. The goal is to demonstrate that a career in medicine is attainable, regardless of background, by demystifying the path to medical school and sparking interest among participants. The camp features a variety of hands-on activities, speaker presentations, group discussions, and interactive sessions that simulate a typical day in the life of a medical student. They encourage all applicants who meet the camp criteria, including those from rural areas, to apply.

Although the camps are completely free to attend, with lunch provided daily for all participants, students must apply for the camp as per the deadlines below..

Edmonton – apply by June 6th > CAMP is being held July 7th – 11th, 2025 (60 available spots)

For more information, including how to apply, visit https://sites.google.com/view/asclepiusmcfy/home.

Join our Padlet to answer!

Click here to join BRACE's Padlet. You will need to create an account - we do ask that you use your school email address, but you can make up your name - try to make it meaningful to you and appropriate!

Click here for this week's board - What is your favourite colour?

There are terms of use and anything that violates school rules and policies may result in disciplinary action. Let's be kind and keep each other safe!

We are looking for a Grade 10-11 BRACE student to serve as our second representative for BRSD's SAVY (Student-Led Advocacy for Voices of Youth) group. If you are interested, please let Mr. Chanasyk know!

Lot of great rewards:

- Looks great on a resume

- Build leadership skills

- Meet great people

- Great opportunities

Please ensure to check out our Instagram @braceschool_brsd to check for announcements, updates, and happenings!

Check out the March Career Counsellor newsletter here and follow them on Instagram @hsplusbrsd!

Research consistently shows that regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve higher grades, develop stronger social connections, and maintain positive mental health. Conversely, chronic absenteeism can create gaps in learning that are difficult to close and impact long-term outcomes. Ensuring that every student is present and engaged remains a top priority!

Attendance at BRACE looks very different - we consider attendance to be engagement - seeing you in our classrooms, or logging in Moodle and handing things in!

Keep engaged and keep in contact!

Did you know you can check your student’s grades any time! We now use a tool called PowerSchool so that students and families can see their grades in real time - as soon as we enter a grade in, you can see it! More information is provided in another newsletter!