The following document is long – however, all students of PACeS and their parents or guardians are expected to abide by the policies and procedures outlined here. As such, please take the time to carefully read each section and let us know if you have any questions.
Table of Contents
SECTION 1: The School
SECTION 1a: Online Program
SECTION 1b: Home Education
SECTION 1c: Shared Responsibility
SECTION 2: Is Online Learning Right for You?
SECTION 3: Admissions
SECTION 4: Financial Policies
SECTION 5: Academic Policies
SECTION 6: General Information
SECTION 1: The School
Welcome
Welcome to Prairie Adventist Christian eSchool (PACeS). We offer K-12 Adventist Christian Education online with direct teacher contact wherever you are. PACeS is an exciting opportunity for Adventist students living in and outside of Alberta. Each year we will grow in our relationship with each other and learn in many exciting ways.
Communication is the key to succeeding in the online learning community. The most important thing you can do as you progress through the learning activities is to communicate with other students and your teachers. All students are required to participate in live web conference sessions and to take advantage of available resources. We will work with email, phone, website and fax to communicate.
The phone number to use during normal office hours is: 403.848.3165
The fax number is 877.300.8843
The e-mail address (for general inquiries) is principal@pacescanada.org.
What is PACeS?
Prairie Adventist Christian eSchool (PACeS) is one of several online schools in the province of Alberta. These schools can be public schools or independent schools under the direction of the Alberta Ministry of Education. All students must meet the Alberta learning outcomes for their prescribed grade. PACeS is licensed and accredited by the provincial government. PACeS offers programs and courses that have been developed by the North American Division of the SDA church and are augmented by direct teacher input in support of the K-12 Alberta curriculum.
History
Founded in 2007, Prairie Adventist Christian eSchool is part of the Seventh-Day Adventist(SDA) educational system. The SDA educational system is the largest Protestant Christian education system in the world and has been in existence for over a century. We will draw on this experience and combine that with new technology to enable us to bring you Adventist Christian education no matter where you live. Given the SDA education philosophy of recognizing the role of parents as the primary educators of their children, this school will be a natural fit. It makes sense that Distance Learning be offered to SDA parents, because many see the need of an Adventist component in their home program.
Mission Statement
connect.learn.encounter Jesus
Vision
We will provide a quality personalized Seventh-day Adventist education based on the needs of each student. We will work with families to encourage and motivate students to reach their full potential academically, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Philosophy
Prairie Adventist Christian eSchool (PACeS) is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to provide a spiritually oriented education for children. A belief in the existence of the Creator God is fundamental in the philosophy of Seventh-day Adventist schools. We respect His divine authority and recognize His intervention in human affairs. We believe that true education develops the spiritual, mental, and physical powers of each student; preparing them for the joy of service in this life and for the higher joy of service in the life to come. To achieve this goal, we encourage each student to:
• Develop a personal relationship with God and his fellow men as stated in Matthew 2:37-39
• Master the basic academic skills
• Value labor, physical and mental, as the blessing God intended
• Cultivate physical fitness, mental ability, and moral purity as the blessing God intended.
PACeS operates in harmony with the guidance and direction of the Alberta Conference Office of Education.
Parent Involvement
As the parent of an online learner, regular involvement in the educational process is essential. The success of the student is significantly affected by the cooperation between parents, students and teachers.
SECTION 1a: Online Program
PACeS online program serves K-12 students in Alberta and throughout North America. The program consists of “a structured learning environment in which students engage with their teachers” as defined by Alberta Education. The curriculum and instruction is provided by teachers (in concert with parents for some grades) in an online setting, though students will need to complete assignments outside of the scheduled class times. PACeS online program is mostly synchronous – teachers and students meet face-to-face at regularly scheduled times. Please see Section 2: Is Online Learning Right for You? if you are interested in this option.
SECTION 1b: Home Education
In Alberta, home education(parent-directed) is an option with a facilitator doing home visits twice a year. This is a great option if you like being in charge of your child’s education. More information can be found on our Home Education website.
The Government of Alberta provides some funding for families that are under the Home Education Regulation (parent-directed program) and enrolled with PACeS by September 30th. Please see the Financial Policies section of this handbook for details and also the Home Education website.
From the 2021-2022 school year, the Home Education Program has been expanded from grades 1-9 to also be available for grades 10-12. This option will not lead to an Alberta High School Diploma. Please contact us for further information.
SECTION 1c: Shared Responsibility
Shared Responsibility is defined as follows by Alberta Education:
A parent of a student providing a home education program to the student and an Alberta funded school authority may agree to share responsibility for the student’s education. The following conditions must be met for this to occur:
- An Alberta certificated teacher, employed by a school authority, performs the following duties while delivering selected courses that follow the Alberta programs of study:
- planning
- selecting resources
- assessment
- evaluating student progress
- A parent creates a program under the authority of the Education Act and the Home Education Regulation. The parent is responsible for developing, administering and managing the home education program as outlined in the Alberta Education definition of parental responsibilities above.
In PACeS Shared Responsibility Program, the following options are available, where the percentage indicated in the table is the portion of the program for which PACeS is responsible:
| Grades 1&2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4-6 | Grades 7-9 |
| Day | Day | Subject | Subject |
| % | % | % | % |
| Day 1: ELA/Science/PE | Day 1: ELA/Bible | ELA/Bible | ELA |
| 50% | 30% | 30% | 20% |
| Day 2: Bible/Math/Socials/Fine Arts | Day 2: Science/Socials | Math | Math |
| 50% | 30% | 20% | 20% |
| Day 3: Math/PE/Fine Arts | Science/PE | Science | |
| 40% | 25% | 15% | |
| Socials/Fine Arts | Socials | ||
| 25% | 15% | ||
| PE & Health | |||
| 15% | |||
| Bible | |||
| 15% |
| Grades 10-12 |
| High school students can take anywhere from 20% to 80% of a full time student load in a shared responsibility program. The percentage of the online education program is calculated by dividing the number of credits taken by 35 (a full time student load). |
The Funding available for Shared Responsibility is equal to the percentage of the program for which the Parent is responsible. For example, choosing Grade 3 LA/Bible would result in Parent funding of 70% of $850, or $595. A high school student taking 7 credits with PACeS (7/25 = 20%) would receive Parent funding of 80% of $850, or $680.
SECTION 2: Is Online Learning Right for You?
One of the advantages of learning with PACeS is the ability to attend school from anywhere, but online learning can be a lot more challenging than it may seem. It is extremely important to have a realistic idea of what it will take to be a successful online learner. The following items will help you determine if you have the skills and prerequisites needed to take online courses with PACeS.
Perseverance
Successful online learners need to deal with and solve technical issues, seek help when necessary, work daily on their classes, and persist through learning challenges.
Time Management
Time management is a skill which must be learned and practiced. Once learned, it will benefit you throughout the rest of your life in many different areas. Working daily (M-F) on your classes, reviewing material, studying textbooks and other resources, making notes, and completing assignments all take time – and if that time is not scheduled, it will be difficult to find. Set specific times for studying when you avoid non-study related websites and distractions.
Communication Skills
We are here to help you succeed. If there are issues, please let us know so we can help as much as we are able. Email is our primary means of communicating with students and parents, but we need to hear back from you as well.
Basic Technical skills and Access to a Computer Connected to the Internet
Students and/or parent/guardian will need to know how to send and receive email, use a browser to visit websites, create new documents, open files, use a word processing program, print and scan documents. You will also need to be able to solve(or get help solving) problems involving your computer hardware and/or software.
Motivation and Independence
In order to be successful you must first want to succeed. Online learning requires independence, motivation, responsibility, and a certain level of maturity. No one can force you to learn. If you do not take the steps necessary for success, online school will be very difficult.
A Good Study Environment
It is crucial that you have space to study and attend class with no distractions. Do not try to work near the TV or where other people might distract you. It is also important to not distract yourself – close other websites, social media, etc. during your class and study time. Make sure you have a seat/desk that is comfortable without being overly relaxing.
Exams and Tests
As in any other school, tests and exams are part of the educational process at PACeS. Not only do they help teachers assess students’ progress, they help prepare students to take the Diploma exams in Grade 12. Diploma exams must be taken to receive an Alberta high school diploma and the scores are required by Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Because teachers cannot supervise students and their environment during testing, help from parents/guardians is necessary. Supervision means receiving and printing the test and ensuring that the student does not access prohibited materials such as notes, books, devices, or websites(other than an online exam) and that the test is taken with the time limits and before any deadlines. This requires a commitment of time and effort on the part of both the parent and the student.
Preparing for exams is crucial for student success, and begins on the first day of classes. In the past, those students who have actively and faithfully taken notes, been involved in classes, and studied beyond just homework have done well on tests. Those who have done only the minimum amount of work have not done well. Also, having a quiet place free of distractions for studying, classes, and test-taking is necessary.
Previous Factors
What helped you have success in your previous schooling? How can you transfer those strengths to online schooling? What made your previous schooling difficult? How can you avoid the same issues in online schooling?
Technology Requirements
In order for you to be a part of the online learning adventure it is necessary to have a newer personal Windows or Mac computer (read this document for recommended specifications) with a high speed Internet connection, to which you can download and install software. Chromebooks, tablets and smartphones do NOT have all the capabilities necessary for the online program. You will also need a headset with microphone, webcam, and printer/scanner. These components will enable you to enjoy many learning opportunities and to communicate with your teacher and classmates. As we use Google Apps for Education, you will find your school activities generally run more smoothly if you use Google Chrome as your web browser. Contact admin@pacescanada.org if you have questions.
Using a smartphone to scan and submit .pdf files.
Additional equipment for Gr.9-12 Math classes
Email
Once accepted and registered with PACeS, students will receive their own pacescanada.org email address which must be checked regularly and used to communicate with teachers. In order for successful communication, at least one parent or guardian must also have a working email address that is checked frequently. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure emails from the school and/or teachers are not ending up in junk mail. Copies of all emails sent to the student account can be forwarded to the parent/guardian account. Students should not be able to access the parent email account.
Alberta Education Online Learning Guide
Here is a general guide to online learning published by Alberta Education. Note that PACeS program is synchronous, especially in higher grades.
SECTION 3: Admissions
Entrance Criteria
Applications are accepted at any time, however, students may only join classes at the beginning of the Semester (9-12) or Term (K-8, Terms 1 and 2). Applications must be submitted using the forms at the end of this section. All required documents must be submitted before acceptance can be confirmed. Please note that it may take up to 2 weeks to process your application, particularly near the start of classes.
Kindergarten Age
Students applying for Kindergarten must be 5 years of age by December 31st of the school year for which they are applying.
Residency
Our online program is available to students regardless of location. Tuition is free for Alberta residents whose applications are completed and accepted by September 20th. If an Alberta Student is accepted after this date, Non-Alberta tuition rates will apply. Non-Alberta rates can be found in the Financial Policies section. Alberta families under the Home Education Regulation(parent-directed) also have the option of registering with PACeS.
Courses
PACeS provides the core courses and a variety of elective courses which allow students the opportunity to fulfill the requirements of obtaining a Grade 12 Alberta High school diploma.
The bell schedule (which time period specific classes are in) may be subject to change on class sizes, enrollment and staffing until the first week of classes. However, the current class meeting times for the upcoming year can be found under “Calendar & Schedules” link at the top of the page.
Determining which course a student enters will depend on availability in the course, the student needs, and completion of prerequisites determined by Alberta Education.
Our K-12 courses are based on Alberta Education Curriculum Guidelines. All students are entered into the Alberta Education Student Database system and final grades appear on student transcripts.
High School Diploma Credit Requirements
The credit requirements for completing an Alberta High School Diploma are set by Alberta Education and can be found here.
Diploma Exams (30 level classes)
Students taking 30 level (gr. 12) classes must write the Diploma Exam(s) for each course in order to receive credit. The Diploma exam will comprise 30% of their final mark for the course. More information from Alberta Education can be found here.
Alberta residents will write their Diploma exams at the centre closest to them. Non-Alberta residents will write at a Special Testing Centre in accordance with the following document.
Admissions Process
- Complete online application
- Submit citizenship/birthdate documents
- Submit previous school records, if applicable
- Talk with School Administration regarding your program choice
- References are checked by school administration
- Admissions committee meets to ensure that the student and family will succeed in our program
- A student is only accepted once an Acceptance Letter is received.
Application form
Applications for 2022-23 will begin on February 1st, 2022. Continuing students (enrolled in PACeS in 2021-22) will have priority until February 28th, 2022. After that date, continuing and new student applications will be processed on a first-come first-serve basis (by application date AND reception of registration fee AND ALL documents by the office).
SECTION 4: Financial Policies
Alberta Residents
Fees
Alberta students are subject to a non-refundable registration fee of $225 per Online or Shared Responsibility student. The registration fee must be received in order for an application to be accepted. Alberta students registering in the online program after September 30th will be charged “Non-Alberta Residents” tuition rates.
Tuition
Tuition fees for Alberta students:
| Grades 1-12 | |
| Change of status after September 30th: | |
| Home Education to Shared Responsibility or Online: Tuition = $700.00/class | Shared Responsibility to Online: Tuition = $700.00/class |
| Grade 10-12 Online |
| Primary Student |
| Enrolled in 35 credits or more |
| No tuition |
| Enrolled in less than 35 credits |
| No tuition for the first 5 credits |
| Tuition of $140.00/per credit for 6-34 credits |
| Non-Primary Student |
| $140.00/credit |
Grade 10-12 Online Students who have their primary registration with another Alberta Conference school will be charged a non-primary student tuition rate of $140/credit and will need to have their primary school confirm that they are maintaining a minimum enrollment of 35 credits.
Textbooks
Textbooks are provided free of charge. All textbooks must be returned by June 30th (return shipping costs are the responsibility of the parent/guardian). Any books not returned will result in replacement costs being charged.
Receipting Policy
Alberta Home Education funding is only available to families that are under the Home Education Regulation (parent-directed program) and enrolled with PACeS by September 30. Reimbursements are processed beginning October 1st. The last day to submit receipts is April 30th. The Funding Claim Form must also be filled out and submitted with receipts.
For the 2022-2023 school year, receipts from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023 will be eligible for reimbursement.
Unused funding cannot roll over to the next school year. All funds and receipts must be aligned with the educational plan for each specific school year.
Please see the Home Education Website for more details on Funding Claims and the receipting policy.
Forms
Home Education Reimbursement Standards
Funding Claim Submission Form
Non-Alberta Residents
Fees
Non-Alberta students are subject to a non-refundable registration fee of $225 per Student. The registration fee must be received in order for an application to be accepted.
Annual Tuition Rates (2023-24)
| Grade | Tuition |
| Kindergarten | $1650 |
| Gr. 1-3 | $2035 |
| Gr. 4-6 | $2100 |
| Gr. 7-9 | $2650 |
| Gr. 10-12 | $3270 |
| Single Class | $700 |
Family Discount
First/Second Child: Full Rate
Third/Fourth Child: Half Rate
Discount applied to lowest rate(s).
Textbooks
Tuition fees include most textbooks. All textbooks must be returned by June 30th (return shipping costs are the responsibility of the parent/guardian). Any books not returned will result in replacement costs being charged.
Outstanding Tuition
In order to remain enrolled with PACeS, student accounts must be kept current with regular payments. The previous year’s tuition must be paid in full before a student can enroll for a new school year.
Online Payments
Tuition and other fees may be paid using the links in the main menu at the top of the page under Finances/Make a Payment.
Forms
Manitoba-Saskatchewan PACeS Financial Information Form
The form must be submitted to the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference and PACeS before September 15th of the school year for which subsidy is requested. Contact the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference for any further information regarding eligibility.
SECTION 5: Academic Policies
Attendance
If a student is going to be absent, it is required that they notify their teacher as well as the principal as far in advance as practical, unless it is an emergency. Students need to arrange to meet with their teacher(s) during flex time the day they return from an absence to update the plan for catching up. Work missed due to an absence must be made up within five (5) days of returning to class. Missed work is allowed to be made up only for absences with prior communication.
In order to remain enrolled in a class, Kindergarten to Grade 11 students cannot miss more than 7 days per semester, and Grade 12 students cannot miss more than 4 days per semester.
Attendance concerns will be handled by the discipline committee.
Participation
Students will be considered present only if they participate in class discussions, answer questions when addressed, and have their face clearly visible on camera. If a student fails to do this they will be marked absent for that class period.
Students are expected to be in the classroom window only during a class period. They will be marked absent if they are found to be on other websites during class time. They will also be marked absent if they leave class early.
Tardiness
PACeS expects students to be in class on time. Students who are not present at the beginning of class will be marked tardy.
Travel
While it is understood that PACeS allows for some freedom of travel for families, every attempt should be made to attend classes whenever possible. If attendance will be uncertain, students must make arrangements with their teachers a minimum of one week prior to their intended absence. Absences greater than two days needs approval from the Principal. These arrangements are the student’s responsibility. All work must be caught up within 5 days of returning to regular classes. Students should attempt to complete as much work as possible prior to the trip.
Technical Difficulties
If you are experiencing technical difficulties and are unable to attend class you are expected to communicate with your teacher or the principal and let them know.
Teacher-Away
When a teacher is unable to have an online class, students will be notified as soon as possible via email from the teacher or school administration. This email notification will indicate the schoolwork requirements for that day. This is not considered a day off of school for the students. In situations where a teacher needs to be away for an extended period of time, the school administration will communicate a plan to the students and families.
Academic Dishonesty
For the first offense of academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism etc.), the student will receive a mark of zero, with no chance to redo the assignment. If a second offense occurs, it will be handled by the discipline committee.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is stealing another person’s intellectual property. Intentional plagiarism occurs when a student uses a source and presents it as their own. This can include any information, visual or written, that has been used from another source without giving credit to that source through a works cited or bibliography. Plagiarism can include summarizing, paraphrasing or using direct word for word (copying and pasting). Whenever a source is used without acknowledgement of that source, it is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
Unintentional plagiarism (sometimes called reckless plagiarism) is when a student plagiarizes without intent (forgetting to include a citation, for example), but it is still a problem. If a teacher considers something as unintentional plagiarism, the student may be required to either edit or resubmit the assignment with the appropriate citations and credit given.
Supervision
Parents/Guardians are responsible for supervision of students, online or otherwise, at all times.
Homework
Homework is posted on a regular basis in Google Classroom, Moodle and PowerSchool. Students are required to check daily in order to keep up with assignments.
Late assignments and tests will only be accepted if prior arrangements have been made with the teacher.
It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the teacher well in advance of the due date if an extension is needed.
Exams and Tests – Expectations
As in any other school, tests and exams are part of the educational process at PACeS. Not only do they help teachers assess students’ progress, they help prepare students to take the Diploma exams in Grade 12. Diploma exams must be taken to receive an Alberta high school diploma and the scores are required by Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Preparing for exams is crucial for student success, and begins on the first day of classes. In the past, those students who have actively and faithfully taken notes, been involved in classes, and studied beyond just homework have done well on tests. Those who have done only the minimum amount of work have not done well. Those who have cheated their way through tests have also done poorly. Also, having a quiet place free of distractions for taking tests, as well as studying and attending/participating in classes is necessary.
Exams and Tests – Supervision
Because teachers cannot supervise students and their environment during testing, help from parents/guardians is required. Supervision may include receiving and printing the test as well as ensuring that the student does not access prohibited materials such as notes, books, devices, or websites (other than an online exam) and that the test is taken within the time limits and before any deadlines. This requires a commitment of time and effort on the part of both the parent and the student.
Bible/Religious Studies (RS)
As an Adventist School, we are blessed to be able to offer religious instructional time for our students. In keeping with the values of the Adventist church, we require that all full time online students take a Bible/RS class each year.
High School Academic Performance
Success in a class is dependent on consistent effort, personal work ethic and a student’s ability to understand the course material. Students need to achieve a grade of 65% or higher in order to continue in the same course sequence as outlined in the Alberta Guide to Education, p.72-75 (Please click here to see the guide). Students who achieve a grade of 50-64% may take the next course in the lower sequence. (E.g. Achieving a 60% final grade in ELA 10-1 would mean the student would be eligible to take ELA 20-2, but not ELA 20-1.). Students who do not achieve at least a 50% in the course will not receive credit and will need to repeat the class.
Valedictorian requirements
– Full-time enrolment with PACeS.
– Enrolled in level (1) courses (e.g. – Socials 30-1, Math 30-1, etc.)
– Minimum grade average of 85% with no grade lower than 70%.
– Grade average to be calculated based on the school marks for the following courses: Biology 30, Chemistry 30, English 30-1, Mathematics 30-1, Physics 30, Religious Studies 35, Social Studies 30-1.
SECTION 6: General Information
Planning for Success (Students and Parents)
Online learning with PACeS can be a very rewarding experience if you are willing to plan for success. Without a plan and commitment to it by both students and parents, you will not succeed. Here are some suggestions:
1. Schedule your time.
2. Eliminate distractions.
3. Communication is key – contact your teachers regularly.
4. Organize your work.
5. Ask for help.
6. Stick to your schedule.
7. Never give up!
Assignments
Teachers use a variety of platforms and methods to help students learn. Each teacher will have detailed information on assignments – what to do, when to do it, how and where to submit it. Keeping up with assignments is an important part of the learning process.
Student Progress/Grades
Each course has learning objectives listed. Further information can be found at Alberta Education. Grades indicate the student’s mastery of the learning objectives for each course. It is necessary for the student to frequently check their grades, assignment scores, and feedback from the teacher. If grades/feedback indicate that more study is necessary to improve understanding of some learning objectives, ensure that time and effort are spent reviewing those areas. If you have a question about your progress, email your teacher.
Parents should also keep tabs on their child’s progress and performance. Grades are available anytime in PowerSchool, and are updated regularly. If assignments are missing, or you have questions about your child’s grade, please contact the teacher.
In Grades K-6, parents are expected to be regularly logging in to Google Classroom/moodle with their child to keep track of assignments, due dates, progress and performance. In Grades 7-12, Parents should sign up for Classroom Guardian Summaries or continue regularly logging in with their child.
Digital Responsibility
– Presenting content that is not your work must include credit to the original author.
– Sharing thoughts and ideas makes the Internet a better, more useful place.
– Students are encouraged to share and interact with others online in a respectful manner.
Communication
– Dialogue and interaction are encouraged in the online environment.
– Appropriate language is expected in the online course environment.
– Comments and dialogue should be positive and respectful of others.
Personal Information Privacy Policy
PACeS will ensure that student information is handled and stored securely and will not be disclosed outside the school, unless required by law.