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Grande Prairie Public School District

September 26, 2017

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 JoAnn Cazakoff TRUSTEES Brenda Howard Paulette Kurylo SUPERINTENDENT Alexander McDonald ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT, SECRETARY-TREASURER Jeff Olson ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES Nick Radujko ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF PROGRAMS & PLANNING James Robinson ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, STUDENT SERVICES Christina Farquharson

UPCOMING DISTRICT DATES

District Elementary Fun Run

Stafﬁng and enrolments

Superintendent McDonald reported on the annual GPPSD Elementary Cross Country Fun Run for students in K-6 and their families. It was held on Saturday, September 23rd at Muskoseepi Park. Thank you to James Robinson, Assistant Superintendent of Programs and Planning and Douglas Tordoff, teacher at Swanavon School for their coordination of the event during a busy time of the school year. Special thanks also go to the administrators and staff from Swanavon School, Aspen Grove School, Derek Taylor School and Hillside School for their support in making the event a success.

Since the last meeting, Superintendent McDonald noted that our enrolments have held relatively steady, and the increase over the prior year enrolments remains higher than anticipated. In particular, the increase in the number of students new to the District this year, and the number attending Charles Spencer High School for grades 9-12 French Immersion was discussed by Trustees. After our final enrolment figures are submitted on September 30, 2017 to Alberta Education, he will provide a final report on enrolments. To date, GPPSD has added 5.5 teachers at the K-8 level to address class sizes at these grades and 1.0 teacher at the 9-12 level to address class size concerns at the high school level.

Principal’s Meeting

Multi-Grade classrooms in GPPSD

REGULAR BOARD MEETING Tuesday, October 10, 2017 06:00 p.m., Central Ofﬁce

Superintendent McDonald provided Trustees with an overview of the content discussed at the September principal’s meeting. A review of the school year start-up procedures, and the effective start to the school year across District schools, was discussed. In addition, the work District and school administrators and teachers have done to create common understanding about the implication of the new limits on teacher instructional time and teacher assignable time, which are a result of the provincial collective bargaining process, was shared with Trustees.

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Superintendent McDonald provided information for Trustees regarding the use of multi-graded classrooms in GPPSD. Discussion occurred about best practices for structuring classrooms and shared a document with Trustees that outlines the types of considerations and support that factor into creating multi-grade classrooms in the District. Kim Frykas Director of Instruction, collaborated with the administrative staff at I.V. Macklin School to build the document for teachers, administrators and parents on this topic that was shared with Trustees. The Multi Grade Classrooms in GPPSDInformation for Parents document addresses myths and realities about multi-grade classrooms and it will be made available to parents in schools and through the GPPSD website.

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Page 2 | GPPSD BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

Orange Shirt Day September 29, 2017

Trustee Cazakoff brought information to the Board on the upcoming Orange Shirt Day to recognize the Residential School legacy for First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities and students. Friday, September 29th will see students wearing orange to schools and there are community events, organized by the City of Grande Prairie and the Grande Prairie Circle of Aboriginal Services, planned for Saturday, September 30th, 2017 at the Montrose Cultural Centre.

Social Media workshop for Trustee candidates

Superintendent McDonald discussed the workshop on Social Media for Trustee candidates that was facilitated by Mohammad Haidar, Communications and Design Specialist for GPPSD. Trustees and staff who attended felt that the workshop went well and provided valuable information for the candidates.

September 26, 2017

Friends of Education

NEWS & EVENTS

Trustees reported on the recent Friends of Education awards banquet held in Peace River on September 13th. Trustees shared with great pride the impact this year’s nominees, Serge and Tracey Allard from the GP Tim Horton’s stores, have had on our students. For the past several years, the Allards have sponsored over 150 District students per year to attend the Tim Horton’s camp in Kananaskis, providing them with significant learning and life opportunities they otherwise may not have. A HUGE GPPSD-style thank you to the Allards!

50TH ANNUAL BOARD SOCIAL Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

New Composite High School Land Swap Jeff Olson, Associate Superintendent of Business Services/Secretary Treasurer advised that the City of Grande Prairie and Alberta Infrastructure have agreed to a land swap to facilitate the upcoming construction of the new Grande Prairie Composite High School. Formalizing the transfer of the piece of land between the City and the government is the last piece of preparation for the start of the process to design the replacement school. Startup meetings to kick off the design process are booked and Trustees are excited to see that process begin.

50th Annual School Board Social Administration reported to Trustees that tickets for the 50th annual School Board Social are just about all gone, with only approximately 40 of the 700 tickets remaining for this year. The event is planned for Saturday, October 14th, at the Entrec Centre. Staff interested in attending this special anniversary are encouraged to contact Nicole Chappell, in HR, ASAP.

CONTACT INFORMATION PHONE 780-532-4491 EMAIL communications@gppsd.ab.ca

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