Jr. High Options

Jr. High Options for the 2025-2026 School Year

We are excited to share with you an enhanced approach to how our Jr. High options program will run this year at Northcott Prairie School. We are moving towards a full-year planning model that gives students and families the most informed choices available, maximizes student interest, and makes the best use of our facilities and staff expertise.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are we are updating the process?

• to ensure student voice is central in course selections
• to give families clarity on costs, timelines, and program expectations
• to allow us to plan resources, spaces, and staffing effectively
• to ensure equitable, fair student access to options based upon interest

Options offerings will be determined and scheduled by:

• student interest,
• teacher skillset,
• available resources, and
• facility access.

How are options courses scheduled?

• There will be three semesters of options.
• Students will participate in two options courses each semester.
  • Some options courses will operate for the full year.
  • Some options courses will require student participation during both options blocks throughout a specific semester.
• Caveats:

How does the token system work?

• Each student has 24 tokens to "spend" based upon personal priorities to request enrolment in all options courses.
• When families complete the registration form together (using the student’s RVS email address), tokens will be “spent” on the courses they select.
• Families must carefully consider costs, program limits, and priorities when making selections.
• For example:
• A student elects to use 20 tokens to register for Hockey, clearly communicating the student and family prioritizes this option. 
• The student and their family understand the considerations associated with hockey, including limited voice/choice to select other options.
• The student and family will be expected to flexibly adapt to student placement in the remaining options programs throughout the school year.
• If student interest exceeds the capacity of the course (resulting from for example, facilities limitations etc), a lottery system will be used to ensure fairness to finalize student enrolment in the options course.
• Appeals Process:
• Once students are placed in options programs for the school year, appeals may be submitted within one week of receiving confirmation (by October 3rd). Appeals will be considered only for clerical errors or significant extenuating circumstances.

Where does my family find the registration form?

• The link to the registration form was sent to parent/guardians via email. 
• The link will to the registration form requires students to login to their @rvschools.ab.ca email address. 
• If your family has more than one child in Jr. High registering for options, it is important that each child login using their own @rvschools.ab.ca credentials.

What is the timeline for options registration?

• Sep 15 to 20: Families complete online token system registration form for all three semesters of options.
1. The registration form will open at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15th. Parents will receive the registration form link via email.
2. Parents and students are expected to complete the registration form together.
3. To complete the form, students will be required to login to their ___@rvschools.ab.ca account. Families are expected to discuss course choices with your child and cross-reference the options fees before submitting the registration form.
4. While registration will remain open after September 20th, student placement in options will begin at 12:00 p.m. on this date.
• Sep 20 to 25: School personnel will complete administration of selections and student enrolment.
• Sep 26: Families will receive confirmation of student’s options and instructions for paying associated fees in SchoolCash Online.
• Oct 1: Options courses for Term 1 begin.

What are the timelines for options and fee due dates?

• Semester 1: Oct 1 – Dec 12 (11 weeks)
• Deadline to pay for Semester 1 options: Dec 1
• Deadline to pay for Semester 2 options: Dec 15
• Semester 2: Jan 5 – Mar 27 (11 weeks)
• Deadline to pay for Semester 3 options: Mar 16
• Semester 3: Mar 30 – Jun 19 (11 weeks)

What is the token system? Why do we use it?

• Each student has 24 tokens to spend.
• Spending more tokens on a course communicates to our team the student's priorities.
• This ensures fairness and transparency when courses have limited space.
• For example: If a student spends 20 tokens on Foods, they are prioritized for that placement but will have fewer choices in other areas.

 

What if my student wants Band for the year?

For this year, Band will count as one token.

• Students who select Band will be guaranteed placement.
• Choosing Band requires spending only one token, and students will still have 24 tokens to allocate to other courses.

This adjustment ensures equitable access for families and recognizes Band’s year-long nature.

What does the options timetable look like?

• Options run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in two sections:
• Section A: 12:53–1:38 p.m.
• Section B: 1:38–2:23 p.m.
• Each student participates in two options per semester, for a total of six options each year.

Option Section	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Section A (12:53 to 1:38 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the term)	Option 1A	Option 2A	Option 3A
Section B (1:38 to 2:23 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the term)	Option 1B	Option 2B	Option 3B

 

What is the duration of each option?

Options run in three semesters, each semester lasting 11 weeks of student instruction:

• Semester 1: Oct 1 – Dec 12 (11 weeks)
• Semester 2: Jan 5 – Mar 27 (11 weeks)
• Semester 3: Mar 30 – Jun 19 (11 weeks)

 

Most courses run one semester, with the exception of:

• Band, which runs all year (one section), and
• Hockey, which runs for one semester and takes up both option blocks.

 

What is the appeal process?

• Families may appeal placements by October 3 and will be considered only for clerical errors or extenuating circumstances.

 

Who do I contact with questions?

• Thank you for reaching out to your child’s homeroom teacher as your first point of contact.

How much do options cost?

Each option has a different cost associated.   The average cost window is between $40 and $70 per option, with a range as low as $30 and as high as $250 per course, for a total average cost of $400 for the school year to participate in options.

All fees are payable through SchoolCash Online once placements are confirmed.

Where can I find descriptors and costs of the options courses?

• Please CLICK HERE to access descriptors and fees for each option.

 

FAMILY FEEDBACK & ONLINE UPDATE

Thus far, family feedback has been very positive and some important suggestions have been shared to help us enhance the process.

To help streamline any feedback (including positive thoughts and constructive feedback) and to help provide transparency, the school created a Q&A backchannel to submit questions as thoughts, followed by a livestream Q&A session at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19th. Please feel free to watch the livestream recording below.

 

 

EXTENDED SUBMISSION DEADLINE

To give families time to review these updates, share questions, the student options selection form will remain open.  The options course schedule for the school year will be determined and students will begin to be placed into options courses starting at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, September 20th, Students who have already submitted may re-submit their request if they wish to adjust their selections with this new information. Students who submit their options request after this time will understand that their preferred placement requests may no longer be available.

We appreciate your partnership in this new process. Together, we look forward to providing students with access to high-interest, skill-building opportunities throughout the school year and providing families with clarity and transparency using an equitable format of enrolment in the process.

Thank you very much for your partnership in supporting student learning, voice, and choice at Northcott Prairie. 

Yours in education,

The Northcott Prairie Admin Team