This Is Us - Wicihitowin: Inspiring lifelong learners and engaged citizens

Prairie Valley Schools - Board of Education Strategic Plan Prairie Valley Schools - Board of Education Strategic Plan2022-2026 2022-2026 September 2022 August 2022 Update

Prairie Valley School Division Board of Education L-R: Trustee Tara-Leigh Heslip, Trustee Frank Thauberger, Trustee Lisa Grudnizki, Trustee Jana Wolfe, Trustee Janet Kotylak, Trustee Terry Berglund, Trustee Judy Bradley, Trustee Rachel Sangwais, Trustee Verne Barber, Trustee Marlene Blatter.

A strategy, no matter how beautifully crafted, has to be executed by and with the people. Therefore, invest in the people.

Communicate the vision and strategy to them. Give them the opportunity to demonstrate how their day-to-day activities contribute to the organization’s strategy.”

-Benjamin Kofi Quansah, CGMS

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

About Prairie Valley Prairie Valley School Division, located in southeastern Saskatchewan, covers 27,000 square kilometres. We are uniquely rural, consisting of towns, villages, resort villages and rural municipalities. Our geographic size has an impact on our cost structures and delivery models.

We are located on Treaty 4 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation, operating 39 schools in 32 communities. Our region spans from Regina Beach and Bethune to the west, Kelliher and Lipton to the north, Milestone, Sedley and Montmartre to the south and Whitewood and Kennedy Langbank to the east.

Arm River and Lajord are the two Hutterite Colony schools in our division. Fifteen First Nations are within or close to our Division: Piapot, Muscowpetung, Pasqua, Standing Buffalo, Little Black Bear, Okanese, Star Blanket, Peepeekisis, Muskowekwan, Carry-the-Kettle, Zagime Anishinabek, Cowessess, Kahkewistahaw, Ochapowace and Pheasant Rump. Last Mountain Lake First Nation, also known as Kinookimaw (Long Lake) is also within our Division boundaries.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

Messages from the Board Chair and Director of Education The 2022-2026 Strategic Plan represents the cumulative effort of hundreds of people in Prairie Valley who care about children. It aligns with the Saskatchewan Provincial Education Plan and it presents the very best of us—both in terms of who we are and who we aspire to be in the future.

Each one of our schools has significant areas of strength as well as opportunities for improvement. Prairie Valley School Division faces some significant challenges.

There has been and will continue to be financial pressures. In terms of sheer size, we are as large as some European countries. Our buses run 27,000 kilometres each school day. Regardless of the challenges we will continue towards our goal of providing quality education to over 8,500 students. The focus of the Board’s strategic plan is building capacity. Whether we are talking about students or staff, families or communities, we want to do better every year.

Every one of our employees arrives at their job dedicated to providing the best possible public education to those who come through our doors. School Community Councils, parents and communities also support our students. We all do this to serve students, regardless of their personal circumstances or where they live.

This Is Us – Wicihitowin.

The title of this report is This Is Us – Wicihitowin. Wicihitowin is the Cree word for “we help each other”. This word reflects our commitment to work together with all our communities including the neighbouring First Nations communities. It demonstrates our commitment to the principles of truth and reconciliation.

The plan we have prepared brings to a close a robust, year-long planning and information gathering process. We visited every corner of our school division.

Before every major trip, we enter our destination into the GPS and that way, we know where we are going, some of the obstacles we may face, the choices we may have to make along the way. We’re reminded of the principles we will never sacrifice, whether that be our commitment to safety, obeying all speed limits or a desire to get to the destination at a specific time. Think of this document as our coordinates for the future.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

Our Mission

Inspiring lifelong learners and engaged citizens

Our Vision

Our Strategic Planning Process: How We Got to Here Our Values Success in learning and life

Compassion – our caring approach for others with empathy, kindness, and genuine concern without judgement This Strategic Plan document represents a year long process of exploration, consultation, and reflection. It Beloour ngindesire g - embracing equity, diversity, andthe inclusion where all are accepted with equal opportunity represents to continuously improve on student experience. for success Prairie Valley faces several obvious challenges. This includes fiscal constraints, distance, a harsh and Integclimate rity – honest, ethical behavior, infrastructure. that is being true to our word, and taking ownership for our unrelenting and aging educational actions During our year of exploration, some common themes Collaboration – engaging in meaningful relationships and partnerships built on mutual trust and quickly emerged: open transparent communication · A desire to offer safe and nurturing school environments to Curfrom iositya–wide inspiring excellence, growth and improvement fueled by innovation, creativity, and students variety of backgrounds. courage · A spirit of volunteerism and engagement of the community that goes far beyond the four walls of the classroom. · A commitment approach, Our Boto ld innovation Aspiratioinn curricular - We asp ire to… use of S u c c e s s materials, and enhancement of technology. …all students attain the skills for success · A commitment to fostering thelife mental health and through well- relevant learning … all students & staff thrive as they realize their full potential being of students and staff. …all schools exemplify relationships that embrace and welcome everyone, whatever their background, orientation, and level of achievement With the assistance of our consultant, the Board met far and wide—with Engastudents, gement staff and School Community Councils.

In all of …all our meetings we were guided byadults Wicihitowin a students benefit from caring who are– committed to their education …all stakeholders contribute to public education involving students in activities that support local desire for true collaboration and a commitment to helping community each other. …all staff realize opportunities related to local partnerships with parents and local citizens Using a standard SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, TeamwoThreats), rk Opportunities, we challenged everyone to think …all experience physical and mental well-being accessing the resources to achieve their best about where we areembrace now, what we do well what wetocan …all schools innovation andand technology offer unique learning opportunities improve…all upon.

We asked about their hopes, their dreams staff feel valued in a trusting work culture with a shared vision and renewed commitment and their aspirations.

Without this rich and robust process, it would have been impossible to realize what we have been able to accomplish with this document.

As we continue to learn and grow together over the next four years, we will share more of what we have done and plan additional strategies.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

Our Our Mission Mission

Inspiring Inspiring lifelong lifelong learners learners and and engaged engaged citizens citizens

Our Our Vision Vision

Success Success in in learning learning and and life life

Our Our Values Values

Compassion Compassion –– our our caring caring approach approach for for others others with with empathy, empathy, kindness, kindness, and and genuine genuine concern concern without judgement without judgement Belonging Belonging –– embracing embracing equity, equity, diversity, diversity, and and inclusion inclusion where where all all are are accepted accepted with with equal equal opportunity for success opportunity for success Integrity Integrity –– honest, honest, ethical ethical behavior, behavior, that that is is being being true true to to our our word, word, and and taking taking ownership ownership for for our our actions actions Collaboration partnerships built built on on mutual mutual trust trust and and Collaboration –– engaging engaging in in meaningful meaningful relationships relationships and and partnerships open, transparent communication open, transparent communication Curiosity Curiosity –– inspiring inspiring excellence, excellence, growth growth and and improvement improvement fueled fueled by by innovation, innovation, creativity, creativity, and and courage courage

Our Our Bold Bold Aspiration Aspiration -- We We aspire aspire to… to…

Success Success …all …all students students attain attain the the life life skills skills for for success success through through relevant relevant learning learning …all students and staff thrive as they realize their full …all students and staff thrive as they realize their full potential potential …all …all schools schools exemplify exemplify relationships relationships that that embrace embrace and and welcome welcome everyone, everyone, whatever whatever their their background, orientation, and level of achievement background, orientation, and level of achievement Engagement Engagement …all …all students students benefit benefit from from caring caring adults adults who who are are committed committed to to their their education education …all stakeholders contribute to public education involving students in …all stakeholders contribute to public education involving students in activities activities that that support support local local community community …all …all staff staff realize realize opportunities opportunities related related to to local local partnerships partnerships with with parents parents and and local local citizens citizens Teamwork Teamwork …all …all experience experience physical physical and and mental mental well-being well-being accessing accessing the the resources resources to to achieve achieve their their best best …all …all schools schools embrace embrace innovation innovation and and technology technology to to offer offer unique unique learning learning opportunities opportunities …all …all staff staff feel feel valued valued in in a a trusting trusting work work culture culture with with a a shared shared vision vision and and renewed renewed commitment commitment

Our Our Bold Bold Aspiration: Aspiration: Success Success -- Engagement Engagement -- Teamwork Teamwork

Our Mission: Inspiring Lifelong Learners and Engaged Citizens Our Mission: Inspiring Lifelong Learners and Engaged Citizens Our Vision: Success in Learning and Life Vision: Lifelong Success in Learning and Life Citizens Our Mission:Our Inspiring Learners and Engaged Our Values: Compassion; Belonging; Integrity; Collaboration; Curiosity Our Vision:Belonging; Success inIntegrity; Learning and Life Our Values: Compassion; Collaboration; Curiosity StrategicIntegrity; Priorities: Our Values: Compassion;Our Belonging; Our Strategic Priorities:Collaboration; Curiosity Our Strategic Priorities: …throug h rs…

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Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork Our Our Bold Bold Aspiration: Aspiration: Success Success -- Engagement Engagement -- Teamwork Teamwork

Priority I

“Learn as much as you can when you are young. When you get old, you will not have as much time and will have to get a job.”

-Prairie Valley Student

Enhance Student Achievement and Future Success ✓ Increase student skill and knowledge ✓ Foster innovation ✓ Strengthen Indigenous cultural responsiveness

“Students wish they could learn more outside the box, so that they could get an idea of what they want to pursue when they are done their education.”

-Prairie Valley Student

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

2022-2023 Strategies Strategy One: Last year, Prairie Valley implemented a Learning Facilitator model to build teacher capacity. Our 2022-23 strategy will see an expanded role where our Learning Facilitators will lead Inservice for teacher learning related to curriculum, instruction and assessment. Research tells us that teacher practice has a significant effect on student outcomes.

Strategy Two: In the past, Prairie Valley students have had some ability to choose the kind of learning that works best for them. Our 2022-23 strategy will see additional options available for our students. We will also clarify the goals and benefits of current learning modes.

We will Expand Student Choice by Formalizing Prairie Valley Modes of Learning and Establish Norms for Each Mode; Pilot Prairie Valley ‘Learning Everywhere’ to Determine Benefits and Challenges.

We will Enhance Teacher Capacity through Expansion and Focus of Learning Facilitator Programming in Inservice Settings.

Strategy Three: Our data shows COVID-19 has had a significant negative impact on children. To help improve outcomes, our 2022-23 strategy will focus on improved attendance; this is the critical first step to ensure the consistency for students that will lead to better outcomes.

We will Respond to COVID-related Learning Challenges.

Strategy Four: Each student and staff member in Prairie Valley is a Treaty person.

As part of our commitment to students, families and reconciliation, our 2022-23 strategy will see Indigenization practices organized around Teachings, Ceremony and Reconciliation throughout the school division.

We will Refocus Anti-Oppressive Indigenization Practices Throughout Prairie Valley SD.

•

• • • •

Our Measures of Success…

Students will perform at or above Grade level in reading, writing and math; Students will demonstrate readiness for school as measured by the Early Years Evaluation; Students will attain credits successfully through a variety of modes of learning; Staff will report enhanced capacity in curriculum, instruction and assessment; Student participation in teaching, celebration and reconciliation events will increase.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

Priority II

Strengthen Connections and Relationships ✓ Cultivate inclusive, safe environments ✓ Deliver holistic student supports ✓ Enrich stakeholder engagement ✓ Advance advocacy

“I think we need to continue to focus on mental health, student wellness and sense of belonging.”

-Prairie Valley School Community Council Parent “Kids in rural schools wanted to stay connected to their school and it showed in attendance.”

-Prairie Valley School Community Council Parent

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

2022-2023 Strategies Strategy One: In 2022-23, we will create the role of Indigenous Advocate. This will pave the way for future supports for First Nations and Métis children in all Prairie Valley schools.

We will Implement a Pilot Indigenous Advocate Position.

Strategy Two: Our partnerships with First Nations communities are the foundation of our service for these children. Our hope is to strengthen relationships as we work in collaboration with First Nations and renew Educational Service Agreements in the process.

We will strengthen relationships and work collaboratively with First Nations to Renew Absent Educational Service Agreements.

Strategy Three: Strategy Four: Board Advocacy

Our 2022-23 strategy includes additional staff to support Mental Health and Well-being throughout Prairie Valley.

We will Increase Mental Health and Well-being Supports.

Our 2022-23 strategy includes a variety of advocacy initiatives intended to raise awareness and influence related to the funding of public education in Saskatchewan.

We will Create a Strong Advocacy Campaign to Support Adequate and Predictable Funding for Prairie Valley Schools.

Our Measures of Success…

• • • •

First Nations students will experience greater engagement; Relationships with First Nation partners will be improved as evidenced by updated Educational Service Agreements; Schools will experience enhanced mental health and wellbeing services; Board Advocacy will be measured by our influence on the Saskatchewan School Boards Association as our provincial voice and by positive response by government.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

“Some students feel un-motivated and that school isn’t important. We need to bring more awareness to this issue.”

Priority III

-Prairie Valley Student “Our teachers are very welcoming. Everyone knows -Prairie Valley Student everyone—we have good relationships with teachers.”

-Prairie Valley Student

Enrich Organizational Culture, Teamwork and Leadership ✓ Nurture student and staff well-being ✓ Grow leadership and staff capacity studen ✓ Enhance our engaging and caring culture

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

2022-2023 Strategies

Strategy One: Schools have changed and so has the role of the schoolbased administrator. Our 2022-23 strategy will see the implementation of a modernized framework for professional practice for Prairie Valley administrators.

This is centered on research completed by school-based administrative leaders in our school division last year.

We will Implement an Updated School-based Administrator Professional Practice Process.

Strategy Two: We have amazing teachers in Prairie Valley. They play the most important role as we work to help students succeed. In 2022-23 we will establish a committee to enhance teacher voice.

We will Collaborate with the Prairie Valley Teachers' Association to Implement a Strategic Implementation Advisory Committee.

Strategy Three: The past three years have been challenging for our staff, whether they work directly with students or not. Our 2022-23 strategy will help us understand how our staff are doing in their workplaces and in Prairie Valley as a whole so that we can ensure future wellness for everyone in Prairie Valley.

We will Establish a Staff Culture and Engagement Survey Process.

Our Measures of Success…

• • •

Baseline staff engagement data developed to inform engagement improvement planning in 2023-24 and beyond; Process data related to school-based administrator professional practice; Evidence of teacher voice through agendas and action items.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

“Inclusivity – embracing diversity, leading in acceptance of ALL students.”

Priority IV

-Prairie Valley Student “Increase elective courses and make them available to more schools beyond just the large ones.”

-Prairie Valley Student -Prairie Valley Student

Maximize Resources and Efficiency -Prairie Valley Student

✓ Analyze processes to ensure purposeful stewardship throughout the system ✓ Implement strategies for resource allocation to enhance student outcomes

“We need classes that prepare students for life.

Practical, tailored to individual student needs.”

-Prairie Valley Student

s-Prairie Valley Student

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

2022-2023 Strategies Strategy One: Best practise suggests we must strive for continuous improvement. In an effort to ensure we maximize limited financial resources it is imperative that we review current processes and implement best practises.

We will Implement Efficiency Projects as identified through the Organization Review and the implementation of best practise.

Strategy Two: As with any change, we must monitor the results, review, revise and move forward to ensure we have attained the desired goal.

We will Monitor Current Efficiency Projects.

DRAFT

Our Measures of Success…

• •

That we provide the best possible services within current budget allocations; That projects identified and the resulting changes enhance services in a more cost effective, efficient manner.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

Measuring Success The Balanced Scorecard The balanced scorecard is a management tool designed to translate strategic goals into a set of quantifiable and comprehensible performance objectives. These objectives can be measured and changed as required, should circumstances become different or management goals change in response to external factors.

The framework for the balanced scorecard was first established in a 1992 article by Robert S. Kaplan in the Harvard Business Review. In that paper, Kaplan stressed the importance of defining what success looks like and how organizations are doing when it comes to meeting their strategic goals: “What you measure is what you get. Senior executives understand that their organization’s measurement system strongly affects the behaviour of managers and employees.

The traditional financial performance measures worked well for industrial age companies, but they are out of step with the skills and competencies companies are trying to master today.”

Risk Management Matrix Prairie Valley School Division recognizes the complexity and variety of the threats it currently faces. Risks posed by climate change could dramatically alter our insurance claims in coming years. Recent events in Saskatchewan have shown how school divisions are vulnerable to cyber-security threats. While it is impossible to eliminate all risk, we must develop an assessment plan that can place these risks in the broader context of our strategy going forward.

The updating of a risk assessment matrix will help Prairie Valley School Division achieve a better understanding of its current risk environment. It will help our Board of Education prioritize the risks it faces and allocate resources accordingly. The risk management matrix will also provide the Board with a real time appreciation for how individual risks are evolving and plan for further mitigation efforts as needed.

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

Prairie Valley Strategic Plan

Strategic Alignment Matrix Interim Provincial Education Plan

Long Range Provincial Education Plan

✓ Enhance Student Achievement and Future Success

✓ Learning Response Priority ✓ Reading Priority

✓ Skills and knowledge for future learning, life and participation in society

✓ Strengthen Connections and Relationships

✓ Mental Health and Well-being Priority

✓ Mental health and well-being ✓ Connections among people and relationships between systems and structures

✓ Enrich Organizational Culture, Teamwork and Leadership

✓ Inclusive, safe and welcoming learning environments

✓ Maximize Resource Advocacy and Efficiency

“PVSD is really good academically, socially, and there are great people. We have inclusive people in Prairie Valley.”

-Prairie Valley Student

“More opportunities in gym class with different equipment – sports that aren’t your typical ones you see in school.”

-Prairie Valley Student

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork

Prairie Valley School Division Toll Free: (877)266-1666 communications@pvsd.ca

Our Bold Aspiration: Success - Engagement - Teamwork