PWPSD honours top academic graduates of 2020-21 school year
Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) Trustees honoured former students for their academic achievements during the past 2020-21 school year during the Board meeting on February 24.
Each year, Academic Awards of Excellence in the amount of $100 are presented to graduates with an academic average above 90 per cent. This past school year there were 19 students who achieved this undeniably difficult feat.
- Sophie Ray, Beaverlodge Regional High School
- Dana Schlauwitz, Beaverlodge Regional High School
- Wyatt Soucy, Beaverlodge Regional High School
- Faith Vetsch, Beaverlodge Regional High School
- Averie Villiger, Beaverlodge Regional High School
- Madison Villiger, Beaverlodge Regional High School
- Jolie Burkin, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Coner Cram, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Chantel Jack, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Maryn Johnson, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Faith Johnstone, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Brandi Moody, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Payton Pawluski, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Emmerson Sutherland, Peace Wapiti Academy
- Reegan Fobes, Ridgevalley School
- Jessie Derksen, Savanna School
- Kaitlyn Dawe, Sexsmith Secondary School
- Kyley Binks, Sexsmith Secondary School
Peace Wapiti Academy's Elena Ewert was named the Top Student in the Division and received a $300 award for her accomplishment.
Top Student in School Awards in the amount of $100 went to graduates who achieved the highest average at their schools (at least 80 per cent):
- Alexis Laurin, Eaglesham School
- Marisa Jeresky, Peace Wapiti Enterprise Centre
- Levi Boychuk, Spirit River Regional Academy
Congratulations to all our award recipients! You can view the virtual awards ceremony on our YouTube page. |
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2022-2023 School Year Calendar
The Board approved the draft 2022-2023 School Year Calendar. The calendar may have minor adjustments based on staff feedback, and will be posted online once complete.
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Letter to the Minister of Education
The Board voted unanimously in favour of writing a letter to the Minister of Education requesting a delay in the implementation of the draft K-6 curriculum to the 2023-2024 school year. The letter will request a staggered implementation of subjects and grades from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
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Community Engagement Framework updated
The Board approved updates to PWPSD's Community Engagement Framework (CEF), a handbook that helps trustees and staff in their work of gathering the community input necessary for making meaningful decisions. The CEF can be viewed on our website under Publications.
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Facilities/IMR Annual Report
PWPSD Director of Facilities David Michalko shared his annual update to the Board, which included a long list of work that has been completed at all schools:
- Screen and varnish on gym floors
- Summer cleaning
- Carpets steam cleaned
- Fire alarm systems tested and verified
- Fire extinguishers inspected and maintenance completed
- Air units changed and boiler systems serviced and cleaned
- Spring A/C units serviced and started
- Exit and emergency lights tested and verified
- Dust collectors in Industrial Arts shops serviced and cleaned
- Daily and preventative maintenance
- Bi-annual play structure inspections
- Roofing inspections
- Quarterly HVAC filter replacement
- Stair/chair lifts and elevators inspected, serviced, and certified
- Daily hard surface disinfection regarding COVID-19
- Water flow meters and alarms installed
Did you know?
- PWPSD maintains just under one million sq. ft. of roofing.
- PWPSD spent just under $3 million on Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal (IMR) projects in 2021.
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Tech Coaches Report
In their annual report to the Board, PWPSD's Educational Technologist Coaches Leah Montes and Memorese Walter spoke about where 2021-2022 has found them amid the ongoing changes from the pandemic.
The team of two reported an increased reach with staff due to decreased travel times and the use of technology to stay connected. "Instead of spending all day in one school, we can answer more questions from many different teachers in different schools." The team says that as COVID-19 restrictions have allowed for in-class learning, they have returned to classrooms to provide hands-on support to students and staff, but will continue to schedule office days when they will be available online for all PWPSD community members.
Montes and Walter spoke about their Tech Tips, a weekly email that helps explain technical information in layman's terms, and all the positive feedback it's received. Sent straight to staff, and anyone else who asks to be added to the mailing list, Tech Tips provides easy to understand instructions on how to utilize existing, new and updated programs.
The Tech Coaches have been busy with new and ongoing projects:
- Prepping for new curriculum, posters and presentations, tools, and instructions so staff can confidently use the technology on their own.
- Exploring and introducing students and staff to Edwin - an online ecosystem that provides digital access to textbooks and resources across the curriculum.
- Training and supporting on all things PowerSchool.
- Implementing and educating students and staff on Schoology, a web-based Learning Management System that allows teachers to create and assign a slew of tasks, which students can access online.
- Continuing classroom visits to introduce logical, sequential thinking with younger students, and introducing programming language through Bee-Bots.
- Helping students use assistive technology like Read and Write to increase independence and efficiency.
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Committee & Meeting Reports
- Trustee Clarke presented the Public School Boards' Council Report
- Trustee Grant presented the Transportation Committee Report
- Trustee Turner presented the Communications Committee Report
- Trustee Clarke presented the Policy Review Committee Report
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Upcoming Events
- Kindergarten Registration Opens: Wednesday, March 2
- ASBA Zone 1 Meeting: Wednesday, March 2
- Alberta Rural Education Symposium in Edmonton: Sunday - Tuesday, March 6 - 8
- Canadian Mental Health Association's Working Stronger Conference (virtual): Tuesday & Wednesday, March 8 & 9
- Committee of the Whole Day: Thursday, March 10
- Mighty Peace Teachers' Convention, no school: Thursday & Friday, March 10 & 11
- Daylight Savings Time Begins (spring forward one hour): Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 a.m.
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Gathering in Edmonton: Monday - Wednesday, March 14 - 16
- Professional Learning Day, no school: Friday, March 18
- Spirit Seekers Youth Conference: Friday & Saturday, March 18 & 19
- Health and Safety Committee Meeting: Monday, March 21
- Next Board Meeting: Thursday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m.
- Spring Break, no school: March 28 - April 1
- Virtual Rural Caucus Meeting: Thursday, March 31
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