Prairie Rose Public Schools News Archive

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2023.</i></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools secretary treasurer Ryan Boser presented to the board this week the PRPS Board/Teacher Agreement Ratification. Negotiations finished in late June when a memorandum of agreement was reached, and ratification by teachers occurred Aug. 29.</p><p>Board chair Lois Bedwell and trustee Pam Cursons were part of the committee along with members from the local ATA, who talked about their interests, and Boser commented that PRPS appreciated working with them.</p><p>“This covers the Sept. 1, 2020 timeframe to Aug. 31 of 2024. It was a four- year agreement, we are three years through agreement and are entering the final year of that collective agreement.”</p><p>Professional development was one of the main aspects in the memorandum as it was not something that was part of collective agreements in the past. Each teacher on the roster as of Sept. 30 will get $550 toward professional development.</p><p>ATA local members will be able to use PRPS emails when communicating with teachers, vice principals will move from one day in lieu to two days in lieu and there will be more clarity around work assignments for substitute teachers.</p><p>“Part-time teachers talked about the expectation of having a continuous assignment where possible,” explained Boser. “So, their day is not broken up based off one assignment and then on to the next. Where we can, where possible, we’ll try to make their days as continuous as possible.”</p><p>A teacher who parents a child graduating from high school will receive one day of leave per year to attend the ceremony.</p><p>“The division is expected to continue to have a deferred salary plan in place so nothing has changed there. We’ve already had one in place. The expectation in the collective agreement is that you continue to have one.”</p><p>Three letters of understanding have also been added on extracurricular activities, substitute teacher travel and creating a professional development committee.</p><p>“We have an admin procedure outside the collective agreement where we compensate our substitute teachers based off of mileage thresholds that they travel each day. That’s an important one to us because at times it can be difficult to get substitute teachers to our schools. That’s one thing that I think helps from a recruitment standpoint.”</p><p>Bedwell said, “We went right down to the wire. They wanted to settle and we wanted to settle and we met in the middle.” Boser added that having a good working relationship with PRPS teachers helped move the negotiations forward.</p><p>Once the agreement is complete, it will be posted on the PRPS website.</p>

<p><strong>Join the 2023 Echo Dale Cross Country Running Meet!</strong></p><p>📅 <strong>When</strong>: September 23, 2023 (10:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)<br>📍 <strong>Where</strong>: Echo Dale Regional Park, just outside of Medicine Hat (1001 Echo Dale Rd)</p><p>Attention schools and budding athletes! The Echo Dale Cross Country Running Meet is just around the corner and we're calling for participants. This year, the event is open to <strong>students of all ages</strong>—from energetic elementary kids to the dynamic junior high and high school runners.</p><p><strong>Key Details:</strong></p><p>👟 Open to students of all ages (elementary, junior high, high school)<br>👟 Entry fee: $12 per student payable via Trackie at time of registration. Post entries will be $20.<br>👟 Registration link: <a href="https://www.trackie.com/event/2023-echo-dale-cross-country-running-high-school-junior-high-and-elementary-meet/1000782/">2023 Echo Dale Cross Country Running Meet</a><br><strong>👟 Registration Deadline</strong>: September 20th at midnight.</p><p>Complete details including age categories, schedule of events and course information can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eRIMUdCLQvpthD4gBQSKm3vFTx3Qa9Ju/view?usp=drive_link">Echo Dale Meet Details</a></p><p>Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to showcase your athletic prowess, meet fellow runners, and potentially win some accolades for yourself and your school!</p><p>For more details or queries, get in touch with: 📧 <strong>Darryl Smith</strong>: darrylsmith@prrd8.ca</p><p>Secure your spot, lace up those running shoes, and let's hit the trail! See you at the starting line!</p>

<p><strong>2023-2024 PRPS Board Organizational Meeting</strong></p><p>Every fall the board of trustees elects a board chair, vice-chair and other key positions for the new school year. In addition to their regular duties, the following trustees will represent and attend events on behalf of Prairie Rose Public Schools during the 2023-2024 year:</p><p>✔️&nbsp;Lois Bedwell, Board Chair<br>✔️&nbsp;Patty Rooks, Vice-Chair<br>✔️&nbsp;Representative for the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) - Shawna VanderSpruit<br>✔️&nbsp;ASBA Alternate - Nancy Haraga<br>✔️ Representative for the Public School Boards Association (PSBA) - Cathy Hogg<br>✔️&nbsp;PSBAA Alternate - Pam Cursons<br>✔️&nbsp;Teachers Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) - Pam Cursons<br>✔️&nbsp;Representative on the Rural Caucus of Alberta - Patty Rooks</p><hr><p><br><strong>September 12, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Highlights</strong></p><p><strong>Academy Enrollments</strong></p><p>Superintendent Reagan Weeks provided the preliminary PRPS academy enrollment numbers for the 2023-2024 school year. It was shared that interest in academy programs is up from previous years which is good news for the school division’s overall enrollment. Final enrollment numbers for the 2023-2024 year will be available following the submission to Alberta Education at the end of September. Based on first week of September numbers, there are a total of 303 students enrolled in a PRPS academy program, which is 10% of the student population. Enrollment by academy program include the following:</p><p>✔️&nbsp;SAHA High Performance Academy: Total of 169 students<br>✔️&nbsp;SAHA U17 Males: Total of 22 students with two international students coming from Alaska and Australia<br>✔️&nbsp;SAHA U18 Males: Total of 19 student with one international student coming from Colorado<br>✔️&nbsp;SAHA U18 Female: Total of 22 students<br>✔️&nbsp;South Alberta Flight Academy: Total of 36 students<br>✔️&nbsp;South Alberta Fire Rescue Academy: Total of 16 students<br>✔️&nbsp;Badlands Baseball Academy: Total of 19 students</p><p><strong>PRPS Board/Teacher Agreement Ratification</strong></p><p>The PRPS Board of Trustees ratified the Memorandum of Agreement for ATA Local Bargaining with the Alberta Teachers’ Association for the period of September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2024. Some highlights of the agreement include changes to professional development allocations along with the establishment of a professional development committee, adjusted lieu time for school vice-principals, approved use of PRPS emails for ATA teacher communications and a letter of understanding around teacher assignable and extracurricular time.&nbsp;</p><p>The ratified contract will be posted on the PRPS Human Resources page (<a href="https://www.myprps.com/human-resources">https://www.myprps.com/human-resources</a>) once all documents are signed by both parties.</p><p><strong>Other Items:</strong></p><ul><li>The PRPS Board of Trustees approved an ATB borrowing resolution for $750,000 for 2023-2024.</li><li>The PRPS Board of Trustees approved the Superintendent Evaluation Report as presented.</li></ul>

<p>The September 12, 2023, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at 9<strong>:</strong>00 a.m. with the annual Organizational Meeting. The Public Board meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RVzxCka1h2YeUWs3jOoOw0KrvNFtN-PD/view?usp=drive_link">September 12, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2023.</i></p><p>The Agriculture Discovery Centre at Irvine School says it was honoured to have Premier Danielle Smith come out for a visit on Thursday evening, with several trustees, members of the Prairie Rose Public Schools executive team, students at Irvine School and their parents coming out for the event.</p><p>The Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA had seen ADC’s display at the local Stampede this year and wanted to do a tour.</p><p>“I knew I needed to find out more about it,” Smith said. “I was telling Nichole (Neubauer) what we really need is for one of these to be in every junior high school playground in Calgary and Edmonton. I think that’s where there needs to be that little connector so that people know where their food comes from. It’s so nice that it’s here because then I’m going to be able to celebrate what it is you are doing and hopefully pass that information on and see a few more of these kinds of demonstration facilities across the province.”</p><p>Smith told those gathered that the province has invested $60 million from the tier fund for innovation (carbon pricing fund), to support technology projects that will reduce emissions and increase agriculture performance in a wide variety of sectors.</p><p>Her husband owns a restaurant in High River and Smith says is responsible for the herb garden located behind it, which consists of 11 boxes where herbs and produce are planted and used in the restaurant.</p><p>“To me, there is something about touching soil and watching something grow and seeing life sprout that is really such a great connection that we have with our planet,” the premier said. “Any school that teaches a love of gardening and agriculture is near and dear to my heart, especially those who are pursuing youth getting into this important field.”</p><p>Smith has written a mandate letter to all her ministers and each was asked to explore ways for ensuring 16- to 24-year-olds across the province understand what kind of careers are available in each sector.</p><p>“You are already doing that incredible job of demonstrating not only the direct growth of food but also all the additional types of careers that are available,” said Smith.</p><p>Agriculture is Alberta’s second largest economic sector, second only to the energy sector, and is growing and diversifying while also being under attack, the premier said. She believes this is largely due to a misunderstanding about how the industry works and the carbon cycle.&nbsp;</p><p>Given that, she says, educating the next generation on how important that is, which the ADC is already accomplishing, is vital.</p><p>Smith shared a story regarding when she realized how disconnected young people are about where their food comes from. Several years ago, her niece saw a live chicken for the first time at a petting farm. Later that day her niece commented how there were two words for different things, a chicken on a farm and the chicken people eat.</p><p>“She became a vegetarian for a while when she found out they were actually the same thing, but I don’t think you should underestimate how far disconnected some young people in urban Alberta are from where there food comes from. I hope there is an opportunity for you to bring more folks down here so they can really get their hands dirty and see where their food really does come from.”</p><p>Neubauer, along with members of the ADC student executive, principal of Irvine School Trent Rayner and superintendent of PRPS Reagan Weeks gave Smith a tour around the facility, stopping at each of the animal pens and then wandering through the garden. The pumpkin patch particularly intrigued Smith, who commented that now she knows why her own patch never worked because they require more room than she’d given them. She spent time wandering through finding pumpkins and stopping to admire one that has grown to around 40 pounds. President of the ADC executive Georgia Howe and Neubauer presented Smith with a few gifts, including a pumpkin branded with ADC on it.</p><p>“I want to thank Nichole Neubauer, who I’ve been told is the founder and mastermind behind this centre,” concluded Smith. “People like Nichole are truly the lifeblood of our province. Where others might have looked out back and seen an empty space, she looked out here and saw an opportunity to build and invest and grow and inspire. That enterprising spirit is what Alberta is truly about, so I have no doubt that her amazing inspiration is going to encourage others to invest in Alberta and pursue amazing careers in agriculture.”</p>

<p>The School Bus Driver Grant is available to all school authorities to support the training of Class 2 and Class 4 school bus drivers that transport students to and from their schools. &nbsp;</p><p><i>To be eligible for the grant, drivers must have started training on or after April 1, 2023.</i>&nbsp;</p><p>School authorities will apply on behalf of drivers employed by a school bus contractor that are operating a route for their school division. For the Training Costs and Driver Reimbursement Grant, school authorities must ensure that the driver reimbursement portion of the grant is passed along to the contractor so that they can reimburse their driver. Applications should only be submitted for full-time, part-time or spare drivers that will be transporting students to and from school. School staff that are only transporting students for extracurricular trips are not eligible for this funding.&nbsp;</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Training Costs and Driver Reimbursement Grant</strong></td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>As described in Section 3.2.7 of the <i>2023/24 Funding Manual for School Authorities</i>.</li><li>The grant is available for new Class 2 and Class 4 drivers upon successful completion of driver training and testing.</li><li>Driver reimbursement amount is provided directly to the driver, less any amounts retained by the driver’s employer for payroll premiums, including CPP/EI and WCB.</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>New Class 2 Driver</td><td>Driver Reimbursement: up to $1,200</td></tr><tr><td>New Class 4 Driver</td><td>Driver Reimbursement: up to $600</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Interested parties are asked to contact Prairie Rose Public Schools Director of Transportation Derek Beck at 403-527-5516 or derekbeck@prrd8.ca.</p>

<p><img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php?fingerprint=20260711T2015Z/v9/tfa/1/16/1f68d.png" alt="🚍"><img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php?fingerprint=20260711T2015Z/v9/tfa/1/16/1f68d.png" alt="🚍"> Our school bus transportation department has been busy this summer planning out 86 bus routes for the fall. Families who are eligible for bus transportation were notified at the start of July with information regarding their designated route.</p><p>Our preliminary maps are now available at <img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php?fingerprint=20260711T2015Z/v9/t9e/1/16/27a1.png" alt="➡️"> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myprps.com%2Fbus-transportation%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2ZUsBvKaFqnNsULF_n-H0t5LqWIVccpfMdPdZeyydldE4CZUo_zGi-BH4&amp;h=AT2zr9sHx9zY7u8uEVsrXPGWJHMSdW1zscUI9f8pB0cd-JFKspsJVL-6h18p7A4qi37DhG4n8EUWKH2uUHJzWp166S7ai51u7lW3OGM5TzMpoDLRCIuvpz-zydh5vN2T7A&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1CnoB9uEJLORlHFwmtvEe65G4Njk2uNUtOHw8VvqAMHB7oWk67WGWY3Po1zd4Io1tPw7fwv2TJFLGvuPy2pCdi-ZXuXFssPXAF1-gnL9-3GJVJfg_eqV_mw8UIXsS9MI5eDxiTIieyRq5mwLLZl6NszmuOJ-zZkCD_fJiLskDC6Er39i-TggkawtVQa2j7Mg3ZWDuUv0h7">www.myprps.com/bus-transportation</a></p><p><img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php?fingerprint=20260711T2015Z/v9/t50/1/16/2757.png" alt="❗"><img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php?fingerprint=20260711T2015Z/v9/t50/1/16/2757.png" alt="❗"> As a reminder, final decisions regarding pick up and drops off times and the route order are determined by the individual bus driver. This information will be shared with families by your bus driver before the start of the new school year.</p>

<p>Alberta Health Services has issued a letter to families reminding them to review their child's vaccination records to ensure they are up to date. If you were unable to participate in the in-school vaccination program this year, details on getting your child's vaccinations up to date are available by clicking on the link below.</p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fWg3FnqbBmRpVdTRXeskrGrIiFXc7zck/view?usp=drive_link">2023 AHS Letter to Parents - Vaccination Program</a></p>

<h3><strong>Additional details and full reports from the June 21, 2023, Board Meeting can be found in the </strong><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eHqhYplUnoND7Du3oaylaN4IovMQhpjE/view?usp=drive_link"><strong>Agenda Package</strong></a><strong>.</strong></h3><p><img src="/images/be491707-c88b-48de-8f3d-5c749df6b8c5?fingerprint=ppb20251217024702" alt=""></p><p><strong>Locally Approved Courses</strong></p><p>Superintendent Reagan Weeks explained that Prairie Rose would like board approval for several locally developed courses that would allow PRPS students to access additional credits in courses they were already participating in based on the learning outcomes. These courses have been designed by teachers in the province and approved for use by Alberta Education. The Board of Trustees approved locally developed courses:</p><ul><li>Design Thinking for Innovation 15, 25 and 35</li><li>Engineering and Design 15</li><li>Fire Rescue Services 15</li><li>Capstone 25 and 35</li><li>Social Emotional Wellbeing 15</li><li>Social Skills 15</li><li>Speech and Debate 15, 25 and 35&nbsp;</li></ul><p><strong>Occupational Health and Safety Accountability Report</strong></p><p>Health and Safety Coordinator Derek Beck presented the 2022-2023 Occupational Health and Safety Report for information. Report highlights include an update on the division’s emergency response planning program (Hour Zero), new legislation implications to PRPS, staff training and development, the AHS ARTSSN program and an overview of reported injuries during the year. It was shared that half of all the student injuries reported occurred on the playground, and 101 resulted from falls or collisions. A total of 11 adult injuries were reported, with the majority also related to slips and falls. The full report can be found in the June 21, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Inclusive Learning Services Accountability Report</strong></p><p>Superintendent Reagan Weeks presented the Inclusive Learning Services Report on behalf of Director of Student Services Camille Quinton. The budget for student services and support during the 2022-2023 school year was&nbsp;<strong>$4,965,159</strong>. It was shared that PRPS has 415 coded students, 579 English language learners and 97 self-identified FNMI students. Most students with severe codes have severe communication delays or require severe physical/medical support, while mild-moderate codes are primarily for mild/moderate communication delays or learning disabilities. A breakdown of specialized support staffing was shared. This includes inclusive learning teachers, speech-language pathologists, therapy assistants, a school psychologist, behaviour supports, Family School Liaison Workers, a teacher for the visually impaired, and contracted occupational and physical therapy hours. Caseload statistics and services provided to students throughout the year were also provided. The full report can be found in the June 21, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p>

<p><img src="/images/81292fad-82eb-4a94-886f-67b65f234d46?fingerprint=ppb20251217023701" alt=""></p><p><i>Eagle Butte High School and Medicine Hat High School students awarded 2023 Redcliff Scholarships for Advanced Education</i></p><p>The Redcliff Scholarship Committee for Advanced Education, is pleased to announce that Eagle Butte High School graduates Jilly Cork, Sofia Hilsendeger, Ava Schofield and Dennis Kim, along with Medicine Hat High School student Jaivyn Barabe are the recipients of the 2023 Redcliff Scholarship Awards. All five students will be attending post-secondary in the fall, with plans to pursue careers in science (pharmacist), makeup artistry, nursing, science (neuroscience and psychiatry) and education. Each student will receive one of five 2023 Redcliff Scholarships for $6,000 towards tuition costs for post-secondary studies.&nbsp;</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><img class="image_resized" style="width:63.81%;" src="/images/1fb70ca7-746f-48a7-a080-6f0e574b0144?fingerprint=ppb20251217022040" alt=""></td><td><p><strong>Jilly Cork (EBHS)</strong>, will be attending Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver for makeup artistry with future plans to also attend art school.&nbsp;</p><p>"I plan to be a makeup artist for film, as well as a painter, sharing my art and pride with people all over the world".</p></td></tr><tr><td><img class="image_resized" style="width:62.4%;" src="/images/45e98236-dfa3-43c4-9425-bb17de6b8a60?fingerprint=ppb20251217022716" alt=""></td><td><p><strong>Dennis Kim (EBHS)</strong>, will be attending University of Calgary to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in neuroscience with future plans to pursue a career in medicine with a specialty in psychiatry.&nbsp;</p><p>"Whether studying abroad or at home, I am planning on returning to the city to practice my career."</p></td></tr><tr><td><img class="image_resized" style="width:61.97%;" src="/images/46653fb9-1962-4ec8-8981-420a8076f565?fingerprint=ppb20251217022725" alt=""></td><td><p><strong>Jaivyn Barabe (MHHS)</strong>, will be attending Medicine Hat College with future plans to apply to the U of A PharmD program.&nbsp;</p><p>"I plan to get my doctorate of pharmacy and then work in a hospital as a pharmacist."</p></td></tr><tr><td><img class="image_resized" style="width:60.53%;" src="/images/3f783eeb-ca92-4acb-a30c-1000a1b39620?fingerprint=ppb20251217022609" alt=""></td><td><p><strong>Ava Schofield (EBHS)</strong>, will be attending Medicine Hat College to pursue a degree in education.&nbsp;</p><p>"I would like to teach grades 4 - 9 English, which has always been my favourite subject."</p></td></tr><tr><td><img class="image_resized" style="width:59.46%;" src="/images/2bdb835d-cdc3-4d66-9a38-21849e09cad5?fingerprint=ppb20251217022242" alt=""></td><td><p><strong>Sofia Hilsendeger (EBHS)</strong>, will be attending the Medicine Hat College nursing program.&nbsp;</p><p>"I plan on working as a nurse while pursuing medical school after I finish my program".</p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>"Congratulations to the five outstanding individuals who have been selected as the recipients of the prestigious 2023 Redcliff Scholarships for Advanced Education," says Scholarship Administrator Pat Cocks. “There was a highly accomplished pool of applicants to choose from this year and the committee was impressed by the diverse post-secondary options chosen by the students. We are excited to support these talented students as they embark on their unique and fascinating educational journeys.”</p><p>The Redcliff Scholarships were established in 2002 and have been awarded to 50 Redcliff students. The awards are possible thanks to two endowed scholarship funds, that were established and are sustained by ongoing contributions of Redcliff organizations, and present and past Redcliff citizens. A third, Frank King Tribute Scholarship Fund, was announced in the spring of 2018 in memory of the late Frank King, while a fourth was added in November of 2020 to honour the legacy of former Redcliff resident David Jon Thomson.</p><p>If you require further information, please contact Fund Administrator Pat Cocks at the number listed below.</p><p>Pat Cocks<br>Redcliff Scholarship Fund Administrator<br>403-526-0548</p><p>The PDF version of the release can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kv1-xbmEru3sPlYyX5gB6hFsEw8hh2z7/view?usp=drive_link">2023 Redcliff Scholarships</a></p><hr><p><br><strong>Terms of Reference for Scholarship Recipients</strong></p><p>The <strong>Redcliff Scholarship for Advanced Education</strong> was launched at the Reunion of the 1944 Grade One Class held in September 2002. The aim was to create an endowed scholarship fund. Ongoing public contributions credited to this fund have been contributed by, or in tribute to, past and present citizens of Redcliff and by Redcliff organizations.</p><p>A second scholarship designated as the <strong>“For Four Friends Scholarship”</strong> was established in the memory of the value of the lifelong Redcliff friendships of Jack Fairhurst, Ron Hodges, John Hudak and Gerald Berkhold. This second scholarship is administered parallel to the initial scholarship. It enabled two separate but equal scholarships to be awarded commencing in 2006.</p><p>In May 2018, a third award, the <strong>Frank King Tribute Scholarship</strong>, was made available through the generosity of the family and friends of Mr. King, a former resident of Redcliff and the Chair of the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games.</p><p>A fourth award was created in December 2020 by the family of <strong>David Jon Thomson</strong> to honour his legacy. Mr. Thomson grew up in Redcliff and was a well-known businessman and a lifelong supporter of higher education.</p><p>The scholarships are to support the brightest and most able Redcliff high school graduates to explore fully their potential. The scholarships have as priorities the student’s financial need and overall abilities. The award criteria include financial need, leadership and citizenship and academic merit, with preference to first year students. Priority will be given to applicants who have resided in Redcliff for the majority of their school years.</p><p>Payment of the scholarships are governed as follows:</p><ul><li>There are four separate annual scholarships for tuition at an institution of advanced education to a maximum of $6,000 each.</li><li>The $6,000 scholarship will be applied to the student’s tuition with two equal payments of $3,000 being sent directly to the post-secondary institution in mid-August and mid-December by Prairie Rose Public Schools.</li><li>A scholarship award will be available for 18 months from the date of the award.</li><li>Scholarship recipients may apply in subsequent years,but awards will be made with preference to first year students.</li></ul><p><strong>Questions regarding payment can be directed to:</strong></p><p>Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser<br>Prairie Rose Public Schools<br>ryanboser@prrd8.ca</p>

<p><img src="/images/ff35e775-7e83-4263-95a5-aab929334daa?fingerprint=ppb20251217025816" alt=""></p><p>The June 21, 2023, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at <strong>10:00 a.m. </strong>The meeting will be held in-person only.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eHqhYplUnoND7Du3oaylaN4IovMQhpjE/view?usp=drive_link">June 21, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p>

<p><img src="/images/1c2fe93c-be5f-4b9c-9011-7e26aaed61ac?fingerprint=ppb20251217022002" alt=""></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) is now accepting applications <i>from all interested Redcliff families</i> for student transportation (bussing) to IF Cox, Margaret Wooding and Parkside Jr High School for the 2023-2024 school year. The purpose of the application process is to understand bussing interest in the community of Redcliff and determine student eligibility for the 2023-2024 year based on new bus eligibility requirements.&nbsp;</p><p>This past March the province announced changes to the Transportation Regulation which provides school divisions with distance requirements for school bus transportation and walk limits for students. Under the new model, students in grades&nbsp;K-6 may receive transportation if they live over one kilometre from their school, while those in&nbsp;grades 7-12 will receive transportation if they live over two kilometres. In Redcliff we recognize that this could mean significant changes to those who would qualify for bussing services as most students do not currently receive bus transportation. While the new rules do not come into effect until the 2024-2025 school year, Prairie Rose will be using the next school year as an opportunity to transition towards the new requirements.&nbsp;</p><p>During the transition year (2023-2024) PRPS will continue to provide bus transportation in Redcliff, however, it will be done through an application process. We know that some families may prefer having their children walk to school, while others rely on access to bus transportation. Through the application process PRPS will determine which families are interested in accessing bus transportation and whether our current Redcliff bus fleet is able to meet demand. As you are aware, there is currently a significant shortage of buses and drivers in the province and it is unlikely we would be able to add several additional routes in Redcliff next year. Our goal through the application process is to accommodate as many families as possible, however the new Transportation Regulation guidelines will be used as the criteria to prioritize bus transportation access.&nbsp;<i>Those whose bus applications are approved will not be required to pay bussing fees during the 2023-2024 school year.</i></p><p>Please click on the link below if you wish to apply for bus transportation for the 2023-2024 school year.&nbsp;<i>Each family only needs to complete the form one time.</i>&nbsp;<strong>The application link will close in one week (June 14)</strong> to allow our Transportation Department time to review interest and eligibility. Families will be notified prior to the end of the current school year whether their application is approved.&nbsp;</p><p>➡️&nbsp;Complete the Redcliff Transportation Application Form:&nbsp; <a href="https://prrdweb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5gMbzidfNJEqnWe">https://prrdweb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5gMbzidfNJEqnWe</a></p>

<p><img src="/images/c487e866-7372-4e4e-a75b-06d9a25f9425?fingerprint=ppb20251217024757" alt=""></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools is pleased to announce that Lyle Kennedy has accepted the position of Principal at Schuler School starting the 2023-2024 school year. Lyle will assume the role following the departure of Lisa Lindsay, who was recently announced as the new Director of Student Experiences for Prairie Rose Public Schools.</p><p>Lyle is a longtime Prairie Rose Public Schools educator with 32 years of teaching experience. Over the course of his career, Lyle’s teaching, administration and extra-curricular experiences are all well suited for this new assignment. This includes several previous leadership roles, including acting principal of the former Manyberries School for four years, principal of Jenner School for six years, and vice principal of Seven Persons School for seven years. Lyle currently works as a teacher at Parkside Jr High School in Redcliff, where he has been for the last 11 years. In addition to a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge, he has a Master of Education in Instruction and Leadership from Gonzaga University.</p><p>"I feel deeply honoured and grateful to have the chance to work alongside the team at Schuler School," says Kennedy. “I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the staff, the Schuler community, and the students. Returning to rural education feels like a true homecoming for me having grown up in a rural community myself. I am excited to actively engage with, support, and create new and exceptional programs and opportunities for our students and the wider community.”</p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools congratulates Lyle Kennedy. With his extensive experience in education and leadership within the district, Lyle is well-prepared to take on this role and continue the tradition of excellence at Schuler School.</p>

<h3>Additional details and full reports from the May 23, 2023, Board Meeting can be found in the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3hYP7XJ_hxsysaOxA5AEQDg6ydZHQ3I/view">Agenda Package</a>.</h3><p><img src="/images/4907d0d4-3020-45ff-ab92-f0e79d9e43ba?fingerprint=ppb20251217022751" alt=""></p><p><strong>Ralston School Presentation</strong><br>Ralston School Principal Stacey Nunweiler provided the board with an overview of the school's&nbsp;<i>Learning from the Land</i> Prairie Rose Possibility project. The project focuses on connecting the school community with the Southern Alberta environment, highlighting learning opportunities in the local area to build an appreciation for where we live and creating an understanding of indigenous cultures' connection with the land and natural environment. Some of the activities students have participated in include; planting an indigenous garden, outdoor cooking and learning about food preservation, building indigenous flutes, outdoor education activities, creating landscape art and visiting local natural landmarks. This is the third year the school has implemented&nbsp;<i>Learning from the Land</i> into the learning curriculum. The full presentation can be found in the May 23, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Locally Developed Courses</strong><br>The board approved locally developed courses Social Literacy 15 and Social Literacy 25. The classes, focussing on health and personal wellness, will be instructed by Alberta Health Services. A total of one credit will be awarded to students who complete either course.</p><p><strong>FNMI Report</strong><br>Student Services Coordinator Carol Carlson presented the 2022-2023 First Nations Metis Inuit (FNMI) Report for information. It was shared that 3.2% of Prairie Rose are self-identified FNMI students. Three outcomes identified as part of the PRPS Three-Year Education Plan for Truth and Reconciliation include ensuring all FNMI students are successful, acknowledging and supporting the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, and prioritizing integrating Indigenous perspectives into education. A list of PRPS FNMI learning initiatives and teaching resources was also shared as information. All links are available as part of the presentation in the May 23, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>2023-2026 Three-Year Education Plan</strong><br>Superintendent Reagan Weeks presented the updated 2022-2023 Education Plan for approval. It was noted that the 2023-2024 year will be the second year of the three-year plan focused on the new learning goals of ignite minds, kindle hearts, forge futures and truth and reconciliation. As such, only minor changes were made to update learning progress and evaluation. The board approved the plan as presented. The 2023-2026 Education Plan can be found on the Annual Reporting page of the Prairie Rose website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myprps.com/annual-reporting">www.myprps.com/annual-reporting</a>.</p><p><strong>2023-2024 Budget Report</strong><br>Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser presented the 2023-2024 Prairie Rose Public Schools Budget Report for approval. PRPS will receive additional Alberta Education funding of $3,256,184 next year based on new grants and grant increases compared to the 2022-2023 school year. Total revenues for the school division are expected to be&nbsp;<strong>$57,861,807</strong>, with expenses coming in at&nbsp;<strong>$58,029,188</strong>. Overall, the school division is forecasting a deficit budget for the year of&nbsp;<strong>$167,381</strong>. Some notable highlights of the budget include:</p><ul><li>Projected enrolment decrease of 32 funded FTE students from 2022-2023</li><li>Alberta Education will fund teacher salary increases of 2% in 2023-24.<ul><li>2023-24 will include a budget assumption of a 2% wage increase for support staff (match teachers 2% for 2023-24).</li></ul></li><li>An expected increase in division insurance premiums for the 2023-2024 year (property 5%, liability 2%, cyber 15%)</li><li>A 10.3% increase in ASEBP benefit premiums</li><li>An increase of 4.9 FTE certified staff from basic staffing allocations</li><li>An increase in EA hours and a continuation of additional supports and services hours (speech, behavior, therapy assistants)</li><li>An operating deficit in Operations and Maintenance of $1,136,661</li><li>A new transportation funding model resulted in the addition of an estimated four new bus routes and the purchase of new location-tracking software for the buses.&nbsp;<ul><li>A surplus in Transportation of $844,388</li></ul></li><li>Spending under the maximum allowable for Board and System Administration of $170,603</li></ul><p>The full budget report can be found on the Annual Reporting page of the Prairie Rose website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myprps.com/annual-reporting">www.myprps.com/annual-reporting</a>.</p>

<p><img src="/images/8a07ee90-d355-4d3a-9f63-509870a6b261?fingerprint=ppb20251217023832" alt=""></p><p>The May 23, 2023, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at 12:45 p.m. The meeting will be held in-person only.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3hYP7XJ_hxsysaOxA5AEQDg6ydZHQ3I/view?usp=share_link">May 23, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p>

<p>Prairie Rose Public Schools is hiring several full-time certified teaching positions for the 2023-2024 school year in the Oyen, Alberta area.</p><p>➡️ Teacher - <a href="https://www.myprps.com/teachersouth-alberta-hockey-academy-saha-instructor">South Alberta Hockey Academy Instructor</a></p><p>➡️ Teacher - <a href="https://www.myprps.com/hr-teacher-south-central-high-school-mathchemphysics">South Central High School Math/Chemistry/Physics</a></p><p>➡️ Teacher - <a href="https://www.myprps.com/hr-south-central-high-school">South Central High School PE/Shop</a></p><p>➡️ Teacher - <a href="https://www.myprps.com/hr-teacher-warren-peers-school">Warren Peers School (Acadia Valley) Grade 1-3</a></p><p>➡️ Teacher - <a href="https://www.myprps.com/hr-colony-principalteacher-meridian-colony-school">Meridian Colony School (Acadia Valley) Grade 1-9</a></p>

<p><img src="/images/fd1646ce-d834-464c-9780-d90dae1a951a?fingerprint=ppb20251217025757" alt=""></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools would like to congratulate Angela Hazell on being selected as the new vice-principal of Foremost School.</p><p>Angela has been a classroom teacher for 18 years, first with Horizon School Division before coming to Prairie Rose Public Schools in 2009. During her 15-year career with Prairie Rose, she has worked as a teacher at Foremost School, where she currently teaches junior and senior high English and Social Studies and serves as the school’s academic advisor. Angela holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Lethbridge and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>“I am excited about joining the Foremost School administration team with Mr. Steeves,” says Hazell. “Over the past few years, our sports teams are growing, we have established incredible hands-on learning experiences such as our FARM program, and the Rodeo Academy is attracting new students. Foremost School is an amazing place to learn, and I am excited to be part of the school’s leadership team as we continue to develop amazing student learning opportunities.”</p></blockquote><p>Angela Hazell will officially assume the role of vice-principal at the start of the 2023-2024 school year.</p>

<p><img src="/images/4c2ef265-366d-4125-80be-5ffe300c4821?fingerprint=ppb20251217022821" alt=""></p><p>Additional details and full reports from the May 9, 2023, Board Meeting can be found in the <a href="https://www.myprps.com/news/may-9-2023-prps-board-meeting-1683558910506">Agenda Package</a>.</p><hr><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>South Alberta Flight Academy Collegiate Status</strong><br>Superintendent Reagan Weeks shared that Prairie Rose Public Schools was recently awarded collegiate status for the South Alberta Flight Academy. The new collegiate status allows for expanding the flight academy program to include commercial flight training, aircraft maintenance engineering, air traffic control and drone certification. Prairie Rose’s South Alberta Flight Academy program was one of 12 other collegiate projects recently approved by Alberta Education. Full details of the announcement can be found here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.myprps.com/news/new-collegiate-status-expands-aviation-career-options-for-southeast-alberta-students-1683732488164">https://www.myprps.com/news/new-collegiate-status-expands-aviation-career-options-for-southeast-alberta-students-1683732488164</a></p><p><strong>Coulee Collegiate Presentation</strong><br>Coulee Collegiate principal Tim Bloomfield provided an overview of the school and the types of programming offered to students. Coulee Collegiate is a partnership school between Prairie Rose Public Schools, Medicine Hat Public School Division and Medicine Hat College. The school operates both a distance learning model (high school and older) and face to face model for students over 18. In addition to providing students with high school courses and modules, Coulee Collegiate also offers institute sessions where high school students can earn their first aid/CPR, forklift, fall protection and confined spaces certificates at no cost. It was shared that the school is about to launch a new program called Chrome Academy that focuses on building word processing, spreadsheet, digital presentation and keyboarding skills for high school credits. Those who finish the program will get a free new Chromebook. The full presentation can be found in the Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Eagle Butte Trip to Greece Summary</strong><br>Superintendent Reagan Weeks provided the Board with a brief summary of the recent Eagle Butte High School field trip to Greece. The trip, which took place over the Easter break, had students visiting Greece, Turkey and Italy.</p><p><strong>Board Planning and Monitoring Cycle</strong><br>The Board approved <i>GP06 Board Planning and Monitoring Cycle</i> for the 2023-2024 school year as presented. A copy of the board monitoring schedule can be found in the Board Meeting Agenda package.</p>

<p><img src="/images/2083b1c7-e908-4c2f-89a1-dc114e9bd2e1?fingerprint=ppb20251217022049" alt=""></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools would like to congratulate Lisa Lindsay on being selected as the new Director of Student Experiences. The position involves working with division office staff, principals and school staff to implement student supports and services to create exceptional learning experiences.</p><p>Lisa has an extensive education background, having worked as a teacher, school leader, and in student services and mental health for the past 32 years. Her most recent experience has been as principal of Schuler School since August 2021. She has also worked as vice-principal at the Dr. Roy Wilson Learning Centre, the Director of Student Services at Medicine Hat Public School Division, and as the Mental Health Services Facilitator and Palliser Adolescent Service Administrator. In addition to a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta, Lindsay has a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>“To say I have enjoyed my time at Schuler School is an understatement. The staff, parents, community members, and of course, the students, have reminded me why I chose to be an educator,” says Lindsay. “Although I will miss Schuler, I am excited for this new opportunity to work alongside an amazing team to ensure all students and their parents have the best experience possible in Prairie Rose Public Schools.”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“Lisa has many decades of experience serving students of all age levels and in all capacities,” says Superintendent Reagan Weeks. “Her education background and understanding of the types of supports available is an invaluable asset to our team and towards ensuring our students are set up for success.”</p></blockquote><p>Lisa will begin her new Director of Student Experiences role in August 2023. The Schuler School principal position will be posted in the very near future.</p>

<p><img src="/images/24f5d88c-840f-44bc-be6c-8194cc94160e?fingerprint=ppb20251217022135" alt=""></p><p><i>Prairie Rose Public Schools’ Flight Academy program soon to include commercial flight training,&nbsp;</i>aircraft maintenance engineering, and air traffic control and drone certification.</p><p>The sky's the limit for Prairie Rose students pursuing a career in the aviation industry.&nbsp;</p><p>The South Alberta Flight Academy is expanding to include commercial pilot flight training and establish new aircraft maintenance engineering and air traffic control programs in the 2024-2025 school year. The program expansion is possible thanks to recently announced collegiate funding and the granting of conditional collegiate school status to Prairie Rose Public Schools' South Alberta Flight Academy.</p><blockquote><p>"Collegiate status allows Prairie Rose an opportunity to establish a unique pathway that allows students to enter the aviation industry sector with work class training a year after graduation," says Superintendent Reagan Weeks. “The demand in the aviation industry continues to grow, and now we can bring students even closer to being ready to work directly out of high school.”</p></blockquote><p>With the $560,750 of funding provided with the collegiate status approval, the South Alberta Flight Academy plans to expand to include a fourth year of high school training. As part of the collegiate qualification process, submissions had to demonstrate a need for specialized programming, the strength of post-secondary pathways, experiential learning opportunities and cost-effectiveness. The school division's already established strong partnership with Super T Aviation was another key application component.</p><blockquote><p>"We have already seen several students move on from the South Alberta Flight Academy program to pursue careers in the aviation sector, with some even working with us at Super T after graduation," says Super T Aviation CEO Terri Super. “The ability to expand our commercial pilot training program and add both the aircraft maintenance engineering and air traffic control training is the logical next step in establishing a complete pathway to an aviation career for southeast Alberta students.”</p></blockquote><p>Under the new collegiate model, students entering the South Alberta Flight Academy in grade 10 will train together for a year before choosing their own aviation path in grade 11. The three available streams will include pilot training, aircraft maintenance engineering, and air traffic control and drone certification.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>"We are excited about being able to expand the South Alberta Flight Academy program to meet the needs of more students," says Weeks. “The aviation industry is booming, and it is exciting to see that what Super T and Prairie Rose are doing to get students into aviation careers is getting noticed.”</p></blockquote><p>The South Alberta Flight Academy collegiate proposal was one of 12 approved projects in the province.</p>