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PWPSD Good News Report – December 2020

PWPSD News

Congratulations to Madeline Johnson –
Winner of the 2020 PWPSD Christmas Card Art Contest

Christmas Card Art Contest Winner

Congratulations to Grade 8 student Madeline Johnson of Whispering Ridge Community School, winner of the 2020 PWPSD Christmas Card Art Contest. Grades 7-9 students throughout PWPSD were invited to submit artwork under the theme, “The best thing about Christmas is…”

Madeline’s cheerful scene uses chalk pastels, glitter and collage to depict the fun of decorating the family Christmas tree – a reminder of the importance of finding joy in family traditions, which is especially timely during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic when families are being asked to participate in small household celebrations.

The contest cycles through all four Grade Divisions annually, with this year's contest open to Division 3 students, encompassing Grades 7-9 at all PWPSD schools. Madeline’s artwork was selected from among 35 submissions. 

Congratulations to Madeline and thanks to all students who participated in the contest.

 

Update on the replacement Harry Balfour School –

County of Grande Prairie awarded more than $2.67 million in Municipal Stimulus Funding for water and wastewater services for school site preparation at Five Mile Hall

Many thanks to the County of Grande Prairie for their ongoing collaboration in support of education. On November 30, 2020, the County announced they will receive $2,674,793 in Municipal Stimulus Program funding from the province, to install water and wastewater services at the Five Mile Hall site where the replacement Harry Balfour School will be located.

In the County of Grande Prairie announcement, PWPSD Superintendent Bob Stewart says, "The County of Grande Prairie's provision of serviced school sites is vital to our ability to educate rural students where they live, while reducing lengthy bus rides. We are appreciative of this infrastructure funding announcement and the continued commitment of our municipal and provincial partners in improving education in our area.”


School News

Beaverlodge Elementary School

Successful curling unit wraps up for Grade 4 students

curling

BES Grade 4 students enjoy curling (left), including Grade 4 student Holden Hockett (right).

BES Principal Andrew Lojczyc reports that another successful curling unit has wrapped up for Grade 4 students. He also shared an interesting piece of curling trivia: Men’s World Curling Champion Geoff Walker is a BES alumnus.   


Beaverlodge Regional High School

BRHS student’s art published in Newport Art Zine

student with magazine

BRHS student Michael Underwood is a published artist. Teacher Tess Embleton says, “Michael has been creating a wonderful world of digital art characters, which he shares on Instagram. He is a member of an online discord that recently started publishing the Newport Art Zine from Newport, Rhode Island.”


Bonanza School

In-person and online book fair nets $1,193 for school library books

Bonanza School set a goal to reach $2,000 in sales during their annual Book Fair on November 12-19. The school says students, parents and staff spent more than $2,500, resulting in a reward of $1,193 worth of books for the school library.

The school was able to run an in-school book fair, and also offered a new virtual option this year for parents to place online orders. 

“Scheduling viewing and purchasing times for each classroom was a huge component the success of the book fair,” says Bonanza School Administrative Assistant Penny Lepage.

“Students seem to focus more time on picking out the right book(s) instead of spending their money on posters and trinkets this year. With COVID-19, many things have been taken away, but seeing students’ smiles reflected in their eyes made it worth the added effort and time required to create a safe experience.”

 

Harry Balfour School

Grassroots Realty’s ‘12 Days of Giving’ donation boosts HBS Christmas fund

donation of a big cheque

On December 3, Riley McLaughlin (left) and Chris Moore (middle) of Grassroots Realty presented a $500 cheque to Harry Balfour School Principal Jen Clevette (right) as part of their ‘12 Days of Giving’ initiative to support local organizations at Christmas time.

Initially, Grassroots Realty offered to split one of their daily $1,000 gifts between the three local school divisions, but then generously increased the gift to $500 each. PWPSD selected Harry Balfour School to receive the donation, and school administration have opted to ‘pay it forward’ by adding the $500 to their annual staff-supported Christmas fund to provide gift cards and food to three families.

Principal Jen Clevette says the donation from Grassroots Realty means that school staff will be able to provide a more special Christmas to the families of three students during what has been a very trying year for many. Thank you, Grassroots Realty!


Helen E. Taylor School

HET celebrates special events

dancing and events

HET Teacher DawnMarie Westad says the school beat the COVID-19 blues by jigging with Métis Bev. The school was one of four to participate in the PWPSD Indigenous Speaker Series featuring Cultural Knowledge Keeper and Motivational Speaker Beverly Lambert who shared her virtual sessions over Zoom during Métis Week, November 16-20 (bottom, left). The event coincided with Rock Your Mocs week (top).

The school bulletin boards have been switched to Christmas décor, including a Christmas tree forest made of wrapping paper (bottom, right). The HET elf, Felix, has returned (top, right), much to the delight of students who are known as the “Fierce Felix Finders” during this time of year.

Grade 6 student Kayden Manke (bottom, middle) tests his parachute design in Science class.



La Glace School

La Glace Bus Drivers spread Christmas cheer

kids on a decorated school bus

La Glace School Principal Heidi Hargreaves says their School Bus Drivers are “experiencing ‘Holiday Fever’ and the kids are loving every minute of it! Drivers Doug and Cheryl (pictured) have spruced up their buses with Christmas decor, which the kids love to talk about at school. Thanks to our fantastic bus drivers for bringing alive the cheer in all of us!”


Peace Wapiti Academy

Student artistic talent shines through cards for seniors, Festival of Trees competition

gingerbread houses and christmas cards

PWA students and staff created beautiful Christmas Cards for seniors, to be distributed through the Grande Prairie Rotary Club (top). “We sent 126 Christmas cards, to be delivered to a variety of senior care centres in the Peace Country,” says PWA Teacher Jeannine Younger. “I know the recipients of these cards will be delighted to receive them, and I hope this can become an annual tradition for PWA.”

Grades 10-12 PWA Foods classes submitted gingerbread houses to the Festival of Trees competition, under the theme ‘Canada’. First place was awarded to ‘Nova Scotia’ (bottom left) by Eva Freeman, Tanis Peters, Xander Pynn, and Charlie Carlson; second place went to ‘New Brunswick’ (bottom middle) by Gracie Rees, Rain Bertin, Kadence Erno, Dathan Pratt and Madison Wells; and honourable mention went to ‘PEI’ (bottom right) by Reese Hingley, Madisyn Lawrance, Sydney Nofziger, and Prestin Stephen.

 

Spirit River Regional Academy

K-6 students donate Lego-themed Christmas tree to Spirit River Festival of Trees

Christmas tree decorated with Lego ornaments

Elementary students at Spirit River Regional Academy decorated a tree submission, to be donated to the Spirit River Festival of Trees. The tree is filled with Lego ornaments made by Kindergarten to Grade 6 students who finished off their design with a handmade paper chain tree skirt. The school says, “The gifts of new Lego sets seen beneath the tree were donated by students’ families and will go to the lucky person who purchases our beautiful tree. All proceeds from the Festival of Trees will be directed to the local food bank and FCSS Christmas Hampers.” The online Facebook auction ended on December 4.

 

Teepee Creek School

Elementary students writing letters to soldiers

letters written to soldiers by students

Elementary classes at Teepee Creek School have been writing letters to soldiers. Principal Darren Robertson says, “The letters will be sent to soldiers for the holiday season, to offer our support for all that they do.”


Upcoming events

  • December 18: Last day of learning before the Christmas Break

  • December 21 - January 1: PWPSD offices and shops will be open, but closed to the public. Staff will observe the following statutory holidays: Christmas and Boxing Day, Friday and Monday, December 25 and 28; New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1.

  • January 4-8: At-home learning for all students.

  • January 11: In-school classes resume for all students enrolled in in-school learning.

  • January 11: Grades 10-12 Semester 2 Remote Learning Transition deadline. Parents must contact their school to submit their request by this deadline.

  • Tuesdays, January 12 - February 16: Teacher Feature – Infusing Indigenous Knowledge into Curriculum, Mamawhitowin “Coming Together” 2020 Indigenous Learning Series, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Register online through the NRLC link provided.

  • January 12: Deadline for nominations for the 2020 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching and Early Childhood Education Excellence. Nomination package.

  • Next Board Meeting: Thursday, January 21, 10:30 a.m.



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