Board Meeting Highlights - January 14, 2025
Additional information can be found in the January 14, 2025, Board Meeting Agenda package: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gQJ5UU6d8ubt7QD0pe4d-QiEn9eb8cxP/view?usp=drive_link
Burdett School Presentation
Principal Scott Raible presented an update on the progress and initiatives at Burdett School, which primarily serves a Mennonite community. The presentation highlighted the school’s efforts under three themes: Kindling Hearts, Forging Futures, and Igniting Minds.
Under Kindling Hearts, Raible shared how the school is fostering connections with parents and the community. Students performed a bilingual Christmas concert in German and English, breaking the tradition of separate performances. Other activities include fun hair days, drama productions, and a new music program with performances shared in Bow Island and Burdett. Fitness Fridays, regular therapy dog visits, monthly reading challenges, and a unique program where students teach parents UFLI (a literacy program) further illustrate the school’s commitment to engagement.
In the area of Forging Futures, the school introduced a new cooking program and two leadership teams while also recognizing students who exemplify integrity and positive character traits. Basketball has become a significant highlight, with most students in grades 6-9 participating on teams and enjoying loud and enthusiastic support at games.
Under the theme of Igniting Minds, Raible discussed the school’s creative academic initiatives. Students raised funds to bring a speaker from the Eagle Butte Observatory and create their books using Book Creator. Library “book tastings” are further sparking an interest in reading. Under the direction of teacher Angie Angle, STEM is also a big hit with the students. Using Thinking Classrooms and applied learning projects in science and math has greatly increased student enthusiasm for learning.
Looking ahead, the school has plans to add more hands-on learning opportunities. With approval from the County of 40 Mile, a fully enclosed chicken coop with ten hens will be introduced in March. The school has also been approved to establish honey bee hives and is exploring the possibility of adding cutter bees to their program.
Learn more about what’s happening at Burdett School by following them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burdettschool
AgPro Courses
Nichole Neubauer presented an update on the new AgPro courses, introduced the Prairie Rose Honey project, and shared her vision for establishing a South Alberta Agriculture Academy for high school students.
The AgPro program focuses on preparing students to become agriculture professionals by connecting them with industry experts and exposing them to diverse career opportunities within the field. Students can enrol in courses such as AgPro Beef, AgPro Crops, AgPro Machinery and Technology (in collaboration with Western Tractor), AgPro Event Planning, and Farm Safety. A new AgPro Business course is also in development, where students will present their projects in a “Dragon’s Den”-style format.
A Community Foundations Grant is funding the creation of video resources to make the AgPro content more accessible. These videos will allow the program to reach classrooms and school divisions that cannot visit the physical sites featured in the curriculum.
The Prairie Rose Honey project, a new initiative led by Nichole in collaboration with Sheldon Hill (former owner of Sweet Pure Honey), aims to teach students all aspects of beekeeping. This includes building frames and boxes, caring for bees, harvesting honey, and producing items like candles and lip balm.
Looking ahead, Nichole envisions a South Alberta Agriculture Academy for high school students. The academy would provide hands-on education in areas such as agricultural business, crop and animal sciences, and the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment. The program would prepare students for immediate employment after graduation by partnering with industry experts. Central to this vision is the creation of a multifunctional building designed to support various agricultural pathways, addressing an education gap that currently exists.
Staff Wellness Update
Tammy Toews, Manager of Human Resources, presented the Wellness Accountability Report, emphasizing the guiding principles of care, fostering connections, and promoting healthy and safe work environments.
Tammy began by reviewing Extended Disability Benefit (EDB) claims, which are considered long-term leave and fall under Occupational Health and Safety’s EL#14. This policy encompasses both physical and psychological well-being, including mental health.
With an increase in EDB claims, the focus has shifted toward improving workplace culture. Initiatives include proactive collaboration with school leaders, gathering employee feedback, partnering with the Horizon School Division, and conducting HEARTcare planning discussions and new teacher orientations. Additional efforts include sharing wellness bulletins with staff, providing ongoing resources and updates from ASEBP, and supporting school-based wellness activities.
A significant development is the implementation of ASEBP’s new sick leave program, which took effect on January 1, 2025. The program has demonstrated improved employee outcomes through active case management and medically supported return-to-work plans. These strategies have been shown to reduce EDB claims, and Tammy expressed optimism that Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) will see similarly positive results.
Student Wellness Update
Greg Godard, Division Psychologist, began his presentation by announcing the change of the title Family School Liaison Worker (FSLW) to School Wellness Counsellor (SWC). The division now has seven SWCs supporting schools across PRPS, alongside a school psychologist and a mental health professional dedicated to the South Alberta Hockey Academy.
In their roles, SWCs provide individual counselling to help students normalize, stabilize, and regulate their emotions while offering coping strategies to help them thrive despite challenging circumstances. Group sessions are also held for students facing similar issues, fostering peer support and helping them realize they are not alone. Additionally, PRPS offers free parent training to strengthen parent-child attachment, with an upcoming online session available to parents.
A new Crisis Response Manual, developed by Godard, was distributed to all PRPS schools in September. The manual provides guidance on addressing crises or traumatic events. Its purpose is to help schools ensure that students feel safe and supported, facilitating open conversations that promote emotional regulation, stabilization, and normalization.
Data from September to December 2024 revealed three main wellness concerns among students: anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and family-related issues. Emerging concerns in the PRPS student population include anxiety, overuse of screens, reversed family hierarchies (where children, rather than parents, exert control), and a growing trend of students self-diagnosing, often inaccurately. Godard recommended the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, which examines the impact of social media since 2012 and the decline in free play among children. The book also offers practical solutions to address these challenges.
Financial Update
Finance Controller Candice Hintz presented the Financial Accountability Report as of November 30, 2024. Funding from Alberta Education exceeded projections by $543,270, attributed to grant adjustments, increased enrollment, and the receipt of a Dual Credit Grant, Digital Assessment Grant, and Community Grant.
Additional staffing led to increased salary expenses, with certified staff salaries rising by $45,453 and non-certified staff salaries by $147,751. While total expenses are over budget by $497,795, the overall expected deficit has decreased, reflecting improved financial positioning despite the higher costs.
Other Items:
- The board approved changes to Policy GP #5 – Board Committees.
- The board approved Introduction to Educational Assistant 35 as a locally approved course for school use.