Prairie Rose Public Schools May 28 Board Meeting

Principal Corey Steeves and Vice Principal Angela Hazell from Foremost School gave a presentation showcasing what has been happening at the school this year. The school had a book study with all teachers on the Teacher Clarity Playbook that recently wrapped up. Falcon 50 was initiated, where staff made 50 positive calls to homes of students. They had a pep rally style celebration of growth and learning midyear. The school has been asking what they can do for the community and brought in community members to have conversations with high school students. Additionally, students engaged with seniors in the community, having coffee conversations that will result in the publishing of a book. The school also started a boy’s and men’s group and expanded mini ball to include Grade 1 and 2 students this year.

Carol Carlson presented the annual First Nations, Métis and Inuit Report to Prairie Rose Public School (PRPS) trustees for information at the May 28 board meeting. Within PRPS there are 41 Status First Nations, 45 Non-status First Nations, 95 Metis and 2 Inuit self-identified students. Assurance measures were intermediate for three-year high school completion and high for five-year high school completion for FMNI students.

Dreamcatcher and soap making kits continue to circulate around PRPS each month. A drum kit has been added this year, which contains seven sets of four drums with drumsticks, which is currently being piloted at IF Cox School.

This year, there are a total of 17 FMNI identified students graduating from PRPS high schools and each will receive a handmade Indigenous drum made by local Indigenous artisans with the PRPS logo on them.

The Timeless Tales: Intergenerational Story Writing Project began at Eagle Butte High School but now has a more intentional focus across the division, PRPS Instructional Lead Kelly-Ann Nixdorf explained to the board. Following a lesson on age and ageism, students engage with seniors in a care facility. The project uses combined methods to connect people using creativity and imagination.

The outcome of the project will be a published book that was written based on the interactions of students with the seniors. The school, local library and care facility will each receive one of the books. The project has been life changing for both the seniors and students with many students showing increased attendance at school since the it began. Feedback from students has been positive with the experience altering the career paths of some. Students were reluctant to have the project end and organized bingo parties and cookie decorating parties with the care facility they were connected to.

In her executive report, Superintendent Reagan Weeks shared that the new South Alberta Collegiate building was granted temporary occupancy on Monday, May 27 and will begin use with students on Friday, May 31. Additionally, PRPS is developing new CTF options that will feed into some high school programming. The next ones that will become available include aerospace and aviation along with one centred on digital skills for junior high students.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer