New Norway School

Welcome back! We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday , August 31st. A very special welcome to all new students joining us at New Norway School. We are glad you are with us!

We are very lucky to be part of an extraordinary team of educators and support staff at New Norway School.

2026-2027 Staff

Principal- Mrs. Kelly Arial

Assistant Principal- Mr. Steve Searle

Administrative Assistant- Miss Jenna Miller

ECS - Mrs. Gutmann

Grade 1 - Mrs. Bucek

Grade 2/3 - Miss Leslie

Grade 4/5 - Mrs. Fleck

Grade 6 - Mrs. King

Grade 7 - Mr. Kluthe

Grade 8 - Mr. Searle

Grade 9 - Mr. Lindstrand

Grade 10 - Mrs. Berg

Grade 11/12 - Mrs. Shostak

Our Amazing Support Staff:

Mrs. Danielle Weiler

Ms. Hanna Norman

Mrs. Nicole Rostad

Mrs. Denise Williams

Mr. Derrick Naslund

Some Key Information to know for the return of school day for students:

- Students should bring all supplies on the first day of school

- Lockers will be provided as in years past.

-Doors open at 8:30am end of the day bell rings at 3:00pm

-There are no early dismissal days this school year

** For new students who are unsure of which entrance, please come through the front doors to the office and we will assist you.

As we begin a new school year, we look forward to welcoming students and families back and continuing our work to create a safe, caring and inclusive school where every student can learn, thrive and feel a strong sense of belonging.

Our priorities for the year

Our School Education Plan continues to guide our work and supports BRSD’s priorities for student learning, well-being and success. We encourage families to take some time to review our school website and BRSD's calendar link below which includes important dates, school breaks and other information to help you plan for the year ahead.

Safe, caring and inclusive schools

Creating a safe and welcoming learning environment is a shared responsibility. With the passing of Bill 25, our school will be reviewing and updating our Student Code of Conduct/Behaviour Matrix to reflect current requirements and ensure students have clear, consistent expectations for their behaviour. This includes helping students understand the important role they play in preventing violence, looking out for one another and speaking up when they have a concern.

This work is connected to Priority 2 of our Education Plan: Student and Staff Well-Being, Mental Health and Belonging. Throughout the year, students, staff and families will have opportunities to learn more about topics that contribute to safe, respectful and responsible school communities, including (but not limited to):

• digital citizenship and responsible social media use;

• responsible use of artificial intelligence;

• violence prevention;

• bullying and harassment; and

• how and where to report concerns.

Beginning in the first week of school, students will review our Code of Conduct/Behaviour Matrix, their responsibilities as members of our school community, and how to report bullying, harassment, safety concerns or other situations affecting their well-being.

We want every student to know that if something does not feel right, they can talk to a trusted adult at school. Staff will also receive information about how to respond to concerning behaviours or disclosures and the processes to follow so that concerns are addressed appropriately.

School Photo's will be on September 29th

Alberta government has an order around the use of personal communication devices in schools. https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/Documents/MinOrders/2024/Education/2024_014_Education.pdf. New Norway School aligns with this ministerial order and BRSD's Administrative Procedure 135.

We also ask families to review our expectations for personal mobile devices with their children. Students may not use personal mobile devices bell to bell . Devices must be powered off or set to silent and stored in a backpack, bag or locked locker during the day.

New Norway School's mobile-device expectations will be reviewed with students during the first week of school. We appreciate families reinforcing these expectations at home and helping us keep instructional time focused on learning.

Battle River School Division has an emphasis on safe and caring schools. Part of providing a safe learning environment is helping students and staff be prepared for an emergency.

Our school holds six fire drills each year and we will also be holding two lockdown drills – one in October and another in the spring.

A lockdown is when all the students and staff are tucked into their classrooms (or another safe, lockable area of the school) to avoid an intruder inside the building. This is not a situation we expect our schools to encounter but, just like a fire drill, practicing will help us all be better prepared if such an incident does occur.

When we hold our lockdown drill, discussions will also take place with students in a calm, sensitive, age-appropriate way, so as not to generate anxiety or fear. If you’d like to speak to your children ahead of time, to provide additional reassurance that they are safe at school and drills are what we do so we are prepared ‘just in case’, we would welcome your support.

It is possible we will have police officers present for the drill, as well as representatives of the school division. Their role is to help us evaluate our preparedness and suggest any changes we might make in future drills.

Thank you for your cooperation.

BRSD and New Norway School will continue to embrace digital reporting through the PowerSchool platform. Here's why we believe this change is beneficial for both you and your child:

1. Real-Time Information: With PowerSchool, you can access your child's academic progress in real-time. This means you can stay up-to-date on their learning journey whenever you want, rather than waiting for periodic report cards.

2. Unlimited Access to Assessment Results: You are no longer limited to seeing your child's progress three times a year. With digital reporting, you can check assessment results at any time, enabling you to have a deeper understanding of their academic performance.

3. Active Partner in Learning: This transition empowers you to become an active partner in your child's education, rather than merely an observer. You can now be more involved and engaged in their learning process.

4. Timely Support: If your child is facing challenges or has missing assignments, you can address these issues promptly, preventing them from becoming larger problems. Digital reporting allows for timely intervention.

5. Access to Teacher Feedback: You'll have easy access to teacher feedback on assignments, which can help you better support your child's learning by understanding their strengths and areas for improvement.

6. Engagement in the Learning Process: We view education as a partnership between parents and educators. Digital reporting fosters greater collaboration and engagement in the learning process.

7. Close Communication with Teachers: The PowerSchool platform also facilitates closer communication with your child's teachers, allowing for quick and efficient exchanges of information.

We understand that not everyone may have access to technology. If you find yourself in this situation, please reach out to our school. We will work with you to establish alternative arrangements to ensure you can still receive timely updates on your child's progress if you wish. If you have not signed up for the PowerSchool ‘portal' to access your child’s information please contact us at New Norway School and we will support you through the process.

BRSD believes that this transition to digital reporting is a positive step forward in enhancing communication, engagement, and support for your child's education. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Outcome-Based Reporting: A New Way of Reporting Student Progress (K–6)

Starting this year, BRSD is moving from traditional grades to Outcomes-Based Reporting for all K-6 students. Here is some information you need to know:

No More Guesswork:

Instead of one general grade for a subject, you’ll see exactly which skills your child has mastered and where they still need work.

Personalized Growth:

Teachers can better identify when a student needs extra help in a specific area, ensuring no one gets left behind.

Better Communication:

You’ll get clearer, more meaningful feedback that shows your child’s actual progress through the curriculum.

Purposeful Learning:

Teachers will have data that will help them design lessons and assessments tailored to specific learning goals.

We’re moving toward a more transparent system that treats every student as an individual, making it easier for you to support their learning at home.

To help you better understand and navigate your child’s Outcomes progress in PowerSchool, BRSD has prepared some resources that will help you with this transition:

Accessing Elementary Student Marks via PowerSchool Parent Portal Web Browser - Parent Guide

Accessing Elementary Student Marks via PowerSchool Parent Portal Web Browser - Parent Video

Accessing Elementary Student Marks via PowerSchool Parent Portal APP - Parent Guide

Accessing Elementary Student Marks via PowerSchool Parent Portal APP - Parent Video

BRSD Levels of Achievement

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Coaches,

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our students? Join us in a journey of inspiration, growth, and learning by becoming a valued volunteer at our beloved school!

Ignite Learning, Foster Growth: As a volunteer, you'll have the unique opportunity to be an integral part of our students' educational and athletic journey. From field trip supervisors to coaches , your presence will light up their world and help them soar to new heights!

Safety First - Our Pledge: To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we kindly ask all volunteers to complete an Agent of the board package. These simple steps help us create a secure environment for everyone.

Building Bonds, Strengthening Community: Join hands with fellow parents, guardians, and community coaches in a shared mission to shape the future. Together, we'll create an inclusive, nurturing environment where every child feels supported and empowered.

Let's make 2026-2027 another amazing school! Forms can be found on our New Norway Website here. Please note: that criminal record checks from past years are not kept on file at the school and a complete package will need to be submitted yearly.

To ensure a safe environment for all, we kindly ask that all parents and guests come to the school office upon arrival during school hours. Please refrain from using side doors to enter classrooms or the gym unless it is during authorized after hours event. The school hallways and instructional areas are reserved exclusively for students and staff during drop off, pick up and instructional time.

We appreciate your support and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our school community.

Pick up and Drop off areas:

To ensure the safety of our students we are asking parents to not use the staff parking lot area. While we understand that this takes away some convenience, we are concerned about the safety of your children.

Thank you for your attention to this.

Student success and a sense of belonging starts with consistent attendance at school.

Senior Men's Tryouts are Sept 1. Stay tuned for Senior Women try-outs and Junior High Volleyball teams start-ups! Go Spartans!

Spartan Tough is October 1 this year. Course set-up is Sunday September 13th. Practices start September 1. Practices will be on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays with races on Thursdays. Mondays are travel by bus days, to the Spartan Tough Course, Camrose or Living Springs. Exception is September 8 is a travel day to the Spartan Tough Course. Mondays (3pm-5:50) and Tuesdays (3pm-4) will be after school and Wednesdays (7:15am-8:15) are before school. Wednesday mornings are dedicated to our Secondary, competitive runners. Additional practice on September 3 (3pm-4). Let's get running Spartans!

Please take a few minutes to complete your child's demographic forms on PowerSchool.

It is important that this information be kept up-to-date every year, especially if there is a change in medical status, parent/guardian/emergency contact information, and/or address.

If you need assistance with using PowerSchool - including completing and submitting yearly consent and demographic forms online - please contact Miss Miller in the office.

I’d like to acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gathering place, and travelling route to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.