Prairie Rose Public Schools News Archive

<p>The February 13, 2024, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at 12:45 p.m. The meeting is only available in-person.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mEKoxSYAFibSXZFwclmZusTVqRzMG0y6/view?usp=drive_link">February 13, 2024 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p>

<p>On February 1st, registration for Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten (JK) students opened at Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS). Upon completion of the 2024-2025 Student Registration Form, parents will be asked to sign up for an Early Readiness Checkup. These check-ups are for all children between three and five years old who will be attending school or preschool for the first time this coming September. Parents can check to see if their child qualifies by using the new Student Age Calculator on the PRPS website (<a href="https://www.myprps.com/student-registration-guide">www.myprps.com/student-registration-guide</a>).&nbsp;</p><p>The Early Readiness Check-Up takes about 30 minutes and allows parents or guardians to meet with a speech pathologist and early learning facilitator. “It is quite informal with lots of conversation. The child will play and interact while parents share what development has been like thus far,” explained Director of Student Experiences Lisa Lindsay. “We are looking to flag students who need early supports, so that we can get them into programming and offer speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, deaf/hard of hearing, and vision services.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This is a new, proactive approach for PRPS because it can take months to identify any needs once a student starts school. Flagging students in the Spring will help to develop programming for September, allowing supports to be put in place as soon as the children begin school.&nbsp;</p><p>JK is a pay for service program and is available to all children who will be 3 years old by December 31, 2023. However, if the child is flagged for early intervention services, Program Unit Funding (PUF) is available. This is another benefit of the Early Readiness Checkups as they allow PRPS and each school to know how many children are eligible for PUF before the school year begins.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>If a parent cannot make the scheduled day for the checkup at the school their child will attend, an evening event at the division office is being held on March 27, 2023. Alternatively, the parent(s) and child can attend a checkup session at another school.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>For those who have registered their child without completing the sign-up form for a checkup, school&nbsp;administrative assistants&nbsp;will be reaching out. The checkups are fun and meant to be enjoyable. The format will be play-based with snacks and juice boxes available, along with Playdough and takeaway bags for the kids. PRPS wants the checkup to be a positive experience for the child and parent(s).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“The advantages (of registering a child in Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten) are early exposure to peer social interactions and early exposure to communication,” stated Lindsay. “We want to focus on those early language skills because they are a precursor to literacy. We’ve notice since COVID there has been an uptick in children who have been identified with expressive and receptive language delays and it might have something to do with the fact these little ones weren’t exposed to society during COVID.”&nbsp;</p><p>Receptive language skills are the ability to understand what another person is saying. Expressive language skills are the ability to tell another person your thoughts and feelings. Not just within PRPS, but across the province, school divisions are seeing an increase in the needs of early learners.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“The hope would be that just being in a setting that is led by an adult outside of the family, along with peers, that we can get those language skills and early literacy skills strong so when they get into Grade 1, they have a level playing field,” continued Lindsay.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Due to PRPS being a rural school district that is geographically diverse, schedules for Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten are different for each school. In some schools, Kindergarten is full days twice a week and in others it is three half days. A few schools also have the Learn and Explore program for children, which is a pay for service program that is more like playschool but with academics integrated.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>For more information about Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten or early learning supports at PRPS schools, visit <a href="https://www.myprps.com/jk-and-kindergarten-prps.">https://www.myprps.com/jk-and-kindergarten-prps.</a> There are links available to frequently asked questions as well as to schedules at each of the schools for the 2024-25 school year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Book a Check-Up Appointment: <a href="https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/7m3kr">https://schoolinterviews.ca/code/7m3kr</a>&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer</p>

<p>A committee was formed in Spring of 2022 to explore a new brand for Prairie Rose Public Schools. A variety of staff were involved with the committee, including administrators, teachers, support staff, members of the executive team, and a trustee. The goal was to create a new and timeless logo&nbsp;that represented the vision of PRPS.</p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools was created in the mid-1990's following the amalgamation of four separate school districts. The first brand consisted of some books and an apple, which was changed to the rose brand in the early 2000’s. During the last academic year, each of the schools either rebranded or updated their brands, with Eagle Butte being the final school to complete the process. As PRPS is a continually evolving school division and both the font and brand were outdated, it was decided to create a new one for the division in Spring 2022.&nbsp;</p><p>Board Vice-Chair Patty Rooks stepped up to be the voice of the trustees as the Board of Trustees felt they also needed a fresh look to integrate with what the division was doing.</p><p>“The brand committee was great; everybody is so passionate about their school and where they are geographically. It was important to everyone that we as a school division represent our geographic diversity yet uniqueness and bring that together,” said Rooks. “I enjoyed working and hearing so many different opinions with others bringing things to the table I’d never thought of. That passion people brought, it was exciting to see, and everyone had their unique perspective. Bringing it together as one to be cohesive I felt was a wonderful experience.”&nbsp;</p><p>PRPS worked with Flag Five and the committee completed a brand strategy questionnaire, which the designer used to create several brand options. THe committee wanted a brand that was youthful, innovative, creative, forward thinking and collaborative. Additionally, highlighting the inclusivity and diversity of the student experience within the division. &nbsp;</p><p>“The committee felt strongly that PRPS is large geographically with the landscape up north being very different than down south. It was important to see parts of all the district in the brand,” stated Director of Communications Angela Baron. "We wanted to make sure we stood out based on what we are doing for kids and being innovative in programming. We felt it was important to have the idea of forward momentum, forward thinking, innovation, always moving ahead and not being stalled along with remaining youthful in those programming decisions.”&nbsp;</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><i>The new PRPS logo is broken into half circles and placed into a scenic landscape to showcase how the colours and design was chosen for the new brand.</i></td><td><img class="image_resized" style="width:97.22%;" src="/images/de4d6767-f8f1-43b2-bf0f-090e5f305589?fingerprint=ppb20251217025244" alt="PRPS Brand Example NEWS story"></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The new brand is neither traditional nor dated with the new design representing a pinwheel to create a sense of forward momentum and moving ahead. The committee was cognizant of not having too many colours in the new logo and there were numerous discussions on what colours to use. &nbsp;</p><p>Maintaining nostalgia for the old brand was also important and this is carried forward into the new one. Looking at the colours, pink represents the rose of the old brand. If the pink colour is made into a full circle and the green is moved over, it incorporates the old rose logo into the new brand. While the green is also part of the rose, it also represents the green petals of the old flower and new life that sprouts in the spring. Yellow represents crops and the abundance of sunshine and the fall crops. Blue is for the sky and the two rivers - South Saskatchewan River and Red Deer River - that flow through the school district. &nbsp;</p><p>“Education is no longer just done sitting in a classroom,” commented Baron, “it’s done going out and having those hands-on learning experiences, which we do a lot of in Prairie Rose and our rural environment makes that possible.”&nbsp;</p><p>Rolling out a new brand is a process that will take time. Internally, the process is already complete and the new logo can be seen each time a staff member or student turns on a division computer. The logo is now available for all staff to use and anything new coming out has the new brand and colouring on it, including promotional items. &nbsp;</p><p>“For me, the most important thing is for people to see where they fit in the brand and why it is what it is,” concluded Baron who added the rollout for the new brand should be completed by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. &nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

<p>The DR South Alberta Flight Academy is holding an open house on <strong>Wednesday, February 7th from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.</strong> The open house will be at Super T Aviation located at 24 Les Little Way SE in Medicine Hat. Current students have nothing but great things to say about their experience at the Flight Academy and the opportunities it has provided that aren’t available in other school divisions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Karter Kurpjuweit is in the first year at the Flight Academy and is working towards earning his private pilot’s license and drone license. “Last year I heard about the program and I want to be able to fly, maybe even commercially, so I wanted to go in this academy.” At the start of his second semester, he is feeling good about his decision and feels the abundant opportunities available and new learnings have been incredible.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Grade 11 student Cipher Brooks-Kirsch is also working towards her private and commercial pilot’s license. There has been a delay for her to start flying due to medical issues, but Brooks-Kirsch will complete the taking off and landing courses in the near future. “It’s been my dream since Grade 6 when I first learned about aerodynamics in science. When I am in the air, I feel free and happy.” As she is enrolled in Flight Strategies, which allows students to fly during school hours, Brooks-Kirsch is confident she will be able to catch up on her flight hours without falling behind academically. Originally, she was going to attend McCoy High but switched to Eagle Butte to attend the Flight Academy.</p><p>Grade 11 student Reid Vossler took his first solo flight a few months ago. “It’s a really weird experience not having your instructor beside you watching your airspeed and altitude. It’s a nice experience, kind of like driving for the first time after you get your license. It’s really weird but at the same time it’s really fun as well.”&nbsp;</p><p>Maya Moore is in Grade 12 this year and didn’t know going into the program if she would want to pursue it as a career. “I might get my night reading because it would be so beautiful to fly at night, but I think honestly it will be a cool hobby to be able to fly. It’s been a great experience with the Academy,” said Moore. Following graduation in June, she plans to take a gap year to travel to Thailand as well as building up more flying hours. “I don’t want to go somewhere over my gap year that is a regular, family vacation destination. I want to go somewhere that will be interesting to see while I’m younger,” explained Moore. When she returns, she plans to apply to the nursing program at Medicine Hat College.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Grade 11 student Cole Edmonstone is hoping to become a commercial pilot and fly for WestJet and began looking at this as a career a couple of years ago after hearing about the Flight Academy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Kathryne Fairbrother is in her second year and completed her first solo flight last year in September and enjoys being in the air on her own. “I’m working towards getting my private (license) before I graduate and hopefully my commercial after that,” stated Fairbrother who has wanted to be a pilot since she was very young. “I love looking up at planes and I’ve never travelled in a plane, except for here (at the Flight Academy) so I think it would be eventful to be up there and flying.”&nbsp;</p><p>Fairbrother was cleared for her first solo by Logan Neubauer, the first graduate from the Flight Academy to receive his wings and, among other things, now an instructor with the Flight Academy. Neubauer recently had the honour of taking Premier Danielle Smith up in the air during her visit to the Flight Academy.&nbsp;</p><p>“It’s not every day your son gets to fly the Premier at 20-years-old,” said Nichole Neubauer, mother of Logan as well as the Coordinator of the Agricultural Discovery Centre at Irvine School. “What a testament to this program, the opportunities seem to be incalculable.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Logan started at the Flight Academy in 2019 and managed through the struggles of the pandemic to complete his training. Logan’s had an interest in airplanes since he was 4 years old after attending an airshow and has persisted in pursuing his passion&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“People think that really cool things should just happen overnight, it should just be easy. It comes with lots of years of practice, and this is year five of Logan’s aviation career. It was such a proud moment when he walked across the stage at his graduation ceremony and they pinned his wings on. He took his commercial license the next year out of high school and went to Saskatoon to get his instructor rating. Now he’s working hard to build hours and get some more ratings to move to the next level,” explained Nichole Neubauer.&nbsp;</p><p>Logan’s story has come full circle with him now instructing some of the Flight Academy students. “It’s easy for him to relate to what they are going through and some of the challenges they face. Becoming a pilot isn’t easy, it’s so technical and there is so much information,” said Nichole. Logan has the unique ability to be able to relate to what it means to be a fulltime student while also participating in extracurricular activities in addition to being part of the Flight Academy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“He makes it real,” continued Nichole, “and shows it’s possible with hard work and doing what you are told, and because they are set up for success in this program, students can achieve great things. Some of the students who graduated last year are going on to get their commercial licenses and it’s such a fantastic opportunity for the flight industry in general to get these kids excited about flying.”&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was an exciting day at the DR South Alberta Flight Academy, where all students in the program gathered for a visit from Premier Danielle Smith. Aside from the Premier there were other dignitaries at the event, including MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat Justin Wright, Mayor of Medicine Hat Linnsie Clark, the Super T and Little families, CEO of HALO Paul Carolan, Medicine Hat College President Kevin Shufflebotham and Vice President/Provost Dr. Nancy Brown, along with teachers and staff from Prairie Rose Public Schools who have played a critical role in creating and running the Flight Academy. &nbsp;</p><p>“South Alberta Collegiate is a forward-thinking educational institution that embraces a micro-school concept, emphasizing personalized, specialized learning experiences tailored to individual students’ needs. The Collegiate’s unique approach integrates micro-schools, each designed to provide students with transformative learning experiences while aligning with the current priorities of the Alberta Government,” Superintendent Dr. Reagan Weeks told those assembled following the arrival of Premier Smith. &nbsp;</p><p>The micro-school concept supports connection, well-being, and future job prospects so graduates will become a vital part of the workforce with the program bridging the gap between academic learning and practical skills. &nbsp;</p><p>“Super T is proud and privileged to be part of the unique in Canada program, which is a collaboration between private enterprise and a public-school division,” said Terri Super, owner of Super T Aviation. “Students in this program, whether they are learning to fly an airplane or learning to build an airplane, are gaining confidence and abilities through these activities that other high school students can only dream of.”</p><p>Following lunch, Premier Smith said a few words to those assembled. “I didn’t expect this reception, I thought I was coming just to do a little tour and its sort of amazing how many kids are in this program. I have to tell you, I talk about you all over this province.”</p><p>Premier Smith believes the innovation and culture within PRPS serve as a model for other schools throughout Alberta. During lunch, she had the opportunity to talk to each of the Flight Academy students sitting at her table, which helped give her a sense of the growth of the program since it began. &nbsp;</p><p>“19 students in Grade 10 this year, which is amazing, and I hope this keeps on growing, I don’t know what the capacity is, but it’s pretty remarkable,” stated Premier Smith. She believes each of the students in the program are well-placed to have amazing careers and was intrigued by the different paths those sitting at her table were planning on taking after graduating. Students told the Premier about their plans of becoming a commercial pilot, to fly up north, join medevac, or use their pilot’s licence for recreational use or because it would be useful for running a farm. &nbsp;</p><p>Grade 11 student Reid Vossler was lucky enough to be one of the students sitting at the Premier’s table during lunch as well as being part of the group who gave the tour. “Lunch was great,” said Vossler, “it was awesome to meet the Premier and hear her stance on aviation this afternoon. She told us how she was really interested in this program and how she’d like to see if in different schools across the province.”</p><p>Grade 12 student Maya Moore also accompanied the Premier on the tour. “We didn’t get to talk to her a ton, she was mainly seeing the facilities Super T has. I was explaining how our build goes on Friday and how it works.” While Moore felt nervous while talking to Premier Smith, she didn’t let it show and managed to speak clearly about student experience of building a plane from the ground up. &nbsp;</p><p>AT the flight simulator Doug Little allowed the Premier to take the pilot’s seat, although she was only able to have a few minutes as pilot due to a shortage of time. Out in front of the hangar, pilot Logan Neubauer had a plane ready and waiting for the Premier to climb into the passenger seat. &nbsp;</p><p>Neubauer and Superintendent Weeks had planned the flight path out beforehand such that it encompassed the experience of flying along with viewing some of the agricultural projects within PRPS. “We ventured out to look at the Agricultural Discover Centre in Irvine as well as discussing our hopes of creating an Ag Innovation Centre,” explained Neubauer. &nbsp;</p><p>Following the flight, Premier Smith shook Neubauer’s hand and thanked him for the flight, telling him he was a good instructor. “We went through it like I would approach any other student, introducing some of the controls and aspects of flying,” said Neubauer. “I gave her the opportunity to do some of her own flying, which she was all over and did very well. I supervised just like I would any other student and it was a surreal experience. I am honoured and humbled to have been a part of it.”&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer</p>

<h3><strong>Trades education for regional high schools</strong></h3><p>A new educational opportunity for regional high school students is on the horizon, thanks to a collaborative partnership between Medicine Hat College (MHC) and Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS).</p><p>Starting in Fall 2024, Prairie Rose and MHC will launch the Southeast Alberta School of Trades. This initiative will expose students to seven trades disciplines in Grade 10, then narrow their focus on two trades the following year. The final year of high school would involve pre-employment or first year apprenticeship programming.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>&nbsp;“The partnership between Prairie Rose and Medicine Hat College has allowed us to expose our students to in-demand career training while in high school,” says Assistant Superintendent Boyd Craven. “We’ve seen this with the Health Care Aide Program, where there is a significant need in rural communities. We know this is the same for trades positions and we are excited to offer this option to grade 10 students across the school division.”&nbsp;</p></blockquote><p>The program is open to students from rural high schools in Bow Island, Dunmore, Foremost and Oyen who will attend classes onsite at MHC for a full day every two weeks to access labs, equipment and instruction.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>“I am thrilled about this new opportunity with Prairie Rose Public Schools, which demonstrates a significant stride towards enriching trades education in our communities. This collaboration is more than just an educational alliance; it's a commitment to opening doors for our youth, right from the K-12 system, into the world of skilled trades,” says Chad Flinn, dean of trades and technology at MHC.&nbsp;</p></blockquote><p>The concept received a high level of support from across the region and will help shed light on the potential within trades professions, adds Flinn.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>“This partnership aims to provide young minds with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to pursue a fulfilling career in trades, contributing to both their personal growth and the development of our economy. Together, we are setting a new standard for trades education in Canada, ensuring our students are not just ready for the workforce, but are trailblazers in their chosen fields.”</p></blockquote><p>A South Alberta School of Trades information night will be held at MHC on February 13, 2024, from 5 – 7 p.m. for PRPS teachers, students and parents/guardians to explore trades programming and facilities.</p><p>Read more about the program: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/18z1pXkBO-e5l5BZXOx9GNuoLkInUK4Jb/view?usp=drive_link">South Alberta School of Trades</a></p>

<p>The January 9, 2024, Board Meeting Agenda Package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xfSaApkqnkNaP3j0aLaCWSiHJuYC2mnE/view?usp=drive_link">January 9, 2024, Board Meeting Agenda</a></p><p><strong>Schuler School Presentation</strong><br>The principal of Schuler School, Lyle Kennedy, provided an update on the school's learning goals, emphasizing educational programming and promoting a strong sense of community. Feedback from school stakeholders highlighted the importance of parent engagement, diverse student opportunities, student voice, and the staff's dedication to making a difference. One of the school's primary education goals is to enhance literacy skills through methods like the science of reading, UFLI, and a vibrant library run by the school's administrative assistant and librarian, Janice Herman. Efforts to promote a positive culture include regular interactions with stakeholders that focus on being "for our community, with our community, as our community." It was also noted that the small school has expanded its sports offerings to include volleyball, basketball, curling, mini basketball, badminton, archery, and track and field options. Additionally, it was shared that the school was recently successful in securing a wellness grant for $10,000, which could go towards funding a greenhouse, outdoor fitness equipment, guest speakers, or even hosting community wellness events. The full presentation can be found in the January 9th Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p>Story about Schuler School by the Medicine Hat News:&nbsp;<a href="https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2024/01/11/schuler-schools-new-principal-has-been-building-off-past-successes/">https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2024/01/11/schuler-schools-new-principal-has-been-building-off-past-successes/</a></p><p><strong>Executive Report</strong><br>In the monthly executive report, Superintendent Reagan Weeks shared that the school division was announcing two exciting new sports programs for both baseball and softball. The new Mavericks School of Baseball will begin this spring and will be offered to students in grades 4-9 who attend Irvine School, Schuler School and Senator Gershaw School. The new South Alberta School of Softball will kick off at Seven Persons School this spring and be offered to female students in grades 4-9. It was also shared that two new drone offerings are being developed for students. One is a semester-long course offered in partnership with the Medicine Hat College. The other is a joint initiative with Cypress County, a two-day drone course centred around agriculture and livestock in Seven Persons on March 12th and 13th.</p><p>Mavericks School of Baseball:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.myprps.com/news/the-mavericks-and-prairie-rose-partner-to-launch-new-school-of-baseball-this-spring-1704825660121">https://www.myprps.com/news/the-mavericks-and-prairie-rose-partner-to-launch-new-school-of-baseball-this-spring-1704825660121</a></p><p>South Alberta School of Softball:&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWI4f0bnqEM2iOt1-OUx9cnOuKUT9mfN/view?usp=drive_link">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWI4f0bnqEM2iOt1-OUx9cnOuKUT9mfN/view?usp=drive_link</a></p><p>Story on Drone Courses by the Medicine Hat News:&nbsp;<a href="https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2024/01/11/prps-revamps-its-drone-program/">https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2024/01/11/prps-revamps-its-drone-program/</a><br>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Building Operations and Maintenance Report</strong><br>Director of Building Operations and Maintenance Darrell Drefs provided his annual report to the board for information. One of the biggest challenges continues to be the Operations and Maintenance budget, which ran a deficit for the 2022-2023 year ($150,000). Drefs contributes the deficit to several factors including increased utility costs for power and water, additional mechanical costs added in schools compared to previous years, which cost more to run, reduced federal subsidies for summer students (grounds crews), higher insurance costs, and vehicle and fuel costs. Some of the listed priorities for the current year include updating the mechanical rooms at Oyen Public School, replacing the gym roof at Foremost School, upgrading the Senator Gershaw treatment room, and refinishing the SGS gym floor. The other notable project is the Parkside School Modernization, which is currently in the design stage. The division hopes to complete design plans by the fall of 2024, with construction beginning in the spring of 2025. The complete Building Operations and Maintenance Report can be found in the January 9th Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Wellness Report</strong><br>Tammy Toews and Greg Godard presented the Wellness Report for information. Toews gave an overview of employee wellness strategies for the year, including the development of new policies (disconnecting after work hours, workplace diversity, discrimination and harassment training) and the division-wide PD day held last fall with a primary focus on the dimensions of wellness. The division also has a wellness BINGO in January, February and March to promote self-wellness for employees. On the student side, School Psychologist Greg Godard provided an overview of the Student Support team, which consists of Family School Liaison Workers (7), a mental performance professional, behaviour intervention specialists (2), himself (school psychologist) and three service dogs (Timber, Luka, Iain). It was shared that the four most commonly referred cases to the FSLW team are related to anxiety, emotion regulation, and family and peer relationships, which is similar to what the team saw last year. It was also shared that overwhelming pressure on junior and senior high students, sleep problems, use of inappropriate language, social drama, and cyber and in-person bullying are the most common trends school mental health counsellors are seeing in today's youth. The complete Wellness Report can be found in the January 9th Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Other items:</strong></p><ul><li>The board approved proposed updates to policies GP#3 Chairperson's Role, GP#7 Regular Board Meetings, GP#8 Board Organizational Meeting, and GP#9 Executive Sessions (In-Camera) as presented.</li></ul>

<p>Prairie Rose students will be stepping up to the plate this spring as Prairie Rose Public Schools in collaboration with The Mavericks baseball organization (WCBL) is partnering to launch the Maverick School of Baseball. This innovative sports program is specifically designed for students in grades 4-9 and will be available at several schools in Prairie Rose Public Schools.</p><p>The Maverick School of Baseball integrates enhanced baseball training into the regular school curriculum outside of regular physical education instruction. Students will benefit from additional programming during their school day, focusing on developing and honing their baseball skills under the guidance of skilled professionals.</p><p>Key to the program's success is the direct involvement of experienced Mavericks coaches. Leading the Mavericks School of Baseball coaching team is head coach and program director Greg Morrison, a former professional player with a distinguished 12-season career which includes time with the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays organizations. Morrison's career highlights include achieving over 1,000 hits and 100 home runs.</p><blockquote><p>“We know the importance of giving younger kids the skills to throw, catch, and hit a baseball,” says Greg Morrison. “Not only will you see those dividends in sport and athletic development for the students who choose to continue to play baseball in high school and college, but also in promoting a healthy lifestyle which carries with them for the rest of their lives.”&nbsp;</p></blockquote><p>Joining him is Chad Martin, a seasoned professional with a rich background in baseball. Martin has a history of playing US College baseball, has served as a high school baseball head coach at Eagle Butte High School and Crescent Heights High School for 25 years, and is currently the assistant coach with the Mavericks since 2009 and a teacher at Senator Gershaw School.</p><p>The Maverick School of Baseball will launch this spring (2024) and will be available to Prairie Rose students at Irvine School, Schuler School, and Senator Gershaw School.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>“The addition of the Mavericks School of Baseball to the PRPS program offerings represents a unique opportunity for young athletes to grow under the guidance of accomplished professionals,” says South Alberta High School principal Darren MacMillan. “In Prairie Rose we are always trying to find engaging learning experiences for students based on their passions. We heard from many students and parents that would like to see a program based around building baseball skills. Thanks to our partners at the Mavericks, we have been able to make that happen.”</p></blockquote><p>Details about the program are still being finalized and will be shared as soon as they are available. An information night will be held on January 16, 2024, at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office at 6:00 p.m. All interested families are invited to attend.</p><p>Watch the story on CHAT TV: <a href="https://chatnewstoday.ca/2024/01/09/school-of-baseball-partnership-between-prairie-rose-school-division-and-medicine-hat-mavericks-announced/?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">https://chatnewstoday.ca/2024/01/09/school-of-baseball-partnership-between-prairie-rose-school-division-and-medicine-hat-mavericks-announced/?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter</a></p><p>Medicine Hat News story 1: <a href="https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2024/01/10/prairie-rose-sd-partnering-with-mavericks-for-baseball-school/">https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2024/01/10/prairie-rose-sd-partnering-with-mavericks-for-baseball-school/</a></p><p>Medicine Hat News story 2: <a href="https://medicinehatnews.com/sports/local-sports/2024/01/10/morrison-mavs-open-baseball-school/">https://medicinehatnews.com/sports/local-sports/2024/01/10/morrison-mavs-open-baseball-school/</a></p><p>Learn more about the Mavericks School of Baseball ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️</p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZB6c-aOqcSH5aduCRrQaQ6MKQQSqJSe8/view?usp=drive_link"><img src="/images/8c60f5bc-3ee4-46c6-a315-69832877d0b8?fingerprint=ppb20251217023850" alt="MSB News Graphic"></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The January 9, 2024, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at 12:45 p.m. The meeting is only available in-person.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xfSaApkqnkNaP3j0aLaCWSiHJuYC2mnE/view?usp=drive_link">January 9, 2024 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON DECEMBER 6, 2023.</i></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools has received a clean financial audit, with statements presented to the board on Nov. 28.</p><p>Board chair Lois Bedwell was on the audit committee and stated she learned a lot during pre- and post-audit meetings. Accounting firm MNP LLP gave PRPS a clean audit and was impressed with the work done by the financial team. Controller Candice Hintz touched on three of the main schedules in her presentation.</p><p>Last year, PRPS received new and initial funding, but only for a few months, and this year it is available for the full 10 months of operations. Badlands Baseball Academy has been incorporated into PRPS operations this year and the division was approved for collegiate funding for the South Alberta Flight Academy.</p><p>New this year is the assets retirement obligation (ARO), estimated at a $4.6 million cost to deal with any asset retirement obligation, such as asbestos and septic tanks, at the end of useful life. Most assets are in the schools, which Alberta Education will likely fund when the time comes, but since it’s not confirmed, PRPS must record this cost as a liability. With the ARO, it makes the total liabilities higher than total assets, resulting in a net debt amount due to that change in accounting policies.</p><p>Actual revenue was $1,549,994 higher than budget due to increased funding from Alberta Education, increase in fees, increase in interest income, additional donations and ASBIE (Alberta School Boards’ Insurance Exchange) equity return.</p><p>Actual expenses were $1,360,545 over budget, which was due to increased support for programming, additional professional development, increased utility costs and expenses incurred due to increased funding.</p><p>CFO Ryan Boser asked the board to approve a motion, which was carried, prior to approving the audited financial statements.</p><p>“In order to fund the deficit this year and get our reserves down below the maximum, which we successfully did, it does require a reserve transfer to move $1,003,458 from restricted operating reserves to unrestricted operating reserves. Essentially what that means is we are moving just over $1 million from our restricted reserves into operations to fund that deficit, and that was part of our plan all along.”</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON DECEMBER 5, 2023.</i></p><p>For K-3 students at I.F. Cox School in Redcliff, there is a new Prairie Rose Possibilities project available called TNT, or Try New Things.</p><p>Parents wanted to see broader programs in the school and this project offers opportunities for students to take part in different areas of interest. Another benefit is children engage with different teachers as well as students from other grades while participating in their chosen courses.</p><p>The project aligns with kindling hearts by bringing a sense of well-being to both students and staff. It allows staff to offer courses in subjects they are passionate about and gives students a choice of what topics they want to engage in. It also provides an opportunity to bring parents and stakeholders back into the school post-pandemic. It ignites minds by providing high yield strategies, co-operative learning, executive functioning skills and non-linguistic representation.</p><p>Additionally, by cultivating wonder, strengthening partnerships with stakeholders and offering prospects for deeper learning, the program is forging futures.</p><p>The program started with teaching staff offering courses and has grown to include support staff and a divisional lead. First-year education students from Medicine Hat College, a retired teacher who is a watercolour artist, the Mavericks baseball team, along with men’s and women’s sports teams from the college have all come into the school.</p><p>There were 92 parent responses from a survey and 100% were positive, with comments focused on how much they were looking forward to sessions restarting again this year.</p><p>Trustee Patty Rooks stated the program was a great way to create a sense of community, and while she is aware it creates extra work for the teachers, it is appreciated.</p><p>The school is having a Christmas fair and fun night and many groups have been working on products to sell, such as baked items, ornaments and watercolour paintings. The fair will take place Dec. 6 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the school is in the process of choosing a charity to donate all proceeds to.</p>

<p>The November 28, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda Package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IXInzuN7EFDeKlyOezLkvCr58mlAWksf/view?usp=drive_link">November 28, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p><p><strong>PAT and Diploma Results</strong></p><p>Assistant Superintendent Boyd Craven presented the 2023-2024 Prairie Rose results from the PAT (provincial assessment testing grades 6 and 9) and Diploma (grade 12) exams for information. It was noted that Prairie Rose students did very well in most areas compared to the provincial results.&nbsp;</p><p>Some highlights of the report include:</p><ul><li>The divisional PAT results were higher at the acceptable level than the province in every subject.</li><li>Overall, the diploma acceptable standard increased from 71% to 77%.</li><li>There was an overall increase in the diploma standard of excellence from 10.9% to 11.8%.</li></ul><p>The full report can be found in the November 28, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>IF Cox Presentation</strong></p><p>IF Cox School Vice-Principal Tracy Frank provided an overview of the school’s Prairie Rose Possibility program called TNT or Try New Things. The program runs in six-week cycles, with each student getting to choose two options during that time frame. Some options available to students have included sign language, coding, pickleball, virtual reality, running, pinata making, magic tricks, field trips and more. The options are chosen based on staff interest and their passion for sharing with the students. Outside community members are also brought in to offer additional subject options. The program was developed to offer opportunities for younger students to engage in areas of passion and interest, much like they do at the junior high level. It was also shared that TNT classes are not grade-specific, but students from K-3 all participate together in their chosen subject areas. This has helped transition students between grades and the Redcliff schools as they get to know students outside their direct peer groups. The full presentation can be found in the Board Meeting Agenda package for November 28, 2023.</p><p><strong>Cypress County Ag Conference</strong></p><p>Trustee Graeme Dennis commended Cypress County on successfully hosting the Ag Connections Conference on November 22, 2023. Community partner Nichole Neubauer and the Irvine School ADC students were also congratulated for their presentation at the conference. It was noted that a lot of great work is happening in agriculture, which has been intertwined with learning in PRPS.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>PRPS Executive Report</strong></p><p>Superintendent Reagan Weeks shared the executive report with the board, highlighting several exciting and upcoming initiatives across Prairie Rose Public Schools.&nbsp;</p><p>Some of the highlights include:</p><ul><li>Recent Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence winner and Ralston School teacher Jocelyn Encinas will spearhead a new Prairie Rose Possibility program focused on robotics at Ralston School.</li><li>PRPS Instructional Coach Cammie Kannekens was invited to attend the Google for Educators conference in Ireland to represent PRPS at Google headquarters</li><li>PRPS will launch an expanded drone program with new partnerships for training specific to the agriculture industry. The training will take place at the airfield in Foremost.</li><li>The DR South Alberta Flight Academy is touring CFB Cold Lake to learn more about the Canadian military aviation program.</li></ul><p><strong>Audited Financial Statement</strong></p><p>Board Chair Lois Bedwell provided highlights from the MNP audit report. Overall, PRPS was given a clean audit from MNP. The full report can be found in the November 28, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p>Total revenues for the 2022-2023 school year amounted to $55,697,369.</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>K-12 Instruction</td><td>$39,151,322</td></tr><tr><td>Plant Operations and Maintenance</td><td>$6,035,008</td></tr><tr><td>Transportation</td><td>$6,234,628</td></tr><tr><td>System Administration</td><td>$2,220,085</td></tr><tr><td>External Services</td><td>$28,084&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Total expenses for the year totalled $56,416,818.</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>K-12 Instruction</td><td>$39,039,516</td></tr><tr><td>Plant Operations and Maintenance</td><td>$7,294,079</td></tr><tr><td>Transportation</td><td>$5,905,299</td></tr><tr><td>System Administration</td><td>$2,106,651</td></tr><tr><td>External Services</td><td>$33,926</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The total operating deficit for the 2022-2023 year came in at $719,449, a planned deficit amount to get division reserves under the allowable 4.42% of August 31, 2022 expenses ($2,374,703). Operating reserves now sit at $2,228,252. Trustees approved a motion to move 1,358,000 from restricted to unrestricted to cover the deficit. The 2022-2023 financial statements were approved as presented.</p>

<p>The November 28, 2023, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is only available in-person.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IXInzuN7EFDeKlyOezLkvCr58mlAWksf/view?usp=drive_link">November 28, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 23, 2023.</i></p><p>The cosmetology 20/30 class at Eagle Butte High School will be holding a Cuts for Cancer fundraiser on Dec. 1. Teacher Ingrid Rose explained the fundraiser hasn’t been done at the school for a few years, but they are excited to bring it back.</p><p>The students are nervous yet excited about the prospect of working on people rather than mannequins.</p><p>“They just finished learning hair cutting and layering and they will wash and cut. I’ve already talked to the Canadian Cancer Society and all the proceeds will go there and there might be one person who pays $5 and another who pays $100. Last time I had it, we had our superintendent and he had no hair here (on top) but he put in a hundred bucks, it’s just a donation and it’s good for us to help the community,” said Rose.</p><p>Grade 12 student Ryeanna Jones said, “I like it because I have a lot of people I’ve lost to cancer in my family so I think this is a very good fundraiser. This brings light to the struggle with it (cancer) because it’s such a worldwide thing and a lot of people deal with it.”</p><p>Lana Giles, also in Grade 12, added, “I think cancer touches everyone … who knows at least one person close to them that has been affected by it, so I think it’s important to recognize it even at a high school level, it’s a conversation we need to have.”</p><p>Cuts for Cancer is on Dec. 1 from 10-11: 30 a.m., and those who wish to participate are asked to book in for their cut beforehand by calling the school at 403-528-1996.</p><p>“I’m really excited and nervous at the same time. I really like being in this class,” said Grade 11 student Hope Burkitt, who is in her second year of cosmetology.</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 4, 2023.</i></p><p>As part of the Careers Technology Foundations options, Irvine School is now offering all junior high students Life Skills with Certifications. Courses will become available at different times of the school year with a combined babysitting/emergency first-aid and a firearms/hunter education safety courses underway.</p><p>Principal Trent Rayner has wanted to run certification courses for a few years and mentioned the idea to teacher Linda Kraft, who ran with it.</p><p>“We’ve been valuing and getting more and more community partnerships, so another partnership developed between us and Safety Buzz through Linda setting that up,” Rayner said. “We are working with them to make sure most of our junior high students will leave this year being certified in something they can either use practically, for their portfolio or on their resume – anything to help them get a job and help them in real life.”</p><p>The first-aid/babysitting course is full and has a waiting list. Rayner wasn’t sure about it, as the course, while valuable, can be dry, but is pleased with the response. It speaks to how the students are responsible enough to see the value in the course along with knowing how it will set them apart from other junior high students when it comes to getting their first job.</p><p>“The amazing thing is these kids are picking certifications right now when they could be taking other courses, such as active living or low-organized games. That is what has surprised me so far about this,” said Rayner.</p><p>Kraft is excited LSC has taken off so well, with double-digit numbers enrolled in both courses currently offered.</p><p>“I put it out to the kids so anything they are interested in and anything parents see might be a benefit, we are happy to take a look at it,” stated Kraft. “There are so many times when kids or parents say, ‘Too bad you didn’t learn that in school.’ We are offering these real-life skills courses, especially the emergency first-aid, that every single individual can use and could potentially be required for their part-time jobs moving forward.</p><p>“In my health class it ties in nicely because we do portfolios and resume, career/job type stuff, so this is something to help fill their resume.”</p><p>Grade 9 students Odin Jordet, Ethan Bowey and Parker Bellamy all enrolled in the babysitting/first-aid LSC. All three play a variety of sports and enjoy being active, and they are all taking the course with the goal of a well-paid lifeguard job. First-aid is required before they can complete their Bronze Cross in swimming, a prerequisite for the lifeguarding certificate.</p><p>“It’s a good course to have,” stated Jordet. “It will look good on a resume. It’s cheaper (to take) in school and then I don’t have to use my personal time that I like to spend doing sports.”</p><p>Bowey also said it will look good on his resume for future jobs.</p><p>“You need to get your first-aid before you can go do your Bronze Cross, they made that mandatory this year. I’m going to see how far this gets me because it says you need your full first-aid, but I’m going to see if this course gives you a full one,” stated Bowey, who is also interested in the boating course that will be offered later in the year.</p><p>Bellamy talked about how useful first-aid is in a rural environment where an ambulance could be 90 minutes away or HALO needs to be called. He said all but two of the boys in the class have babysat before.</p><p>“I think it’s because most of us have younger siblings. There are people south of us who have little kids and if you get into a wreck with cattle or something, you gotta go babysit for a bit because it’s hard to pack a four- or five-year-old on a horse,” explained Bellamy.</p><p>Driver’s education, referee certification for volleyball and basketball, a boating and water safety course as well as financial literacy are being looked at as future courses. Further down the road, the school is looking into life-skills classes that might not have a certification but are no less useful.</p><p>“How many kids, including my own, know how to sew a button onto a shirt or change a tire? Things I know they should know. If my kids or these kids could come home with 12 different life skills, simple as that, that would help so much moving forward,” concluded Rayner.</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 2, 2023.</i></p><p>Cross-country at Eagle Butte High School is not considered an individual sport, rather coach Darryl Smith creates a team atmosphere to support students of all abilities and levels to be successful.</p><p>“When I talk about the program it’s the idea of having a set of guidelines and meeting the expectation of what came before us and moulding that for us and the legacy of those coming after us. If we don’t do that it falls apart,” explained Smith. “The kids hold themselves to a standard of being appropriate. There is an expectation of honour and respect. The kids here know my expectations and what the team needs.</p><p>“Excellence for us could mean how we act, it could mean how we run, or how we train. I talk about this a lot. Kids will meet your expectations and always step up, always. I don’t think we give them enough credit.”</p><p>Grade 12 student Brianna Finke joined cross-country this year to help her get in shape for other sports, primarily hockey, and because of the fun team culture. Training and competing in cross-country not only helped Finke attain a higher level of positivity, but also increased her stamina for when she is on the ice.</p><p>“Mr. Smith has helped me a lot. He’s taught me how to bring out the best in myself and my energy and put it onto other people, too,” stated Finke.</p><p>Finke wants to continue playing hockey at a post-secondary institution while pursuing a degree in education with the aim of becoming an elementary school teacher.</p><p>Quinn Olson, who has been on the team for three years, has experienced a shift from an observing role in her first year to taking on more responsibility in successive years.</p><p>“Moving up through the years, I took on more of a leadership role guiding the younger kids and then eventually Smith calls you a team captain and I was leading warmup and doing the cheer,” stated Olson.</p><p>In classes now, Olson is less likely to sit back and wait for others to make decisions, rather she takes greater initiative when working on projects while also taking more chances, which supplies greater opportunities.</p><p>Following graduation, Olson is interested in a career in real estate. During her first two years on the team, she qualified for provincials, but only ran in them last year due to the pandemic the year before.</p><p>“There are a hundred-some kids running and if you don’t position yourself at the front, you are pretty much packed in until it all levels out. For the first 1 km, I was stuck between seven to eight different girls and couldn’t get by,” Olson explained.</p><p>This is the second year on the team for Grade 11 student Ryker Weiss, who plays basketball and joined to get ahead on training and enable him to perform at his best when on the court.</p><p>Cross-country is about getting into the right head space.</p><p>“When you are running you feel like you want to give up but if you keep pushing yourself than you’ll realize how far you can actually go,” stated Weiss. “When I practise, I’m right beside Mr. Smith and he’s always pushing me to go further, so I always just think I’m running with someone and if I slow down then they will go in front of me, so I try to keep forward.”</p><p>Shop is his favourite subject and Weiss wants to go pursue a career in carpentry after he graduates. This year, Smith gave Weiss more of a leadership role and he had to pay attention to what everyone on the team was doing, which has helped increase his social awareness and communication skills.</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 28, 2023.</i></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools welcomed five Japanese students – Rena Katayama, Hikara Kawano, Kanon Miyake, Natsuka Nishida and Mao Yamanaka – into Eagle Butte classes this month. The students arrived in Canada in early October and have one more week left before flying back home next weekend.</p><p>The students attend Shoin Junior and Senior High School in Kobe, Japan, which was founded in 1892 to educate girls.</p><p>“In today’s globalized world, language skills, such as English, and cultural understanding are crucial,” head teacher Mr. Shinohara wrote in an email. “The study abroad program to Canada is part of the student’s Global program with an aim of deepening their understanding of global reality.”</p><p>The trip allows the students to practise their English skills and learn about different educational systems, which will help them prepare for their future.</p><p>“Japan is known for its homogenous society with Japanese as the primary language, which lags behind countries like Canada and the United States in terms of diversity,” added Shinohara. “Therefore, we aspire to provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in Canada’s diverse culture and truly experience the concept of diversity.”</p><p>Principal of Eagle Butte Rocheal Howes said Eagle Butte is excited to have the exchange students at the school.</p><p>“It’s so good for us to have students coming from other cultures and showing us their ways and their food and the way they write.”</p><p>Hikara Kawano liked taking classes, particularly information processing, at Eagle Butte. Two enjoyed music classes the most, another said foods was her favourite and Mao Yamanaka liked cosmetology, which isn’t available at her school in Japan.</p><p>“I feel freedom, especially at school,” stated Kawano. “School in Japan, there are lots of school rules, which is really strict for us. When I am in Eagle Butte, I feel really free so it’s lots of fun.”</p><p>Not having to wear a uniform and being able to wear accessories, such as earrings, were two aspects they liked. The young women weren’t as enthusiastic about the early spell of cold weather and snow, although one made a snowman with her homestay family. Poutine was hands down the favourite Canadian food for all of them.</p><p>Each one has done different activities with their respective host families. The two that stood out for Kawano were playing pickleball and taking a trip to Elkwater.</p><p>Katayama celebrated her sixteenth birthday while she was here and said the day was an unforgettable memory.</p><p>Nishida’s homestay family lives on a farm, which she has never experienced before, and she enjoyed spending time with the animals, including sheep, goats and a llama. The night they arrived it was clear and Nishida said the night sky with all the stars was memorable.</p><p>Yamanaka made T-shirts with her homestay family and she appreciated having a handmade keepsake to take back to Japan.</p><p>Miyake’s host family likes to hike and took her out to Elkwater where they walked one of the trails. She liked the nature and took lots of pictures.</p><p>“The lake waters are so clean,” said Miyake, “I was surprised, there are no plastics.”</p><p>On their return, each must write a report and give a presentation on their Canadian experience, including the differences from Japan and adding in some history of Canada.</p><p>Andrea Pillman is the international homestay coordinator for PRPS and works closely with the school, homestay families and international partner. It is her job to pair up each exchange student with a homestay family and to ensure each international student is successful, safe and comfortable.</p><p>Pillman took the group to Medalta this past Wednesday evening where they had a guided tour of the museum and were going to work with clay. If the roads were good, they are scheduled to travel to Drumheller this weekend.</p><p>The program needs homestay families for Colombian students due to arrive in November and Brazilian students coming in 2024. Contact Pillman directly at 403-502-6244 if you are interested or would like more information.</p>

<p>At an event on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees presented the <i>2023 Community Champion for Education</i> awards. The award recipients were nominated by both community and PRPS staff and chosen by the PRPS Board of Trustees Advocacy Committee.&nbsp;</p><p>Criteria for the award was a community member, organization, or business that has made a significant and sustained contribution to education in Prairie Rose. Submissions included a short write up about the nominee along with how they made a contribution to forwarding the school division's Education Plan which includes:</p><p><strong>IGNITE MINDS:</strong> The nominee supports a culture of learning and academic excellence through their contribution to the school community.</p><p><strong>FORGE FUTURES:</strong> The nominee cultivates curiosity, wonder and possibility in the minds of students through their contribution to the school community.</p><p><strong>KINDLE HEARTS:</strong> The nominee supports wellbeing and connection to service through the contribution to the school community.</p><p>Congratulations and thank you to this year's award winners!</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Super T Aviation</strong></td><td><p>Under the guidance of Teri Super, Les Little, Doug Little and Sheri Little, the incredible partnership between Super T Aviation and Prairie Rose Public Schools with the DR South Alberta Flight Academy (SAFA) has not only provided students with the unique opportunity to earn a private pilot license while still in high school but has also given them so much more – a community, a sense of belonging, and a tribe they can call their own.</p><p>Thanks to Super T Aviation, students have soared high in the skies and self-esteem, walking a little taller and beaming with the pride of achieving something meaningful. In a world where loneliness and isolation can be all too common, programs like the South Alberta Flight Academy are vital. They remind us that the best antidote is finding 'our people.'</p><p>Beyond just flight skills, SAFA students have learned life lessons and built lifelong friendships. It's no small feat to design a high school program, but Super T Aviation did it seamlessly, enriching the lives of our students.</p><p>Thank you, Super T, for giving our students wings and being an outstanding community partner!</p></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Nichole Neubauer</strong></td><td><p>From igniting the minds of our students with the creation of the Agricultural Discovery Center (ADC) to providing immersive agricultural programming aligned with their curriculum, Nichole's unparalleled dedication has made a monumental impact at Irvine School and Prairie Rose Public Schools.</p><p>Nichole's vision for a student-led ADC and her exceptional organizational skills and unyielding passion has given our students an invaluable hands-on learning experience. Her direct involvement – from working side-by-side with students, teaching them vital skills, to imparting straightforward curriculum concepts – embodies what it truly means to be a Community Champion.</p><p>Thank you, Nichole Neubauer, for sharing your passion, experience, leadership and knowledge with our students!&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Willie Desjardins</strong></td><td><p>Willie's commitment to empowering student-athletes, enhancing their strengths and igniting a passion for hockey through the South Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA) is inspirational. His generosity in supporting the reduction or elimination of fees for SAHA academy students who need it most and contributing to various Prairie Rose initiatives speaks volumes about his dedication to community.</p><p>Despite the challenges of bringing top-notch coaching to rural areas, Willie's many hockey connections mean that every student has an equal opportunity to shine and receive high-quality training. The positive feedback we've received about the Academy's impact on student relationships, athletic development and community service is a testament to his vision and hard work.</p><p>Willie, thank you for your leadership and vision around creating exceptional opportunities for student-athletes, no matter where they live. We couldn't be prouder to recognize you as a PRPS Community Champion!&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Paulette Heller</strong></td><td><p>Paulette Heller was a long-serving member of our Prairie Rose Board of Trustees and, despite stepping away from board duties many years ago, she continues to "Kindle Hearts" across Prairie Rose as one of our biggest advocates. You will often see Paulette volunteering and soliciting interest and donations for the annual Kaleidoscope of the Arts event, where all PRPS students can showcase their talents in the fine arts. Additionally, Paulette continues to follow and support the ever-evolving growth of our local schools and attends multiple fundraising events each year. These events provide funds to support field trips, school purchases and other student-focused opportunities.</p><p>Thank you, Paulette, for being such a strong supporter, advocate and volunteer with Prairie Rose Public Schools. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to our programs and students!&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Read the write up in the Medicine Hat News: <a href="https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2023/10/26/prps-board-honours-community-champions-for-education/">https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2023/10/26/prps-board-honours-community-champions-for-education/</a></p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 19, 2023.</i></p><p>Between the September and October meetings of the board for Prairie Rose Public Schools, two staff members received awards, including director of communications Angela Baron.</p><p>The award will be presented to her during the national conference of the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education, which takes place near the end of October.</p><p>“She (Baron) has received a BRAVO! Award for the work on revamping all the school’s logos and marketing pieces. That was a massive undertaking in a very short amount of time,” superintendent Reagan Weeks told the board at the Oct. 12 meeting.</p><p>Baron explained that each year the association puts out a call for award applications. Those who have completed communication projects that they believe could be deserving of an award are encouraged to apply.</p><p>“This year, in the summer, we did this really cool project with all the schools,” said Baron. “We rebranded all the schools. I took that project and did a write-up on all the things we did, why we did it, what were some of the results we saw with the changes. That goes to a number of judges, and they evaluate it. I got an email saying our project won and I will find out at the end of October what category of award it is.”</p><p>The project was around providing consistency in the overall brand of PRPS. Prior to undertaking this project, many of the schools were using different fonts and formats.</p><p>“Your first impression, if you are a parent, is where is the consistency when you have things going all over the place. It doesn’t set the stage with what you want to represent yourself as when you are attracting new students. Eagle Butte was the last one we got done at the end of June and it took us about 18 months to get through them all.”</p><p>PRPS contracted with the design company Flag Five, which worked with all the schools to complete the graphic design aspects of the project.</p><p>“I feel good,” stated Baron. “I haven’t submitted anything for years. It’s always so busy and it’s work to make a submission. You have to outline the criteria and show how you evaluated it. There are lots of pieces of evaluation, so it’s not something you do lightly.”</p><p>Jocelyn Encinas, a teacher at Ralston school, is the second award winner within PRPS. She is one of the 2023 recipients of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Only 50 teachers across Canada receive this award each year. Look for an interview with Encinas in an upcoming edition of the News.</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 18, 2023.</i></p><p>On Monday, rural power provider EQUS CEO Andy Metzger, along with staff members, gathered at the EQUS Medicine Hat facility to present a $25,000 cheque to the Agriculture Discovery Centre at Irvine School. The cheque was received by Irvine principal Trent Rayner, vice principal Kerry Watson and ADC co-ordinator Nichole Neubauer.</p><p>The funds were raised over the past year as part of EQUS Community Connection, an employee-driven initiative that raises funds in support of the rural communities EQUS serves.</p><p>The ADC will use the funding to develop a set of agri-food toolkits. The aim of the kits is to bring a hands-on agriculture learning experience, such as the one ADC students receive, into schools and rural communities across the province that are served by EQUS.</p><p>“The Agri-Food Toolkits will be curriculum-linked and filled to the brim with hands-on materials and interactive activities that will get students excited about the amazing Canadian Food System,” said Neubauer. “The toolkits will form the ADC’s agriculture resource lending library. Educators will be able to borrow and then return the toolkits at no charge.</p><p>“We are thrilled to partner with EQUS to help bring agriculture into classrooms in communities throughout Alberta.”</p>