Prairie Rose Public Schools News Archive

<p><i>The board meeting agenda package can be found here:</i>&nbsp;<a href=" https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L4YAmX-XD5lfH4rvdguTPv3slTvpwxPi/view?usp=sharing"> </a><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L4YAmX-XD5lfH4rvdguTPv3slTvpwxPi/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L4YAmX-XD5lfH4rvdguTPv3slTvpwxPi/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p><strong>School Calendar</strong></p><p>At the April 12, 2022, public board meeting, the Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees revisited the previously approved 2022-2023 school year calendar. The calendar was brought back to the board to review following feedback from parents and staff citing concerns that the Prairie Rose calendar was not in alignment with neighbouring school division calendars. Specifically, concerns were raised regarding the difference around the Christmas break, as there would be challenges for both parents and staff to find childcare services and that the current calendar only included two full weekends within the break instead of three.</p><p>The following changes to the calendar were approved by the board by a vote of four (Haraga, Cursons, Hogg, Vanderspruit) to three (Bedwell, Dennis, Rooks) at the April 12th public meeting:</p><ul><li>The Christmas break has been shifted to December 24th – January 8th. Students will still have an early dismissal day on December 23rd and will return on January 9th.</li><li>The SI day scheduled on November 14th has been moved to November 9th.</li></ul><p>The revised calendar has been posted to the public documents section of the Prairie Rose website and is available for online viewing.</p><p>The approved calendar can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JjxVhn6FpP9-UYmMKL6VrZ-61O-_YqOv/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JjxVhn6FpP9-UYmMKL6VrZ-61O-_YqOv/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p><strong>Mennonite Liaison Report</strong></p><p>German/Mennonite Liaison (GML) Benita Neufeld provided an update to the board regarding the work she’s been doing to support Low German Mennonite (LGM) families across Prairie Rose Public Schools. It was shared that her primary role is to reduce barriers related to language and cultural differences for Mennonite families and assist them in making connections to appropriate supports. Additionally, the role of the GML is to support the Mennonite EA’s in the schools and to provide them with LGM appropriate educational resources. Since coming into the role last fall, Neufeld says she has focused on building trust with current and new families living in the school division and reaching out to the Schulz’s to understand how she can best support all families and students attending Prairie Rose Public Schools.</p><p><strong>Financial Update</strong></p><p>Assistant Secretary Treasurer Candice Hintz provided a financial update to the board for information. As of February 2022, the division was 50% of the way through the current fiscal year. It was noted that revenues are expected to come in $1,165,386 higher than budgeted, while expenses are forecast to come in $849,508 over budget. Overall, Prairie Rose is projecting a $315,878 decrease to the overall deficit for the 2021-2022 year, which is now expected to come in at $314,317 over budget. The complete Financial Update can be found in the Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Capital Plan</strong></p><p>The PRPS 2022-2025 Capital Plan was presented to the board for approval, following a complete evaluation of school facilities through Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects (FWBA). The first item on the board’s Capital Plan includes the Burdett/Bow Island solution with an estimated cost of $11.6 million. The second priority is the Redcliff solution which involves turning IF Cox School into a grade K-5 and a complete re-modernization of the current Parkside School to become a grade 6-9 school. The current Margaret Wooding School would become the new Prairie Mennonite School (K-9). The Redcliff solution is valued at $10.1 million dollars. The final two Capital Plan priorities include the consolidation and modernization of both Oyen Public School and South Central High School into one K-12 school ($14 million) and a facility modernization of Foremost School ($12.8 million). The board approved the Capital Plan as presented. The full Capital Plan can be found in the Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Field Trips</strong></p><p>The board approved two high risk school field trips:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Margaret Wooding School grade 6 students will be participating in a visit to Super T Aviation and taking a ride in an airplane as part of their flight unit in Science.</li><li>Seven Persons School junior high students will be participating in an Outward Bound Outdoor Leadership trip to Kananaskis from June 1st to June 4th.</li></ul><p><strong>Other items</strong></p><ul><li>The board voted to approve the renaming of Rural Futures School to South Alberta High School.</li><li>Draft <i>GP14 Trustee Honorarium and Expense Reimbursement </i>was tabled until September 2022.</li></ul>

<p>At the April 12, 2022, public board meeting, the Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees revisited the previously approved 2022-2023 school year calendar. The calendar was brought back to the board to review following feedback from parents and staff citing concerns that the Prairie Rose calendar was not in alignment with neighbouring school division calendars. Specifically, concerns were raised regarding the difference around the Christmas break, as there would be challenges for both parents and staff to find childcare services and that the current calendar only included two full weekends within the break instead of three.</p><p>The following changes to the calendar were approved by the board by a vote of four (Haraga, Cursons, Hogg, Vanderspruit) to three (Bedwell, Dennis, Rooks) at the April 12th public meeting:</p><ul><li>The Christmas break has been shifted to December 24th – January 8th. Students will still have an early dismissal day on December 23rd and will return on January 9th.</li><li>The SI day scheduled on November 14th has been moved to November 9th.</li></ul><p>The revised calendar has been posted to the public documents section of the Prairie Rose website and is available for online viewing.</p><p>The approved calendar can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JjxVhn6FpP9-UYmMKL6VrZ-61O-_YqOv/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JjxVhn6FpP9-UYmMKL6VrZ-61O-_YqOv/view?usp=sharing</a><br>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next public board meeting for the Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees will take place on Tuesday, April 12th starting at 12:45 pm. The meeting will be held at the Chamber of Commerce office in Medicine Hat, located at:</p><p>413 - 6 Avenue SE<br>Medicine Hat, Alberta</p><p>Due to limited space at the meeting location, attendees are encouraged to join via the online stream: <a href="https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZDVlODA3MDktMjVlMS00MTQyLWI4OTYtZDM5MmI0MGNmNjNj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22c1a7f361-4369-4e63-af8a-db541e2c097b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2248a6a9b8-2a7b-494f-9523-0206f91ffcad%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&amp;btype=a&amp;role=a">Click here to watch the live stream</a> (<i>Once you click the link, click cancel on the pop up, watch on the web instead, join anonymously.)</i></p><p>The meeting agenda can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L4YAmX-XD5lfH4rvdguTPv3slTvpwxPi/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L4YAmX-XD5lfH4rvdguTPv3slTvpwxPi/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prairie Rose Public Schools is seeking feedback from families who live in the Dunmore area to explore the feasibility of starting a Before and After School club/program for Irvine School students.&nbsp;</p><p>Tentative considerations for the program include:</p><ul><li>The program would be available for elementary students (K-6) enrolled at Irvine School.</li><li>Morning program: Starting at 7:00 AM<ul><li>Bus would leave Dunmore (location still to be determined) at 8:00 AM&nbsp;and transport students to Irvine School</li></ul></li><li>Afternoon program: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM<ul><li>Students would be bussed from Irvine School to the Dunmore location</li></ul></li></ul><p>To have your say, please complete the survey: <a href="https://prrdweb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0IzKtUNbvenIfCC">Survey - Dunmore B&amp;A School Club/Program</a></p>

<p>For Lisa, the journey to the front of the classroom did not begin right out of high school. Instead, her path to teaching led her in many directions and through all aspects of working with children. Before returning to post-secondary, Lisa worked in preschools, daycares and even as an Educational Assistant (EA) for ten years at Margaret Wooding, Parkside and RMAP in Prairie Rose Public Schools. Still, it was her son who eventually inspired her to take the leap to go back to school to get her Education degree.</p><p>“My son struggled in school. He had to learn differently in order to understand the concepts being taught, so all of those strategies put in place for all learners really did help him.”</p><p>As a mother of a child who was not your typical in-the-box learner, Lisa recognized that each child required a different level and approach to learning to be successful. This understanding was further reinforced through her previous work as an EA where she was always looking for ways to support students based on individual learning preferences.&nbsp;</p><p>“I really learned how to be flexible and intuitive to support all learners. So incorporating those universal design strategies in my classroom now as a teacher just feels like it is just a part of who I am and what I do because it is how I had to help support my students with special needs as an EA. In my classroom, it is more about equity over equality. I feel like everybody needs something different. We all learn in different ways.”</p><p>Lisa currently works as a grade 5 teacher at Ralston School on the Canadian Forces Base Suffield. Principal Stacey Nunweiler says that she knew right away when interviewing Lisa that she would be a fabulous teacher and a perfect fit for Ralston School, where 90% of the student population comes from outside of Canada.</p><p>“Her life experience and desire to make a difference in student learning were admirable. Lisa took the first part of the year building relationships with her students that allowed them to trust her even with their vulnerabilities. Lisa has a passion for making learning equitable in her classroom that includes making the curriculum accessible to all her students through tools, strategies and intentionally planning to work one to one with students as much as possible.”</p><p>As well as ensuring equity and equality among her students, Lisa also has a strong passion for learning about culture and incorporating this knowledge into her classroom teachings. As an EA she spent many years working with Mennonite families, while in her current classroom, she has students from the UK, Ghana and Nepal. She has also taken a special interest in indigenous studies and enjoys finding unique ways to incorporate these teachings into her instructional practices.&nbsp;</p><p>“It is important to me to educate students about the inequalities that still exist today in Canada and why we participate in reconciliation. I find if you want to create critical thinkers, you need to talk about the heavy stuff, those topics that make people uncomfortable. But as the facilitator, I can navigate these topics with students to make it appropriate and show each other we can appreciate each other's opinions and ideas and maybe even be persuaded to think differently.”</p><p>When asked where she sees herself in the next five to ten years, Lisa says she wants to keep learning and growing throughout her career and feels blessed to be working in a profession that allows that to happen. She also looks forward to being part of the special moments that come from being a teacher, mentor and caregiver.&nbsp;</p><p>“My heart is just beaming all the time. When you have just those moments where the lightbulb goes on with the kids, or you get nominated for this amazing award, there are many ways to feel rewarded. This career is awesome because you are not in this alone. You are in this with other people willing to share and inspire you. I want to be one of those people for somebody else.”</p><p>The Edwin Parr Teacher Award is presented annually by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) to six exceptional first-year teachers from across the province of Alberta. Each spring, Alberta school divisions nominate and recognize one outstanding teacher who will represent them at the zone awards ceremony. The Prairie Rose Public Schools’ board of trustees would like to congratulate Lisa and wish her luck at the Zone 6 awards event in May.</p>

<p>Congratulations to Jonn Baird who has been chosen as the successful candidate for the position of Principal of Parkside Junior High School in Redcliff. Jonn was transferred to Parkside last fall as Acting Principal following the reassignment of Boyd Craven to the Principal position at Eagle Butte High School. In addition to the Acting Principal role at Parkside, Jonn has spent eight years in school administration including seven years as Vice Principal at Eagle Butte and four months in the Acting Principal role at Foremost School.</p>

<p><i>The board meeting agenda package can be found here:</i> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ro2XbuU_WcCMh26nIZoKuDjL6zukV5bz/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ro2XbuU_WcCMh26nIZoKuDjL6zukV5bz/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p><strong>Schuler School Presentation</strong></p><p>Schuler School principal Lisa Lindsay provided an overview of the school and highlights from the past year. Schuler is a K-9 school of approximately 70 students located 90 kilometres north of Medicine Hat. The school has implemented several new initiatives from the feedback received from students, parents, and staff through the 2021-2022 assurance survey. These include; new routines for junior high students during the recess and lunch break, increased choice in the option courses available, an active student voice, enhanced weekly communication to parents and the community, and opportunities for team building and collaboration amongst the staff. A summary of the school’s education goals was shared, focusing on literacy, deeper learning and promoting a positive culture. The full school presentation can be found in the meeting agenda package.</p><p><strong>Technology Accountability Report</strong></p><p>Director of Technology Wayne Rossler presented the 2022 PRPS Technology Accountability Report for information. The report includes a list of the division’s technology assets, along with a summary of key projects and priorities for the current school year, which includes; the digitization of student records, security upgrades, the moving of files to a cloud-based data centre and the installation of Chromebook internet filtering. It was noted that during the 2020-2021 school year, Prairie Rose Public Schools spent 1.3 million dollars on technology purchases and licensing. The full report can be found in the meeting agenda package.</p><p><strong>2022-2023 School Calendar Approval</strong></p><p>The board approved the school calendar for the 2022-2023 year. The calendar has a start date for students of August 29, 2022, a mid-week start to the Christmas break, a day for all students and staff to honour Truth and Reconciliation, and the inclusion of two wellness days into the calendar. The approved calendar is available on the Prairie Rose website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.myprps.com/news/2022-2023-prps-school-year-calendar-1646873059180">https://www.myprps.com/news/2022-2023-prps-school-year-calendar-1646873059180</a></p><p><strong>Capital Plan Approval</strong></p><p>Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser shared that Prairie Rose has been granted an extension by Alberta Infrastructure for late submission of the annual Capital Plan, which is usually required by the end of March. The division will be working with Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects to formally revamp the plan to ensure essential school facility needs are represented. The plan will be returned to the board for approval at the April public board meeting.</p><p><strong>GP15 Trustee Development</strong></p><ul><li>A modification was made to GP15 to allow trustees the choice to attend the Rural Education Symposium or First Nations Metis Education Gathering conference annually as part of their allocated PD budget.</li></ul>

<p>At the March 9, 2022, public board meeting, the Prairie Rose Board of Trustees approved the school calendar for the 2022-2023 year. &nbsp;The document can be accessed through the <a href="https://www.myprps.com/calendar">Calendar </a>tab of the Prairie Rose website, or directly through the link below.</p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JjxVhn6FpP9-UYmMKL6VrZ-61O-_YqOv/view?usp=sharing">2022-2023 PRPS School Year Calendar</a> - approved March 9, 2022</p>

<p>The Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees will be holding their next public board meeting on Wednesday, March 9th at 12:45 pm. The meeting will be held in-person at the Chamber of Commerce office in Medicine Hat located at:</p><p>413 - 6 Avenue SE<br>Medicine Hat, Alberta</p><p>The meeting agenda can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ro2XbuU_WcCMh26nIZoKuDjL6zukV5bz/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ro2XbuU_WcCMh26nIZoKuDjL6zukV5bz/view?usp=sharing</a></p>

<p>On Saturday, February 26, 2022, Alberta Premier Jason Kenny announced that the province will be moving forward with lifting most of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions on March 1st. For K-12 schools this will result in the removal of all current protocols, <i>with the exception of the sickness/isolation guidelines</i>.</p><p>Specifically, starting March 1, 2022, the following restrictions will no longer apply:</p><ul><li>Cohorting will be removed for grades K-6.</li><li>Youth screening activities for entertainment and sports activities will no longer be required.</li><li>Capacity limits for large gatherings are removed.</li><li>Indoor and outdoor social gathering limits will be lifted.</li><li>There will no longer be a requirement for those over the age of 18 to wear a mask, however, Prairie Rose Public Schools will continue to support any individual who wishes to continue wearing a mask.</li></ul><p>As mentioned, the illness and stay at home when sick requirements remain in place. <strong>Please continue to use our Student Illness Guide to determine whether your child is well enough to attend school</strong>. &nbsp;This requirement also applies to all adults visiting school facilities. A link to the most recent versions of our PRPS Illness Guides can be found below.&nbsp;</p><p>(<strong>Updated February 2022</strong>): <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12oedZgsqwxJlmL6yMMLlR86E4PeuvGMG/view">Student Illness Guide - Staying Home When Sick</a></p><p>(<strong>Updated February 2022</strong>): <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IJ8D-GrZniZOevr6tKsVJ0NGb-SRMChH/view">Adult Illness Guide - Staying Home When Sick</a></p>

<p>Starting February 23rd, parents will start receiving survey packages by mail from Alberta Education for the 2022 Assurance Survey. &nbsp;Parents will either complete the surveys online or return completed paper copies directly to Alberta Education.&nbsp;</p><p>Here are some important notes for parents regarding the survey:</p><ol><li>The survey package will include:<ul><li>a copy of the Education Minister's letter</li><li>a Random Access Code for accessing the survey online and instructions for accessing the survey in other languages, if needed.</li></ul></li><li>Parents with more than one student in the relevant survey grades will receive a separate survey package and Random Access Code for each child.</li><li><strong>The survey will remain open until April 1, 2022 (the deadline has been extended)</strong>.</li></ol><p><strong>Who will receive the survey?</strong></p><ol><li>Where a school community is fewer than 120 students in grades 4-12, all students in grades 4 and above will meet the survey eligibility criteria.</li><li>Where a school community is above 120 only parents and guardians of students in grades 4, 7 and 10 will receive the survey.</li></ol><p>More information regarding the Assurance Framework and how the survey data will be used can be found by visiting the <a href="https://www.alberta.ca/accountability-education-system.aspx">Alberta Education Assurance and Accountability website</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>From the February 8, 2022 Public Board Meeting</h3><p>Board meeting agenda package: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ernKY1U7tQ1DWjyzNfKzPQHsghhOqDky/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ernKY1U7tQ1DWjyzNfKzPQHsghhOqDky/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p><strong>COVID Response Update. </strong>Board Chair Cathy Hogg shared that trustees have received a number of communications from parents and community members expressing frustrations regarding the current provincial mandates for K-12 schools. As school divisions are public sector organizations, many of the decisions such as masking requirements, are not decided locally therefore cannot be lifted by school boards. It was also noted that Premier Jason Kenny is scheduled to make an announcement regarding a staggered plan for lifting restrictions in the next day. The division will be prepared to act on K-12 changes should changes be announced.</p><p><strong>Prairie Mennonite School Presentation. </strong>Prairie Mennonite Alternative School principal Simon Moreton shared a presentation with the board outlining a number of initiatives and learning opportunities. The school’s Prairie Rose Possibility program was showcased which involves immersing students in new opportunities that connect deeper learning to world experiences. Some of the ways the school has achieved this is through new option classes, community focused field trips, cross country training and intramural sports. It was also noted that the students recently started a school sports team in which they designed a new school mascot called the Prairie Chargers. The full presentation can be found in the board meeting agenda package.</p><p><strong>2022-2023 School Year Calendar. </strong>Deputy Superintendent Mark Heinricks explained that the final stages of consultation are underway with schools and staff for the 2022-2023 school year calendar. The finalized calendar will be brought forward to the March public board meeting for board approval.</p><p><strong>Board Committee Principles. </strong>Revised board policy GP#5 Board Committee was presented for approval. The policy was updated to combine all board sub committees into one document to streamline board processes and ensure consistency.&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Moved by P. Rooks that the Board of Trustees of Prairie Rose Public Schools replaces Policies GP#5 Board Committee Principles, GP#8 Board General Committee Meetings GP#16 Teacher / Board Advisory Committee – Terms of Reference, GP#17 Support Staff / Board Advisory Committee – Terms of Reference, GP#18 Audit Committee – Terms of Reference, GP22 Advocacy Committee – Terms of Reference with Policy GP#5 Board Committees. <strong>CARRIED</strong>.</li></ul><p><strong>Irvine Field Trip. </strong>Superintendent Reagan Weeks explained that the Irvine School field trip planned for April 2022 has been moved to the end of May. This was done to reduce costs, as the later date allowed the school to combine tour activities with another group. Shifting the dates also reduced the trip from nine days to seven.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Deeper Learning. </strong>Superintendent Reagan Weeks provided an update on the deeper learning education goal. The goal aims to provide Prairie Rose students the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of academic content and growth in their ability to think and critically solve complex problems. It was noted that as part of achieving deeper learning, students have been given voice and choice on when and how they learn. This learning has been supported with the addition of numerous Prairie Rose Possibility projects, community partnerships and through the addition of learning instructional coaches. Despite COVID-19 challenges, results in the Accountability Pillar indicate an upward trend in terms of student excellence which is a leading indicator of deeper learning achievement.</p><h3>From the February 10, 2022 Special Board Meeting</h3><p>The board of trustees discussed the decision passed on November 9, 2021, where:</p><ul><li>Trustee Lois Bedwell put forward a motion that would direct administration to develop a policy that would require staff who work directly with students to be double vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.&nbsp;</li></ul><p>Trustees discussed the recent announcement from Premier Jason Kenny that included the removal of the REP program (effective February 9, 2022) and how that direction potentially impacts the current Prairie Rose Public School requirement for non-vaccinated staff who work with students to perform an at-home COVID-19 test twice a week. Information related to legal advice, direction from both the Health and Education ministries and community feedback was shared. Trustee Nancy Haraga put forth the following motion:</p><ul><li>As the province has taken steps to begin to relax COVID-19 protocols, including the elimination of the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP), I, Nancy Haraga, move that the Board of Trustees of Prairie Rose Public Schools rescind our policy that requires all Prairie Rose staff working directly with students to provide vaccination status disclosure, and for those not fully vaccinated, regular proof of COVID-19 negative test. <strong>CARRIED</strong></li></ul><p>A recorded vote was requested:</p><ul><li>Graeme Dennis (not in attendance)</li><li>In Favour: Cathy Hogg, Lois Bedwell, Pam Cursons, Nancy Haraga, Shauna VanderSpruit</li><li>Opposed: Patty Rooks</li></ul>

<p>The Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees will be holding a Special Board Meeting on February 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the following item:</p><ol><li>P113 - Workplace Health and Safety, COVID-19 Increased Safety Procedures</li></ol><p>The meeting will be held online and can be accessed here: <a href="https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTZkODA3ZGEtZTdkMS00YTExLWJlNzEtMDY5OTU0MjZhZGE0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22c1a7f361-4369-4e63-af8a-db541e2c097b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2248a6a9b8-2a7b-494f-9523-0206f91ffcad%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&amp;btype=a&amp;role=a">Join the Online Meeting</a><br><i>Once you click the link, click cancel (on the pop up), watch on the web instead, join anonymously.</i></p>

<p>Yesterday evening, Premier Jason Kenny shared details regarding the province’s plan for moving forward, beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Full details of the <i>Alberta plan for returning to normal</i> is available here: <a href="https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=8185996876395-A336-5B57-A82D6FEE916E1060">February 8, 2022 Announcement</a></p><p>As a result of these changes, please be aware of the following updates to our division COVID-19 response plan:</p><p>→<strong> &nbsp;Masking:</strong> Starting next week (February 14th), all masking requirements for students will be removed from the public health order for all K-12 students. This means that students in grades K-12 will not be required to wear a mask while riding the school bus, or while attending school. At this time, the Alberta Government still requires all adults (18 years of age or older) to wear masks while in schools. This includes school and division staff, bus drivers and any adult visitors to our schools. As always, our schools will continue to provide a supportive environment for those students who wish to continue wearing a mask.</p><p><strong>→ &nbsp;Daily Checklist and Isolation Requirements:</strong> Parents are encouraged to continue to use the daily checklist when making decisions regarding sending their child to school. All isolation requirements for students who are close contacts or test positive for COVID-19 remain in place. The <i>PRPS Student Illness Guide</i> can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12oedZgsqwxJlmL6yMMLlR86E4PeuvGMG/view">PRPS Illness Guide</a></p><p><strong>→ &nbsp;Spectators and Visitors in Schools</strong>: Restrictions on spectator limits (sports and performance) have been lifted, however all adults in school buildings are still required to wear a mask for the duration of the time they are in the school as per the current government direction.</p><p><strong>→ &nbsp;Field Trips</strong>: The restrictions to field trip activities have been lifted. Schools are still encouraged to prioritize outdoor field trips and maintain cohorts, where possible.</p><p><strong>→ &nbsp;After School Facility Use (youth)</strong>: Outside user groups for youth are once again permitted at Prairie Rose Public School facilities. Please contact your local school for details.</p><p>As part of the three step <i>Alberta plan for returning to normal</i>, it is likely more changes will be coming throughout the next few weeks. Our division will continue to follow the direction provided by the provincial government as they move toward reopening Alberta.&nbsp;</p><p>Thank you again for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate the challenges of COVID-19. If you have any questions, please contact your school principal.</p>

<p>The Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees will be holding their next public meeting on February 8, 2022, at 12:45 PM. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting will be streamed live.</p><p>The meeting agenda can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ernKY1U7tQ1DWjyzNfKzPQHsghhOqDky/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ernKY1U7tQ1DWjyzNfKzPQHsghhOqDky/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p>The meeting will be held online and can be accessed here: <a href="https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODNhMTE3YjQtZGJiZi00M2JmLTkxNGQtMmYwZTc3ZTE4Yzg2%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22c1a7f361-4369-4e63-af8a-db541e2c097b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f7324c65-36e2-49e7-bfab-e0b3d9aa4a5d%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&amp;btype=a&amp;role=a">Join the Online Meeting</a><br><i>Once you click the link, click cancel (on the pop up), watch on the web instead, join anonymously.</i></p>

<p>On Friday, February 4, 2022, Prairie Rose Public Schools was made aware of a number of organized protests taking place outside our schools in communities across the division. These protests were part of a provincially planned action advocating against public health measures. We acknowledge this action would have caused worry for many of our students and staff. As such, our focus was on providing support in our schools and creating a sense of normalcy throughout the day, as much as possible.</p><ul><li>Our number one priority was to ensure the safety of our students and staff. All efforts were made to provide support and reduce anxiety for students. As part of these efforts, our staff were directed to continue with classes and try to maintain normalcy as much as possible.</li><li>As is consistent with our emergency response Hold and Secure protocol, all school doors were locked and access in and out of schools was monitored throughout the school day.</li><li>Any student who made the choice to actively protest the rules while inside the school building were moved to a location away from the other students. A choice to be at school still requires the student to be responsible for their actions and to follow the expectations for learning in our buildings. The <i>Education Act</i> clearly states that it is a parent’s responsibility to help their student comply with the rules of the school.</li></ul><p>It is extremely unfortunate that our students and staff have been put into the middle of a political debate in which school divisions do not have the authority to make changes. Any concerns that have been shared with us have been passed along to both the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health who are responsible for these decisions.&nbsp;</p><p>These recent events have caused unnecessary challenges and stress on schools. This does not support a positive environment for learning and further impacts the mental health of educators and students. We strongly encourage all community members who have concerns with the current mandates to take their conversations to their local members of government and not our teachers and children.</p><p>Reagan Weeks<br>Superintendent<br>Prairie Rose Public Schools</p><p>Cathy Hogg<br>Board Chair<br>Prairie Rose Public Schools</p>

<p>As we committed to families upon the return to in-person classes on January 10th, Prairie Rose Public Schools has reviewed three key sections of our revised 2022 Re-Entry Plan with regards to field trips, spectators and audience members in schools, and the use of school facilities after school hours.</p><p>✅ &nbsp;Spectators and audience members will be allowed in schools to watch sports and performance events with the following conditions.</p><p>Starting immediately (or when the school can manage the adjustment):</p><ul><li>Each player or performer may have 2 immediate family members attend.</li><li>All visitors must follow the guidelines for visitors in schools, including the requirement to wear a mask for the duration of their time in the building. More details regarding visitors can be found in our <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12HIeN3oaL24UpdR87fT-NGeKXoTXONIU/view">School Re-Entry Plan</a>.</li></ul><p>Starting February 7th:</p><ul><li>The maximum number of visitors at an event cannot exceed ⅓ capacity.</li><li>All visitors must follow the guidelines for visitors in schools, including the requirement to wear a mask for the duration of their time in the building. More details regarding visitors can be found in our <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12HIeN3oaL24UpdR87fT-NGeKXoTXONIU/view">School Re-Entry Plan</a>.</li></ul><p>❌ &nbsp;Outside user groups will continue to be restricted at this time and approved on a case by case basis. This decision will be reviewed again by the end of February.&nbsp;</p><p>❌ &nbsp;Field trips that are not part of an educational program will continue to be restricted at this time. Schools have been asked to reschedule any pre-planned trips until the end of February. This decision will be revisited again at the end of February.</p><p>The full school re-entry plan along with our COVID guidelines can be found here: <a href="https://www.myprps.com/covid-19-resources">https://www.myprps.com/covid-19-resources</a></p>

<p>The full board meeting agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ayjvsHhUIIZTvm4ggNZhYMZTF6fpLzuP/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ayjvsHhUIIZTvm4ggNZhYMZTF6fpLzuP/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p><strong>IF Cox School Presentation</strong></p><p>Principal Linda Asham and Vice Principal Tracy Frank provided an overview of IF Cox School highlighting a number of strategies developed by staff focused on increasing learning opportunities and student success. In their presentation to the board, the school leaders featured several initiatives including; a strong focus on literacy, character education and social emotional learning, and respect for one another and the earth. It was noted the school is really proud of the work their students and teachers have done towards improving literacy across grades K-3 through focused strategies such as Secret Stories and the introduction of Heggerty Phonemic Awareness. The full presentation can be found in the board meeting agenda package.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>COVID-19 Update</strong></p><p>Superintendent Reagan Weeks provided a brief system update regarding the return to in-person learning following the extended winter break. It was noted that currently Prairie Rose has been able to maintain in-person learning across the division with minimal disruption and that a few schools (Prairie Mennonite, Jenner, Parkside) had already received their shipment of PPE (as of Tuesday PM) with the rest expected to come throughout the week. All items will be shipped directly to schools so they can be distributed quickly once they arrive. It was also shared that unlike in previous COVID-19 waves, Alberta Health and the province have made the decision to no longer ask schools to report positive COVID cases to their school communities. The complete Prairie Rose return to school plan and the updated illness guides can be found on the website: <a href="https://www.myprps.com/covid-19-resources">https://www.myprps.com/covid-19-resources</a></p><p><strong>Maintenance and Infrastructure Report</strong></p><p>Director of Maintenance Operations Darrell Drefs provided the Maintenance Accountability Report to the Board for information. Highlights of the report include a summary of the maintenance budget, an overview of projects completed in the 2020-2021 year through Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal (IMR) funding and Capital Maintenance and Renewal (CMR) funding, and a summary of the Prairie Rose Capital Plan. It was shared that during the 2020-2021 year, $592,838 was spent on IMR projects. Some of those upgrades included the modernization of the Oyen Public School entrance, window replacement at Eagle Butte High School, creating barrier-free access at South Central, and upgrading the Ralston server room. Completed CMR projects included (but were not limited to) mechanical upgrades at Parkside, BMS control upgrade at IF Cox, and a fire alarm panel and systems upgrade at Seven Persons. Drefs noted that the main difference between IMR and CMR is how the spending is reported and projects capitalized, and that CMR projects must be pre-approved. Overall, during the 2020-2021 year the actual maintenance deficit came in $195,902 over budget. A complete list and photos on completed projects can be found in the board meeting agenda package.</p><p><strong>Inclusive Education Accountability Report</strong></p><p>Director of Student Services Camille Quinton presented the Inclusive Education Accountability Report to the Board for information. It was noted that the division received an additional $300,000 in funding last year for services and student supports for a total of $4,483,013. The total spent on providing student services amounted to $5,036,985, with the remaining funding coming from general instruction. A breakdown of the types of services and student codes was provided along with allocated funding for each school. The full report can be found in the board meeting agenda package.</p><p><strong>Financial Update</strong></p><p>Assistant Secretary Treasurer Candice Hintz provided a financial update to the Board for information. As of November 2021, the division was 25% of the way through the current fiscal year. There were no reported changes to revenues, compared to the fall 2021 approved budget. The school division is currently projecting overall revenues of $51,511,580 for the year and projected expenses of $52,141,775. Overall, the 2021-2022 school year deficit is expected to come in at $595,195.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Other Items:</strong></p><ul><li>The board approved the borrowing resolution with ATB Financial for the 2021-2022 year.</li></ul>

<p>The Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees will be holding their next public meeting on January 11, 2022, at 12:45 PM. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting will be streamed live.</p><p>The meeting agenda can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ayjvsHhUIIZTvm4ggNZhYMZTF6fpLzuP/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ayjvsHhUIIZTvm4ggNZhYMZTF6fpLzuP/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p>The meeting will be held online and can be accessed here: <a href="https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODI4ODQzNGYtNmE1Ni00ZDJmLTlmMDEtZGUxOTQ4ZjM5YzM1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22c1a7f361-4369-4e63-af8a-db541e2c097b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f7324c65-36e2-49e7-bfab-e0b3d9aa4a5d%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&amp;btype=a&amp;role=a">Join the Online Meeting</a><br><i>Once you click the link, click cancel (on the pop up), watch on the web instead, join anonymously.</i></p>

<p>On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=81695BC01F3A2-FCDD-B660-8693473704E81BE1">January 5th the Alberta Government confirmed</a> that in-person classes would restart on January 10th. With the classes resuming next week, Prairie Rose Public Schools is prepared to welcome back students using enhanced cleaning and health practices such as masking for grades 4-12 (and all adults), cohorting when possible, and enhanced cleaning practices.&nbsp;</p><p>To supplement our current efforts, the government will begin distributing medical grade masks and testing kits to each student and staff member. The school division has been told that we can expect to start seeing shipments of these items as early as Friday, January 7th, although there is no guarantee they will arrive by the start of classes next week. Once schools receive the materials they will be sent home with students. <i>The use of the medical masks and testing kits is optional and can be used at the discretion and guidance of parents. </i>A video has been created with instructions on how to use the <a href="https://youtu.be/h4q7EuAbgE8">testing kits</a> for those who wish to use them.</p><p>Other important information:</p><ul><li>All individuals are still required to review the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12oedZgsqwxJlmL6yMMLlR86E4PeuvGMG/view">Student Illness Guide</a> with their child each day before coming to school. If your child shows any signs of illness, parents will be contacted to pick up their child from school. It is anticipated there will be new changes to the daily checklist, but currently we ask families to follow the same process as prior to the winter break when determining if their child is well enough to attend school. Over the break the government also announced changes to the <a href="https://www.alberta.ca/isolation.aspx">isolation and quarantine timelines</a>. Please take a moment to review the new changes.<br>&nbsp;</li><li>Based on current health data, there will likely be a high number of student and staff absences in the coming weeks due to the rising number of Omicron COVID-19 cases within communities. Should this happen in Prairie Rose, it may be necessary to move a class or classes to online learning for a short period of time. Online learning will only be used as a last resort when it is not possible to offer in-person learning.<br>&nbsp;</li><li>It is our hope that extra curricular activities (including sports programs) will continue as planned. We have not received official confirmation regarding extra curricular and expect more information related to the continuation of these programs in the next few days.<br>&nbsp;</li><li>It is expected that the government will be making several changes to their K-12 school guidance documents. Currently, we do not have additional information related to what these may be, including contact tracing practices. Once we have more information this will be shared with families.<br>&nbsp;</li><li><strong>For high school students only</strong>: Diploma exams have been cancelled for January. Prairie Rose has also made the decision to cancel exam week, which means there will be no final exams for any high school students. Classes will run for all high school students up to and including January 26th. Students will be off on January 27th and January 28th (SI Day). Second semester will begin on January 31st.</li></ul><p>We understand that families may have additional questions. We continue to ask for your patience as we amend our guidelines based on new information from the province. Please watch your email over the weekend, as it is likely you may receive another update from us with these details. As always, we appreciate your cooperation and patience as we navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic and look forward to a return to in-person learning next week.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>Reagan Weeks<br>Superintendent of Schools<br>Prairie Rose Public Schools</p>