Grande Prairie Public School District
January 30, 2018
BOARD HIGHLIGHTS Central Office, 10127 120 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 8H8
The Grande Prairie Public School District is a learning community in which every student succeeds BOARD OF TRUSTEES BOARD CHAIR John Lehners BOARD VICE-CHAIR Joan Nellis TRUSTEES Andre Ouellette Lesley Craig Lynn Driedger Paulette Kurylo Rob Martin SUPERINTENDENT Alexander McDonald ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, SECRETARY-TREASURER Norm Guindon ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES Nick Radujko ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF PROGRAMS & PLANNING James Robinson ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, STUDENT SERVICES Christina Farquharson
REGULAR
BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2018 06:00 P.M., CENTRAL OFFICE FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS: February 27, 2018 March 13, 2018 March 27, 2018 April 17, 2018 May 8, 2018 May 22, 2018 June 12, 2018
Trustee Lesley Craig reading to students at Isabel Campbell Public School during Literacy Week.
PRESENTATION BY TYLA SAVARD
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Tyla Savard from the Peace Country Drug Awareness Coalition presented to the Board of Trustees on the Opioid Crisis in Grande Prairie and area. Ms. Savard provided the Board a quick recap of what opioids are and how they affect the body. She introduced the impact of Fentanyl, which is a very potent synthetic opioid significantly stronger than morphine. She also provided local statistics regarding the impact of opioid use on Grande Prairie and within our region. Ms. Savard and Trustees discussed how naloxone kits are available within the community to counter the impact of the overdose and discussed District plans to locate them within schools.
Superintendent McDonald reported that the meeting began with a presentation from the Teacher Education programs offered at Grande Prairie Regional College followed by a discussion with the college staff on ways to improve the effectiveness of student teacher practicum placements. After this presentation, the majority of the meeting was focused on reviewing our practice around teacher growth, supervision and evaluation and other Administrative Procedures that are in the process of being reviewed.
Opioid Crisis
Let’s Connect:
GPPSD2357
www.gppsd.ab.ca
Principal’s meeting on January 17, 2018
Read more news:
http://cli.re/gppsdboardnews
Page 2 | GPPSD BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
2018-2019 School Year calendar Assistant Superintendent Nick Radujko presented the Board with a recommendation for the 2018-2019 school calendar, highlighting the process used to collect feedback from a variety of staff groups. The Board expressed their pleasure with the collaboration done with the staff and local districts to ensure that the calendars serving the residents of Grande Prairie were as close as could be accomplished. The Board passed a motion to adopt the new calendar and information will be posted online in the near future and shared with staff, students and parents.
ThoughtExchange update
January 30, 2018
and hear from apprentices about the programs they are taking. The tour was well received by both students and area businesses. Superintendent McDonald noted that this program is an important strategy to help students make the decision on whether or not a future in the trades is for them. There are two more tours planned for this year including one specifically targeting females interested in pursuing a trades based career.
Public School Boards’ Association (PSBAA) Student Voice The PSBAA has a program that provides students from school districts the opportunity to attend the Fall and Spring PSBAA conferences and participate in discussions about education in Alberta. Superintendent McDonald discussed with Trustees a plan to assemble a group of students to meet with the Board once or twice to hear directly from students and also to prepare the students for the opportunity to engage with their peers from across the province.
CULTURE AND ENGAGEMENT The planning for the ThoughtExchange process is complete and online engagement will begin in mid-February. Staff are currently gathering the emails and Superintendent McDonald is preparing an introductory email and video to introduce the importance of the process and encourage staff, students and parents to participate.
Invitation to partake in the School Nutrition Program at Swanavon School Trustees were invited to a luncheon on Thursday, February 15th at Swanavon School to sample the offerings of the School Nutrition program at that school. Swanavon students will be serving in a variety of official school roles, such as Principal for the Day, and will lead the event and share with Trustees some highlights of the nutrition program.
Careers: the Next GenerationTour of the Trades Superintendent McDonald reported on work being led by Kim Frykas, Director of Instruction, with Careers: the Next Generation to provide students a “Tour of the Trades”. The participating students visit four businesses in a day
Let’s Connect:
GPPSD2357
FEBRUARY Full day off for students as it is 2 a Professional Learning Day for staff Valentine’s Day 14 National Flag of Canada Day 15 Family Day 19 Pink Shirt Day 28 MARCH Full day off for students as it is 2 a Professional Learning Day for staff Full day off for students as it is 8-9 Teacher’s Convention Late Entry French Immersion 13 registration and information National Pi day 14 Day off for students and staff as it 23 is a day off in lieu of PTI’s First day for English language 27 kindergarten registration including the Montessori preschool/ kindergarten programming First day for French Immersion 28 preschool/kindergarten registration Good Friday 30 APRIL Easter break 1-8 First day back from Easter break 9 Full day off for students as it is 20 a Professional Learning Day for staff
Literacy Week Events
MAY 13 18
Alberta Health Services (AHS) Youth Day Superintendent McDonald reported to Trustees on work being led by Assistant Superintendent Chris Farquharson and representatives from the other school districts and Alberta Health Services to create a new day program for local youth struggling with mental health and/or addiction issues. Superintendent McDonald noted that funding has been provided by AHS to provide counselling support and the representatives from the school districts are working with AHS staff to build a plan to address the educational needs of participants in the program.
NEWS & EVENTS
21
Trustees and Central Office staff were in our schools last week reading to our students. Everyone enjoyed the experience and expressed their appreciation to the schools, teachers and students for the invitations to be part of the celebrations.
Mother’s Day Full day off for students as it is a Professional Learning Day for staff Victoria day
JUNE Full day off for students as it is 1 a Professional Learning Day for staff Father’s Day 17 National Indigenous Peoples Day 21 Last day for students 28 Last day for staff 29 JULY Canada Day 1 AUGUST Heritage Day 6
BUSINESS SERVICES
Transportation report Norm Guindon, Associate Superintendent of Business Services/Secretary-Treasurer provided Trustees a report on transportation services provided through First Student Bussing. He provided background into the data we use to measure performance of the contractor. Of note, Mr. Guindon proudly highlighted the 96.9% on time performance of GPPSD buses and expressed appreciation to First Student and our Transportation staff for the significant improvements over time. As well, ridership has increased correspondingly as satisfaction with the service has increased. Trustees expressed appreciation for the information shared, and encourage parents to consider using the bus service when possible as a way to decrease traffic at our school sites in the mornings and afternoons.
www.gppsd.ab.ca
Read more news:
CONTACT INFORMATION MOHAMMAD HAIDAR Communications & Design Specialist 780-532-4491 Ext. 1013 mohammad.haidar@gppsd.ab.ca
http://cli.re/gppsdboardnews
Grande Prairie Public School District 2018-2019 CALENDAR K-12 – Approved AUGUST 2018 S
M
T
W
Th
5
6
7
12
13
19
F
S
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
14
15
16
20
21
22
26
27
28
29
S
M
T
W
Th
F
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
16
17
18
19
23
24
25
26
29 30 31
Professional Learning Day Professional Learning Day School Org Day
M
T
W
Th
11
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
17
18
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
23
24
25
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
30
31
24
25
26
27
28
S
M
T
W
Th
F
S
1
2
8
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
14
15
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
20
21
22
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
27
28
29
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
F
S
SEPTEMBER 2018 S
1
3/0
3 4 28
Labour Day First Day of School Professional Learning Day
19/18
30
F
S
1
2
MARCH 2019
M
T
W
Th
F
S
8 19
Thanksgiving Professional Learning Day
APRIL 2019 S
M
T
W
Th
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
28
29
30
S
M
T
W
S
M
T
F
S
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
18
19
20
25
26
27
S
M
T
W
Th
F
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
16
17
18
19
23
24
25
26
30
31
NOVEMBER 2018 S
11 12 23
Remembrance Day Remembrance Day Stat Professional Learning Day
MAY 2019
F
1
2
3
8
9
10
5
6
7
14
15
16
17
12
13
21
22
23
24
19
20
28
29
30
26
27
S
M
T
W
Th
F
8
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
14
15
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
20
21
22
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
27
28
29
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
S
1
21/20
7 Day in Lieu 14 Professional Learning Day 22-31 Christmas Break
14/13
W
Th
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
14
15
16
17
18
21
22
23
24
25
28
29
30
31
JUNE 2019 S
1
30
Day off for Students & Staff
JANUARY 2019 M
22/21
Th
DECEMBER 2018
S
8 18
Professional Learning Day Family Day
19/18
7/8 Teachers’ Convention 15 Professional Learning Day 23-31 Spring Break
16/13
31
OCTOBER 2018 S
FEBRUARY 2019 S
T
W
Th
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1-6 7 18 31
Christmas Break First Day Back Professional Learning Day Start of Semester 2
18/17 Semester 1 1/1 Semester 2
Full Day off for Students
97/89 Semester 1 98/90 Semester 2 195/179 Total
1 12 19 22
First Day Back Professional Learning Day Good Friday Day in Lieu
20/19
10 20
Professional Learning Day Victoria Day
22/21
7 21 27 28
Professional Learning Day National Aboriginal Day Last Day for Students Last Day for Staff
20/18