GPPSD Board Highlights 2017-01-31

Grande Prairie Public School District

JANUARY 31, 2017

BOARD HIGHLIGHTS Central Office, 10213-99 Street, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 2H3

The Grande Prairie Public School District is a learning community in which every student succeeds GRANDE PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Support our FNMI learners

THE BLANKET EXERCISE

Board of Trustees Board Chair John Lehners Board Vice-Chair JoAnn Cazakoff Trustees Brenda Howard Karen Propokowich Paulette Kurylo Superintendent Alexander (Sandy) McDonald Associate Superintendent - Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Olson Assistant Superintendent - Curriculum Services Nick Radujko Assistant Superintendent - Student Services James Robinson

UPCOMING DISTRICT DATES Regular Board Meeting Tuesday, February 14 06:00 p.m., Central Office Roy Bickell Public School Boundary Meeting Tuesday, February 7 06:30 p.m., Avondale School

Superintendent McDonald provided information to Trustees about the recent Blanket Exercise workshop that staff and administrators attended in late January. The second day’s session hosted teachers and grade 8 students in training for the students to lead the Blanket Exercise at their schools. The Blanket Exercise is a teaching tool that represents historical events in a different manner and is intended to help build understanding of the history of the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples

Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles

BOARD POLICY 1

The Board reviewed the work completed to date on the revision of Board Policy 1. Discussion

LET’S CONNECT:

in Canada. Trustees have participated in the Blanket Exercise previously, and discussed how activities such as this can support the new provincial Teaching Quality Standards and the proposed Leadership Standards. Superintendent McDonald shared how activities like this are planned to help build deeper understanding within our system of the foundational knowledge necessary to support our FNMI learners. For more information, visit: http://kairosblanketexercise.org/

@GPPSD2357

@GPPSD2357

focused on the importance of this policy to guiding all work that occurs in the District. Trustees are planning a half-day retreat with administrators on the topic of continuous improvement and the importance of using evidence to support planning and decision-making.

Trustees noted the significant learning opportunities involved in policy revision and identified a desire to review all Board Policies in future years to ensure they are current and effective in guiding District practice.

GPPSD2357

GPPSD.AB.CA

780-532-4491

Page 2

GPPSD BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY 31, 2017

School Assurance Meetings

Update on

The Board shared their reflections on the IV Macklin Public School, Parkside Montessori and Maude Clifford Public School assurance meetings held last Thursday. Again, Trustees were excited to hear of the specific strategies put in place at schools to address student learning needs. The use of evidence to respond and make adjustments to practice in the school was observed. Note was made, again, of the positive learning-focused cultures and the enthusiasm evident in our schools.

Superintendent McDonald provided Trustees with an update re: the status of the Board’s request to increase the number of Trustees on the Board from 5 to 7 in response to population growth within the City. The request has been approved and an electoral ward order, formally authorizing the request, will be issued by the government in March and allow for the election of 7 Trustees in the October 2017.

STUDENT LEARNING NEEDS MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Induction and Retirement Ceremony

The week of January 23rd to 27th

FOR LOCAL ATA

LITERACY WEEK REPORT

The week of January 23rd to 27th was Literacy Week in our schools. Trustees, central office administrators and community members were invited to many of our schools to read to students.

The energy and enthusiasm in planning Literacy Week themes and events was highlighted by Trustees. Staff and students are to be commended for their significant efforts.

LET’S CONNECT:

@GPPSD2357

Trustees shared their appreciation for the invitations to the Local ATA Induction and Retirement Ceremony, planned for February 25th, and those who are able to attend are looking forward to celebrating that evening with the new and retiring teachers in Grande Prairie Public.

@GPPSD2357

GPPSD2357

GPPSD.AB.CA

780-532-4491