PWPSD News
Terry Fox School Run events
PWPSD schools will honour the 40th anniversary of the Terry Fox Run through online fundraising campaigns and school run events, beginning Wednesday, September 23. In keeping with the current guidance to reduce attendees at outdoor events, and to protect the health and safety of students and staff, school run events will not be open to community participants and volunteers. Local media may take photos at a distance. A follow-up report on the total funds raised will be released in October.
| SCHOOL | RUN DATE / TIME | EVENT DETAILS |
| Beaverlodge Elementary School | Fri., Sept. 25 | Phys. Ed. classes will participate in individual run events throughout Beaverlodge. Run routes will vary by grade. Online donations. |
| Beaverlodge Regional High School | Mon., Sept. 28 - Fri., Oct. 2 | Teachers will choose a day to take their Block 3 class for a run/walk. Free snacks provided to the entire school on Terry Fox Day. Online donations. |
| Bonanza School | Postponed until spring. | The school is registered for a Terry Fox Run. Date TBA. |
| Clairmont Community School | Fri., Sept. 25 | In keeping with the current public health measures, students will participate in separate runs around the Clairmont reservoir during their regularly scheduled Phys. Ed. classes. Online donations. |
| Eaglesham School | Wed., Sept. 30 | Elementary students will participate in a run around Eaglesham. |
| Elmworth School | Wed., Sept. 23, 12:30 pm | A 5 km run/walk for staff and students cohorts, beginning at staggered start times. Online donations. |
| Harry Balfour School | Wed., Sept. 30 | Run for grade cohorts through Muskoseepi Park during 9:45 a.m. - 1:05 p.m. Online donations. |
| La Glace School | Fri., Sept. 25 | Virtual Terry Fox presentation after lunch break, followed by a schoolwide run with staggered start times for K-6 and 7-9 students. All students are encouraged to wear green. Online donations. |
| Penson School | Fri., Sept. 25 | Students will participate in separate cohort group runs around the Penson School yard in the afternoon. Online donations. |
| Robert W. Zahara Public School | Fri., Sept. 25, 12:30 p.m. | Leaving the school on staggered start times, class cohorts will walk north to the tennis courts, around the walking trail and down to Heritage Park, then return to the school on the trail along the creek. Online donations. |
| Rycroft School | Thurs. Oct. 8 | Students will participate in separate walks around the community. Online donations. The day will also include Hot Dogs for Hope, with all proceeds to the Terry Fox organization. |
| Savanna School | Oct. 5-9 fundraising | The school has issued a "40 things to do" challenge to each classroom to mark the 40th anniversary of Terry Fox Foundation. Online donations. |
| Spirit River Regional Academy | Postponed until spring. | Date TBA. |
| Teepee Creek School | Wed., Sept. 30, 2:15 p.m. | Classes will run to Sorkenville and back to the school. Online donations. |
| Wembley Elementary School | Fri., Oct. 2 | Individual class runs around Wembley. Online donations. |
| Whispering Ridge Community School | Fri., Sept. 25 | Phys. Ed. classes will participate in individual runs. Online donations. |
Orange Shirt Day at PWPSD schools: Every Child Matters
Remembering, honouring, educating, advocating: PWPSD students will reflect on the legacy of residential schools during Orange Shirt Day (OSD) events, the majority of which will align with the official observance on Wednesday, September 30. In keeping with the current public health measures, school events will not be open to the public.
PWPSD Indigenous Education Coordinator Brigitte Benning has developed an Orange Shirt Day Resource Guide for PWPSD schools, complete with suggested age-appropriate classroom resources and lessons.
The Grande Prairie OSD committee will release a local video on September 30, to discuss Orange Shirt Day and share messages from local community members – including some PWPSD staff. The video will be available on the Orange Shirt Day Grande Prairie Facebook page, for sharing. Follow the Grande Prairie Orange Shirt Day Instagram for daily quotes related to OSD.
About Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is a reconciliation movement that grew from the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemorative event held in 2013 at Williams Lake, B.C., based on former student Phyllis Webstad's account of having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school. The awareness campaign is an opportunity to continue the discussion on all aspects of residential schools. The September date chosen for the observance reflects the time of year when children were taken from their homes. For more information, visit http://www.orangeshirtday.org.
Upcoming events
- September 15 - October 15: Donate your gently used winter wear to the annual Merv Crouse Coats for Kids Campaign at Crouse's Cleaners until October 15, Monday - Saturday, 6:00 am - 6:00 p.m. View the list of accepted items. Distribution Centre dates and times to be announced soon.
- September 22: First day of fall
- September 23: ASBA Zone 1 Meeting for Trustees in Peace River. Zone 1 nominees for the Edwin Parr Teacher Award and Friends of Education Award will be honoured during the luncheon.
- September 24: Board Meeting
- September 30: Orange Shirt Day
- October 5: World Teachers' Day
- October 10: World Mental Health Day
- October 12: Thanksgiving Day. No school
- October 17: ASCA General Meeting
- October 22: PWPSD Board Meeting
School News
Beaverlodge Elementary School
Contest underway to name new mascot
The BES Trapper mascot was recently seen touring his new home in Beaverlodge.
As part of their rebranding to become the BES Trappers, Beaverlodge Elementary School is hosting a mascot naming contest for students. The winning entry will be announced soon.
Bezanson School
Students surprised by new playground;
Students' Union Campaign Week begins September 28
The new playground at Bezanson School.
The Grade 9 Leadership Team at Bezanson School prepared the following report:
- Kindergarten - Grade 9 students are enjoying the new school playground immensely. Thanks to our Booster Club for their efforts in fundraising over the last couple of years, and installing the playground in June 2020. What a wonderful surprise for our students to return to this fall!
- Families attended a Meet the Teacher event on September 10. Thank you to all who signed up to attend that afternoon.
- The Bezanson Students' Union Campaign Week will be held during September 28 - October 2. Students will give speeches over the intercom, rather than in the gym with the student body in attendance. We are excited to hold our first-ever Virtual Vote for President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Grade 5-9 Class Reps. Election Day will be October 6.
Elmworth School
Classroom, library renovations completed
Elmworth School's combined school and community library, and Grades 7-8 homeroom were both renovated following the closure of in-school classes.
Renovations to the Elmworth School and Community Library are complete. Planning began in March with the closure of in-person classes. The renovation included new window seats and two computer work stations.
The Grades 7-8 homeroom, used for cooking, music, language arts and options classes, was also renovated during the closure. Updates include new cupboards, bulletin boards, white boards, ceiling tiles and flooring, and the addition of a built-in teacher's work station.
The school expressed thanks to Ryan Conrad, PWPSD Facilities Project Manager, for overseeing the project.
Harry Balfour School
Junior K comes to HBS; more than 150 water bottles donated
Harry Balfour School kicked off its new Junior Kindergarten program, welcoming more than 30 students for the 2020-21 school year (left).
Thanks to a Tupperware fundraiser led by a HBS parent, more than 150 water bottles have been donated for students to use. Mr. Twelvetree and Mrs. Mowat accepted the donation on behalf of the school (right).
Upcoming events:
- Friday, Sept. 25: 3rd Annual Fall Fair
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: Terry Fox School Run
Hythe Regional School
Webb Quad Squad is off to school
Principal Dwayne Speager shared a photo (left) from the parents of Hythe quadruplets Abigail, Emily, Grace and McKayla Webb (not necessarily in that order). The foursome, who wear different coloured earrings to help school staff tell them apart, are registered for Junior Kindergarten and had their first day at HRS on September 9 (right). Welcome, welcome, welcome and welcome!
LaGlace School
Welcome back!
Students and families attended a Welcome Back Assembly on September 1.
La Glace students have been busy painting rocks to brighten up the school gardens (left). This independent activity was a spin-off of traditional school-wide events.
Junior High created photo collage silhouettes (right), filled with images of things they love. Mr. Campbell completed this first-week activity as a way to get to know students. The school says the project really spruces up the hallways.
Peace Wapiti Academy
PWA grad completes Fourth Class Power Engineer certification
Matthew Unrau
PWA Class of 2020 graduate Matthew Unrau officially completed and passed both parts of the Power Engineering accreditation exam, scoring an impressive 91 per cent on the second part. "This is an extremely difficult exam that many people fail on their first attempt," says PWA CONNECT Coordinator Debbie Terceros. "After completing the exams and his steam hours over the summer months, he became certified as a Fourth Class Power Engineer." Congratulations, Matthew!
Rycroft School
2019-20 High Honours Award recipients recognized
Congratulations to junior high students Emmett Kanda, Marissa Wood, Grace Hynes and Khloe Scheers for receiving honors for the past 2019-20 school year. The awards were presented by Principal Julie Hynes.
Teepee Creek School
Students enjoying new Gaga ball court
Students have been enjoying the new Gaga ball court, installed during the summer by the PWPSD maintenance department. Students would like to thank the TCS School Council and Booster Club for the donation.
Recent Media Coverage
- Sept. 15, 2020 COVID-19 case at GP school, Central Peace Signal
- Sept. 15, 2020 PWPSD Board Chair, Vice-Chair acclaimed, Central Peace Signal
- Sept. 13, 2020 COVID-19 case identified in an individual from WRCS, in-person learning continues, Reach FM
- Sept. 13, 2020 COVID-19 case identified at Whispering Ridge Community School, Everything GP
- Sept. 13, 2020 COVID-19 case confirmed at Whispering Ridge Community School, 2day FM
- Sept. 13, 2020 COVID-19 case confirmed at Whispering Ridge Community School, Daily Herald Tribune
- Sept. 10, 2020 County amends FCSS, parks fees, Town & Country News
- Sept. 09, 2020 Scheers to continue as PWPSD Board Chair, Everything GP
- Sept. 08, 2020 Ridgevalley School students back in class after morning evacuation, 2day FM
- Sept. 08, 2020 Gr. 5 Eaglesham student Allison Levesque boarding the bus, front page, Central Peace Signal
- Sept. 08, 2020 $262M earmarked for safe school return, Central Peace Signal
- Sept. 08, 2020 Students back in class after evacuation at Ridgevalley School, Everything GP
- Sept. 03, 2020 Kari Scheers to continue as PWPSD Boar Chair, 2day FM
- Sept. 02, 2020 Province to spread federal school re-entry funding on per-student basis, Everything GP
- Sept. 02, 2020 Grande Prairie and district school divisions receive $6.9 million in federal funding, 2day FM
- Sept. 01, 2020 PWPSD appoints seven new leaders for 2020-21 school year, Daily Herald Tribune
- Sept. 01, 2020 Sarah Koning named Eaglesham School Principal, Central Peace Signal
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