PWPSD Board News - March 24, 2022

 
 
 
MARCH 24, 2022
 
Inspiring all learners to become confident, collaborative and ethical citizens motivated with a passion to achieve a sustainable future.
 

Annual General School Councils' Meeting

The upcoming General School Councils' Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending, but have missed the March 22 RSVP deadline, you are invited to attend virtually via Google Meet.

Find out the latest news from Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) and learn about strategies employed by the Division to promote wellness among our students and staff. Learn more about the event and find the full meeting agenda on our website.

Board approves 2023-2026 Capital Plan

PWPSD Trustees approved the 2023-2026 Capital Plan during the Board meeting held on March 24. The Capital Plan, which is updated and approved annually, highlights the Division's priorities for new schools and modernization projects. The four priorities in the three-year Capital Plan are:

  1. Replacement 8-12 Peace Wapiti Academy
  2. New 9-12 School in the County of Grande Prairie
  3. New K-8 School in the Clairmont Area
  4. Modernization of Bonanza School
The Capital Plan can be viewed in its entirety on the PWPSD website.

PWPSD supports City of Grande Prairie's bid for Alberta Winter Games

The Board voted in favour of writing a letter in support of the City of Grande Prairie's bid for the 2024 Alberta Winter Games. The City's planning committee requested a letter of support to help improve its chances of hosting the games, and the Board agreed that the event would be great for the area.

Inclusive Education Report

 
(Left to right): Heather Putio and Karen Chrenek

In the annual Inclusive Education report, Assistant Superintendent Heather Putio and District Principal Karen Chrenek, spoke about the many programs the Division offers and how staff are working to support students post-pandemic. With a dedicated portion of the overall budget being allocated to Inclusive Education programming, the team works closely with PWPSD's Wellness and Indigenous Education teams to deliver effective and appropriate supports.

In addition to speaking on the four tiers of the Student First Framework for Learning, Assistant Superintendent Putio also touched on what student supports look like. "The Inclusive Education team primarily works in the second and third tiers of the Student First Framework: student supports within the classroom, and individualized supports." She said that additionally, PWPSD employs two full-time psychologists who work on assessing students. While students wait to receive psychological assessment, staff perform 'Level B' assessments of their students to create appropriate programming so there are few interruptions in learning.

Ms. Chrenek spoke about the Early Childhood Services (ECS) and Kindergarten programs offered at PWPSD schools. ECS programs are play-based programs, based on the Flight framework, that allow children to learn and grow in a way that aligns with their development. In partnership with the County of Grande Prairie, PWPSD provides options of educational programming for children between the ages of 2 years and 8 month old, and younger than 6 years old.

Staff have implemented Early Years Evaluation - TA (EYE-TA), a systemic framework used to structure informal classroom observations in order to target instruction specific to each child's learning needs for the Division's youngest students. PWPSD educators have been using EYE-TA for the last five years.

Indigenous Education Services Report


Indigenous Services Providers Andrea Rosenberger-Deleeuw, Jackie Benning and Rachelle Bell with 2022 Indigenous Speaker Series performers Jacob and Mikey Harris.

Indigenous Service Providers Rachelle Bell and Jackie Benning presented their annual report and spoke about their team's accomplishments from the 2021-2022 school year.

Since transitioning away from the FNMI (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) Program, which was a school-based program, the Indigenous Education team has focused on truth and reconciliation with all students throughout the entire Division. 


Some notable successes include:

  • Building on existing and new partnerships
  • Working on new projects and programs
  • In-person 2022 Indigenous Speaker Series
  • Division leadership: working with staff and families to educate and create an understanding of Indigenous history and cultural significances.
Since the federal government announced September 30 would become the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous Education Services has worked hard to promote its importance; becoming a local leader in the journey to truth and reconciliation.

The team is looking forward to working on new programs and opportunities in the upcoming school year. They plan to explore an Indigenous Allies program, an Elder Steering Council, student leadership groups, more land-based learning, and hope to expand Cree language and culture learning opportunities.

Committee & Meeting Reports

  • Trustee Grant presented the Canadian Mental Health Conference Report
  • Trustee Speager presented the Health and Safety Committee Report
  • Trustee Riding presented the ASBA Zone 1 Meeting Report
  • Trustee Grant presented the Rural Education Symposium Report
  • Trustee Kelm presented the PSBAA Report

Upcoming Events

  • Spring Break: March 28 - April 1
  • RCASB Meeting: Thursday, March 31
  • General School Councils' Meeting: Wednesday, April 6
  • PSBC Meeting: April 7 & 8
  • Committee of the Whole Day: Thursday, April 14
  • Good Friday, no school, all PWPSD offices and shops closed: Friday, April 15 
  • Easter Monday, no school, all PWPSD offices and shops closed: Monday, April 18
  • Alberta School Councils Conference & AGM: April 22 - 24 
  • Next Board Meeting: Thursday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m.
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PWPSD BOARD NEWS
A report on news from Peace Wapiti Public School Division,
published following each Board Meeting.

Content and Design:

Kayla Klava, Communications Officer, [email protected] 
Peace Wapiti Public School Division,
Central Office, 8611A-108 Street, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4C5  

For more good news, see the News & Announcements section on our website at www.pwpsd.ca