GPPSD Board Highlights 2017-02-14

Grande Prairie Public School District

FEBRUARY 14, 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

Supports provided by the districtto its students

PROGRAMS UPDATE

Program Partnership

KIDS, COPS & COMPUTERS

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

The Trustees were provided an update of the various centralized supports provided by the district to its students. Many of these programs only exist in the manner that they do as a result of Board decisions made to address identified needs of students in GPPSD. These programs provide students a broader range of opportunities and access to supports that they normally would not have had at their school sites.

Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles

BOARD POLICY 1 - CONT

Regular Board Meeting Tuesday, February 28 06:00 p.m., Central Office

The Board and site administrators (Principals and Vice-Principals) are meeting again as a continuation of the process begun last November in which they are collaboratively working to drill down into data gathering to gain input on Board Policy 1-Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles.

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The RCMP Foundation sponsors a national program called Kids, Cops and Computers and has asked the district to be a part of their program.

As a result, 20 computers will be provided to students at Crystal Park School. These students will participate in a Lead and Learn program that will teach them about responsible use and digital citizenship practices. Grade 7 students were identified based upon leadership skills and their positive attitude towards education. After participation and successful completion the students get to keep the laptop.

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Page 2

GPPSD BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

February 8, 2017

Roy Bickell Public School Boundary

Mr. McDonald reported on the work that administrators did on February 8th under the direction of Charlene Bearhead from the Truth and Reconciliation Foundation. She presented on the long lasting impact of Residential Schools and how education needs to work collaboratively to address these impacts. Charlene’s visit is to support building Foundational FNMI knowledge in the District and support pending implementation of the new FNMI teaching standard and FNMI Leadership standard.

Over the past three weeks members of the senior administration and Board Trustees have been engaging with the Avondale staff and parent community concerning Roy Bickell School and the school boundary. The Board has approved an attendance boundary which identifies that Roy Bickell Public School will serve the neighbourhoods of Royal Oaks, Westgate, Gateway, Northridge, and Arbour Hills. Avondale School will serve the neighbourhoods of Avondale and College Park. The boundary map is available on our website at http: www.gppsd.ab.ca

ADMINISTRATOR’S MEETING BOUNDARY UPDATE

Locally Developed Courses

APPROVAL - FILM STUDIES Tournament Update 15-3; 15-5; 25-3; 25-5; 35-3; 35-5 GRADE 7/8 BASKETBALL

Film Studies is a course stream provided through the locally developed course structure from Alberta Education that many students in Grande Prairie Public high schools are currently registered in. The process requires courses to be reauthorized so that GPPSD can continue offering the courses. The ability to offer these types of courses which provide students more opportunities to explore their interests is an important component of GPPSD school planning.

The Board were pleased that opportunities like Film Studies are being adopted by our students.

Meeting:

SCHOOL ASSURANCE

The last two rounds of School Assurance meetings took place over the past two weeks.

Alexander Forbes School, École Montrose, Crystal Park School, Isabel Campbell Public School and Riverstone Public School presented to Board members and members of senior administration.

These assurance meetings have provided an opportunity for Trustees to gain a clearer picture of how school cultures are focusing on the needs of the learners at each site. School administration took the opportunity to present their school profiles to the Trustees and discuss how teachers and staff collaborate to address each site’s specific needs through intentional planning and the building of learning cultures. Trustees noted that they found these sessions to be informative and appreciated the view of the schools and our students that they were provided.

LET’S CONNECT:

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Superintendent McDonald shared an update that 33 basketball teams exist in grade 7/8 spread amongst 8 schools. This is a similar level of engagement that we see in junior high volleyball.

Trustees appreciate the excellent commitment from teachers, staff, community coaches and our students to ensure that we see this type of activity level.

Roy Bickell Public School

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Roy Bickell Public School will be our 18th school and is on track to open for September 1st, 2017.

Jeff Olsen, Associate Superintendent of Business Services, provided an overview of the progress of the build plus also provided insights into the building and its large fields.

Infrastructure, Maintenance & Renewal Funding

IMR FUNDING

Jeff Olsen also provided an update on the estimated projections for Infrastructure, Maintenance and Renewal (IMR) projects in GPPSD. IMR is funding provided by the government to address infrastructure concerns such as new windows, new boilers, painting, new sidewalks, etc. A listing of schools and planned projects was provided for the Board.

@GPPSD2357

GPPSD2357

GPPSD.AB.CA

780-532-4491