<p>Payton Duffield is the valedictorian this year for South Central High School. Since entering high school, her focus has been on achieving high grades. It was always her hope to be valedictorian, but she didn’t know how close the race was and was surprised to find out in early April she had succeeded.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“I was pretty excited. I’ve been working toward it for a long time, so it was nice to know and kind of relieving,” said Duffield.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Accepted into the Bachelor of Nursing program, Duffield will be attending Medicine Hat College in September. A nursing career path appealed to Duffield after she started taking a Healthcare Aide dual-credit program at South Central, a partnership between Prairie Rose Public Schools and Northern Lakes College.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“I’m almost done that. I have three courses left and I should be done by this summer. I’ve been working at the long-term care here in Oyen since last June with some other classmates. Being there really helped me realize nursing is what I want to do,” explained Duffield.&nbsp;</p><p>Her family moved to Oyen from Big Stone when Duffield was younger and she has completed all her schooling at Oyen Public School and South Central High School. Duffield is somewhat nervous about going to college because she has a close relationship with her parents and is worried about getting homesick.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>However, she has some family living in Medicine Hat and said her parents drive to the city about once a week and thinks it will make the transition easier. Once she graduates with a Bachelor of Nursing, Duffield is looking forward to returning to Oyen.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Nursing is a job I could do in Oyen,” said Duffield, “They are always looking for nurses so it’s a pathway to working in my rural community. The first two years will be at Medicine Hat College, then I switch to being a University of Calgary student, but I can still take those courses at the college. I’m not much for big cities.”&nbsp;</p><p>Over the summer, Duffield plans to work as much as possible at the long-term care facility. She is currently a casual staff member and primarily works evenings and weekends, although she is expecting her hours to increase during the summer when full-time staff take time off.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>When asked what she finds most rewarding about the job, Duffield said, “being able to help. I know I’m helping, and I think the experience has made me a better person.”&nbsp;</p><p>The highlight of her high school years is achieving valedictorian. “I will miss all my friends and the teachers here. We have such good connections with the teachers. It helps that half of them are parents of my friends, so we see them outside of school. It will be hard to adjust to that, when I go from seeing my friends for the past twelve years each day to not seeing them as often. A couple are also attending Medicine Hat College in other programs, so that is nice to know.”&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer</p>

<p>Additional information can be found in the May 13, 2025, Board Meeting Agenda package: <a href="https://www.myprps.com/news/may-13-public-board-meeting-20250512174737">https://www.myprps.com/news/may-13-public-board-meeting-20250512174737</a></p><p>------</p><p><strong>Executive Report Summary</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Division PD Day:</strong> Planning is underway for a division-wide professional development day, which will mark the official launch of the new five-year strategic plan. All Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) employees are invited to attend. The day will include a reflection on the past education plan, a vertical mapping session, and three-hour workshops centered on the new strategic themes: Ignite Minds, Forge Futures, and Kindle Hearts.</li><li><strong>Exhibitions of Learning</strong> are now wrapping up across the division. These events have been very well received and provided an excellent opportunity for communities to engage with their local schools. The Board extends congratulations to all students and staff for their hard work and creativity.</li><li>Training for the upcoming transition to digital&nbsp;<strong>Provincial Achievement Tests</strong> (Grades 6 and 9) and&nbsp;<strong>Diploma Exams</strong> through Vretta has been completed.</li><li>Planning for the&nbsp;<strong>2025–2026 school year</strong> is well underway. There will be an increase in funding to better serve students with complex needs.</li></ul><p><strong>2025-2030 Strategic Education Plan</strong></p><p>The Board was presented with the new five-year strategic plan which will be unveiled to staff at the upcoming PD Day. Input for the plan was gathered through school leader feedback, staff consultations, student engagement, and visits to municipal partners. The plan builds on the strengths of educational initiatives while aligning with Alberta Education priorities, including preparing students for the transition from high school. As part of the approval for the new strategic plan, the division earmarked $500,000 ($100,000 per year) to help support implementation ensuring flexibility and sustainability.</p><p><strong>Calgary Schools</strong></p><p>PRPS Public Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees announced that an agreement had been signed with Calgary-based schools, OBK and AJ, to join the school division starting the 2025-2026 school year. Both OBK and AJ schools are currently operating under the Palliser School Division. The addition of the two schools to Prairie Rose will bring approximately 1,600 to 2,000 new students into the school division. Prairie Rose was one of several school divisions approached by Alberta Education to be considered for the partnership. PRPS’ role will be to provide administration and K-12 instructional direction to the schools.</p><p><strong>South Alberta School of Agriculture</strong></p><p>Superintendent Reagan Weeks shared that Prairie Rose, Medicine Hat College, Neubauer Farms and Cypress County continue to explore the development of the South Alberta School of Agriculture (SASA). With more than 25 letters of support for the endeavour from local businesses, the initiative is part of PRPS’ Collegiate application proposal aimed at preparing high school students for future careers in agriculture. By combining systems-based thinking, real-world projects, expert mentorship, and innovative technologies, the program seeks to offer students both high school and post-secondary-level opportunities. The centre would be developed on land leased from Cypress County and located in proximity to Eagle Butte High School.</p><p><strong>Superintendent Contract</strong></p><p>Board of Trustees approved the re-appointment of Superintendent Reagan Weeks for a new five-year contract, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030.</p><p><strong>Commendations</strong></p><p>The Board recognized several outstanding contributions across the division:</p><ul><li><strong>Jonathan Dunlop</strong>, Athletic Director at Foremost School, for completing 40 km of highway cleanup with his family in support of the school’s athletic program.<br>&nbsp;</li><li>Facility upgrades at&nbsp;<strong>SCHS Gymnasium</strong>, including lighting, flooring, paint, and curtains.<br>&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Senator Gershaw Schools'</strong> Exhibition of Learning for its strong community engagement.<br>&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Nichole Neubauer</strong>, for her ongoing advocacy and support of PRPS agricultural initiatives and student programming.</li></ul><p><strong>Additional Items</strong></p><ul><li><strong>ASBA</strong>: Spring General Meeting is scheduled for June 1–3.<br>&nbsp;</li><li><strong>PSBAA</strong>: Angela Baron presented on&nbsp;<i>Sharenting</i> , trustees attended an MLA reception featuring 20 MLAs; Spring Assembly to be held in Calgary.<br>&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Rural Caucus</strong>: Scheduled for June 1 in Calgary.</li></ul>

We're looking for volunteers to help run a variety of track & field events for our High School track meet on Wednesday, May 21. If you're familiar with track & field and are willing to help for the day, we'd love to have you join us! Please email [email protected] or call the school 403-545-6822 if you're available!

<p>There were a few students at Eagle Butte High School vying for the position of valedictorian, but in the end, Deacon Martin came out as the clear winner. “That was good because it pushed me to be better,” stated Martin. “A lot of the times, I get one wrong or 0.5 off and I think I should have got that. I feel good and proud of myself. There isn’t a whole lot else to say. The hard work paid off for sure.”&nbsp;</p><p>Martin joined the South Alberta Baseball Academy this year in lieu of taking any other options, which allows him to play baseball each day at school. “I’ve been playing since I was about nine or ten in house league and little league. I’m not the best, I play it for fun and just to get out there,” said Martin.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Glad for the warmer weather and to be able to play outside, Martin said he didn’t enjoy having to be at the South Alberta Collegiate complex at 7 a.m. during the colder months. He does acknowledge it was good to have a jump on the season and the early mornings paid off. He has mostly played first base but has moved into pitching this year. Playing baseball is fun for him and he said there is just something about the game that appeals to him. Martin likes to stay active and enjoys playing golf and working out when not playing baseball.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Next year, Martin will enter the engineering program at the University of Calgary. His academic strengths are math and the sciences, and he refers to himself as being a fan of physics. “It’s a natural next step,” said Martin. “I don’t have a particular passion. I don’t really know what I want to do but I know I would be good at engineering because I can problem solve.”&nbsp;</p><p>His family lives on an acreage near Golden Sheaf Park and Martin knows it will be a significant change moving into dorms at the university and living in a city where he doesn’t have any family connections. “My younger brother and I have a kind of co-joined room at home, so we are almost like roommates. It will be a big jump with all strangers and a shared bathroom on one floor,” stated Martin. “The University of Calgary engineering had a high dropout rate, so now they’ve put in new programs to help first year students through it, so I’m looking forward to that. All the first-year students will be taking the same classes together, so it will be more like high school.”&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

<p>This past September, on the first day of the school year, Kayl Davies, teacher at Oyen Public School, and her class of Grade 6 students collaborated to create a set of classroom norms, giving the students a voice in the classroom environment they would be part of. Davies took the expectations and grouped them into three core values: respect, responsibility and teamwork. From there, Davies created a contract, and the class held a democratic vote, which resulted in the contract being approved. Most of the students chose to sign the contract and, not only did the process correlate with the Grade 6 social studies curriculum on democracy, but it also provided a great learning opportunity for all involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“In classroom economy we have jobs,” explained student Cruz Evans, “such as teacher’s assistant, banker, and homework helper. We also have our Davies Dollars, ranging from five cents to $5, and taxes. We made wallets at the beginning of the year to put our money in, and we can each get paid and taxed.”&nbsp;</p><p>Once core values and a contract were in place, Davies introduced the students to the concept of classroom fines, attaching a printed list to the whiteboard for everyone to reference. Evans explained the fines are for such things as leaving a mess, which will cost 25 cents in Davies Dollars. The student holding the position of teacher’s assistant is responsible for taxing and the money goes to the banker. Each student created a personalized wallet to hold their Davies Dollars and Evans added if a student doesn’t have enough money to pay the fine, they are allowed to go into debt.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Every two weeks, the students are allowed to shop at the classroom store using their Davies Dollars. As a class, the students chose the items, along with the price of each, that would be in the store to provide them with motivation to earn a reward.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Student Jayden Stewart currently holds the position of banker, but his preferred position is errand runner. “I like banking because I’m good at math,” he said. “We buy prizes and other things with the money. Miss. Davies has different board games, puzzles, and squish toys. It’s lots of fun. I’ve gotten some hockey cards, a squish ball and a cup. For errand runner I get to run different errands and hand out hot lunches. I’m pretty good at that because I’m fast.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The classroom jobs change each month, and students must apply for them, stating on their application their first and second choice along with using persuasive language on why they should be selected to hold their desired position.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Evans explained, “at the start of each month, we move our desks around, so we sit by someone else, and we change our classroom job. We must apply for the jobs on sheets Miss. Davies hands us. You write your name, age, grade, and you pick two options, first choice and second, and then there are additional notes to write on why we would be good at the job. My job right now is teacher’s assistant, and I wrote what I’m good at: math for taxing people, I can multitask, and I have a good memory.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Another motivational concept Davies implemented in her classroom is having students earn letters toward spelling the word compliment. “When students demonstrate kind acts, use good manners, or show helpfulness around the school, they may be noticed by other staff members. If a staff member, other than myself, gives the class a compliment for their behavior, we earn a letter toward the word COMPLIMENT. Each compliment equals one letter, and once we’ve collected all ten letters to complete the word, we have a celebration.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Evans and Stewart were excited because the word was almost complete again, which will be the third celebration for the class this year. Students get to vote on the special event they want to have, such as watching a movie, having a classroom party or a pajama day.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“It’s a great way to build a positive classroom community while also reinforcing respectful and kind behavior throughout the school,” stated Davies. “I’m truly enjoying seeing how engaged and empowered the students are through this system. It’s been such a rewarding addition to our classroom community.”&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

This week's parent/guardian update. Have a great Sunday!

🇨🇦 Celebrating Citizenship & Learning in Action! 🇨🇦 Yesterday, our Grade 10 students from Senator Gershaw School had the incredible opportunity to attend a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony in Medicine Hat. Students witnessed individuals from all over the world officially become Canadian citizens — a powerful reminder of the values, rights, and responsibilities that come with being part of our nation. This experience helped students connect classroom learning to real-world events, care about the diverse stories that shape our country, and challenge their understanding of what it means to be an engaged citizen. A meaningful day of learning, reflection, and celebration — thank you to everyone who made this event possible! #kindlehearts#igniteminds#forgefutures

We have cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce available at Senator Gershaw School while supplies last. Call ahead to check availability or drop in!

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Prairie Rose Public Schools would like to congratulate Kristine Vizza who has accepted the position as Vice Principal of Seven Persons School (SPS). Vizza will join the administrative team following the retirement of longtime Vice Principal Joanne MacQuarrie at the end of the school year.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kristine brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as a dedicated educator in both Prairie Rose and Medicine Hat School Divisions. She is currently the Grade 3 teacher and Softball Academy Coordinator at Seven Persons, where she has demonstrated a strong commitment to student engagement, literacy development, and school-wide improvement.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kristine holds a Master of Education in School Administration and recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Structured Literacy and Reading from the University of Alberta. Her contributions have also been recognized through roles such as Acting Administrator, mentor teacher, and professional development presenter.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">With a passion for collaborative learning and student-centered approaches, Kristine has played an active role in guiding instructional strategies and fostering a positive school culture. Her experience with Kagan Structures, UFLI training, and literacy initiatives will further strengthen the school’s focus on academic growth and student success.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please join us in congratulating Kristine on her new role. We are excited for the insight, dedication, and energy she will continue to bring to the Seven Persons School community.</span></p>

Tomorrow is Grade 10 Orientation at Senator Gershaw School @ 7:00pm! All Grade 9 students planning to attend Grade 10 at Senator Gershaw for the 2025/26 School Year are encouraged to attend with their parents/guardians!

Announcing Senator Gershaw Graduating Class of 2025 Valedictorian! Congratulations Mary Reusser!

This week's parent/guardian update. Hope everyone had a fantastic week off. See you back at school on Monday!

<p>Grade 11 student Keegan Bartsch switched to Eagle Butte High School last year from out of district so he could enrol in the South Alberta Flight Academy (SAFA). “I really wanted to fly planes,” said Bartsch. “It was a dream of mine. I joined a little late, but I’ve caught up with everybody and I’m really enjoying it.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Even though he didn’t know how it would all work out, Bartsch took a risk and is loving being in flight school. Advancing quickly to catch up with his peers, Bartsch completed his solo flight a few months ago and now has logged over 10 hours of flight time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Even though ground school can be difficult, he is enthusiastic about what he’s been learning. “Flight is very academic, it takes lots of attention and I think that skill translates nicely into the core high school subjects in terms of reviewing notes, discussing topics with others and fully understanding concepts,” explained Bartsch. “Before we take a flight, we have to do a weight and balance calculation of everybody in the aircraft, the weight of the fuel and oil, along with how much fuel we will lose in the air, so physics and math are involved.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In addition to ground school and flight training, Grade 11 flight academy students take a dual credit course through SAIT called Aircraft Systems 1 (ASYS-245). Course instructor Harry Jaeger is an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) who also works with students on the second Vans RV-12 airplane build.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“We get one of the modules SAIT has developed to be administered remotely. Students need to pass with the Transport Canada requirement of 70% and an attendance of 90%, giving them credits with both SAIT and in SAFA,” stated Jaeger.&nbsp;</p><p>The course provides an introduction for anyone who wants to become an AME and Jaeger believes it provides a solid foundation for the flight academy students. Ground school covers the fundamentals of aircraft systems and flight controls, but this course delves into the topics with more detail, which Jaeger says will help the students as they transition to flying more complex aircraft.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“We just finished up our hydraulics unit and have started our fuel unit. Before that, we had our aircraft systems, which covered different components, key elements and critical points on the aircraft,” said Bartsch. “I’m thinking after I graduate, I might join campus at SAIT and do the full program in aviation engineering. I like the intricacies of engines and how they work and how to make them better. I feel the SAIT course fits me nicely as it emphasises my interests.”&nbsp;</p><p>Bartsch likes the intellectual aspects of the dual-credit course and said Jaeger is a great teacher. Jaeger enjoys having Bartsch in the classroom, describing him as one of the most jovial students he’s ever taught who maintains high test scores and near perfect attendance. Bartsch is willing to try to answer a question even when he isn’t sure of the answer. He is also able to incorporate what he’s been doing in ground school and flying with what is going on in the class, opening that area of conversation for other students.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“It’s a community,” said Bartsch. “A very nice, well-packed community, so there is lots of support. If you need it, it’s there. My parents think it is amazing I get this opportunity to fly. SAFA is one of a kind and having a flight school locally in this area is an opportunity lots of people don’t get. I love flying and understanding how an aircraft works is something that interests me. You need a love for it, it’s not something you would just do, it needs to be a passion.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

Student Voice in Action! Today, students at Senator Gershaw School took part in Student Vote 2025, casting their ballots in a parallel election for the Canadian Federal Election. This powerful hands-on experience helps students connect with democratic processes and contribute as engaged citizens. The event was run by our Grade 11 Social 20 class, who took on leadership roles to ensure a smooth and authentic experience for their peers. Through discussion, research, and debate, students deepened their understanding of party platforms, leadership, and the responsibilities of voters. This authentic learning opportunity fosters critical thinking, communication, and active citizenship—key parts of building future-ready leaders. We are proud of our students for stepping up and taking part in this important learning opportunity! #igniteminds #kindlehearts

Bringing Learning to Life Through Community Connections! 🌱🚁🌍 Students from Gener8 Conference, Youth in Philanthropy, and our Greenhouse Option Class had the opportunity to explore real-world learning through three incredible tours! 🌟 Youth in Philanthropy toured HALO Air Ambulance, learning about the vital emergency medical services HALO provides across Southern Alberta. 🌿 Gener8 students visited TRAD Worm Farms, where they discovered innovative, sustainable farming practices and how these systems support a healthier planet. 🌸 Our Greenhouse Option Class enjoyed a trip to Stitger Greenhouse, gaining firsthand insight into commercial plant production and greenhouse technology. These meaningful experiences help students connect classroom learning with the world around them, expanding their knowledge and inspiring future pathways. Huge thanks to each organization for welcoming our students. #igniteminds #kindlehearts

Our PAC is working a casino on August 1 & 2. Please click on the link to sign up to help work a shift. All casion funds raised go towards our school and students.

<p>Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) started the School of Trades this year with Grade 10 students from four schools enrolled. In total, four students from Foremost School, four from Senator Gershaw, 30 from Eagle Butte and 11 from South Central have taken part in the new program. Part of year one is attending full-day introductory sessions in seven different trades at Medicine Hat College (MHC). For South Central students, this means catching the bus at 6:45 a.m. and not returning to Oyen until 5 p.m. or later.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>South Central High School has 11 students – 2 female and 9 male – taking part in the program with another 16 enrolled for next year. Although they have the longest commute, students feel it has been a valuable addition to their high school classes and are grateful for the chance to jumpstart their careers. &nbsp;</p><p>Aside from classes at MHC, this year is about students experiencing different job sites. A field trip Eagle Butte students participated in was at Davis GMC Buick where they experienced different aspects of the dealership, including the automotive service technician area. Additionally, the students spent time with someone from human resources who offered interview advice along with explaining different pathways a student could take in automotives.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Sherry Craven, Student Experience Designer for the School of Trades explained, “next year they choose a cluster, picking one cluster of two trades and they will get equal time, four labs, in each of the two trades. I am also including job shadowing in combination with the classes and each student should also be trying to find an apprenticeship position. They can build most of their hours between Grade 11 and 12 during their summer off. Between Grade 10 and 11, we already have a couple of students who have placements and can start earning their hours.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Alyssa Kulyk from South Central has always preferred working with her hands and finds sitting in a classroom a struggle. With many family members and friends having careers in various trades, along with growing up on a farm, Kulyk is aware of how much those working in the trades contribute.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“They are proud of me for getting into a group of people who are mostly men and not being afraid to get my opinion out there. Many of them say females pay more attention to detail,” stated Kulyk. “It’s been great to explore all the different trades, and we’ve experienced things that are helpful. In heavy duty, we pulled apart a jack for a trailer. Two weeks earlier, the jack on our trailer broke and it would have been great to have the skill then, but it’s also good to know now so I can fix it in the future.”&nbsp;</p><p>Dawn Peers, Principal of South Central, accompanies the students to the college and is excited for this first cohort of students. “I have a bunch of boys of my own who have gone through trades programs and are loving their lives and careers. These kids are on the path to do that as well,” said Peers. “We don’t have the staff to provide a large range of options; we needed something like this because we don’t have that availability. They work with the same instructors my kids had when they went through trades and it’s great to see the female students taking part. There are some female instructors (at MHC) and it’s been amazing for them to see that as well.”&nbsp;</p><p>Dexter Miller wants to focus on both types of automotive training next year. “I am going to take over my dad’s farm. If I am a heavy-duty mechanic, I can fix my own equipment. It’s been good, when we go to the college, we learn what to do in each specific trade. So far, we’ve experienced welding, electrical, heavy-duty mechanic, and pipe fitting is this Friday.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Torynn Ophein, who aims to become a welder, wanted “opportunities out of high school, it gives me a whole bunch of different trades I could do. It’s a lot more (training) than I thought we would get with everything we’ve been doing. I thought it would be more casual, but we are hands-on in the labs.”&nbsp;</p><p>There are different ways a student can approach the program to suit their goals and schedules. If they fast-track, a student can obtain their high school diploma and their year one certification in their chosen trade. “Trades are a four-year program,” explained Craven. “Students can come out with year one, making them highly employable and already gives them a bump in their wages.”&nbsp;</p><p>There is also flexibility to when a student can enter the School of Trades, it doesn’t have to be in Grade 10. “Just taking the introductory classes alone, they are learning many skills and it’s making them more employable. It is amazing what they can do in one day,” stated Craven. “To watch them at the beginning of a welding lab, students who’ve never held a welding torch before are making pieces of art by the end of one day, such as cool flowers out of bolts and bicycles with wheels that turn.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer</p>