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2023-04-26 21:02:08 +0000 UTC
A special community meeting is being held tomorrow (April 27) at the Medicine Hat College Theatre to provide parents and caregivers information about mental health concerns facing youth. This community session is sponsored through the Brandon Liwa Legacy Fund - The Beej Project and is open to all families in Medicine Hat area. There is no cost to attend and the session will be recorded for those who cannot come in-person. Conversation on Loss, Suicide & Self Harm, Thursday April 27 Medicine Hat College, Eresman Theatre 7 – 8:30 p.m. This is an in person event, but for those who are unable to attend it will be live streamed through Microsoft teams. The session will be recorded and shared. The meeting has multiple purposes: To seek information from the most valuable community partners that we have – our parents. We know parents are feeling hyper-vigilant as it relates to the aftermath of an additional suicide death of a student at Crescent Heights High School. We will share tools to help you talk with your kids about loss, suicide and self harm. To share information with parents about the mental health of youth in our community. We connected with experts in the field of trauma response to access valuable information about coping skills and how to access community support. We believe that sharing information and encouraging helpful dialogue between ourselves will help us to plan ahead and support our community. This community meeting is a testimony to the commitment of parents, schools and community leaders doing the right things for our children.
2023-04-19 19:22:12.482 +0000 UTC
April 18, 2023, Board Meeting Highlights
<p>Additional details and full reports from the April 18, 2023, Board Meeting can be found in the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LWMf-FYWiyffdQfKcDwV6dK3pSrviAL3/view?usp=share_link">Agenda Package</a>.</p><p><img src="/images/7b1b1147-e81b-4a1d-a8b8-42da905799e3?fingerprint=ppb20251217023604" alt=""></p><p><strong>Jenner School Presentation</strong><br>Jenner School principal Kirby Stensrud provided an overview of the school and the learning students and staff have been doing to support the school division goals of kindling hearts, igniting minds and forging futures. It was noted that literacy continues to be a strong focus for the school, with students preparing to showcase some of their work at the upcoming Exhibition of Learning on May 25, 2023. Stensrud shared that staff gave students considerable flexibility in choosing their topic for the exhibition based on feedback from the recent assurance survey that suggested students would like to have more input on what they are learning about. Information about the school's Prairie Rose Possibility program called Jr High Options was also shared. With the program, the school brings in outside experts on various topics, and students work through modules. Some of the options students have participated in this year include carpentry, photography, stained glass, leather working, art, welding, cooking and outdoor education. The full presentation can be found in the Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Trustee Awards of Recognition</strong><br>Trustee Shauna Vanderspruit shared that starting this spring, the Board of Trustees will be implementing a new award of recognition program that acknowledges the contributions of Prairie Rose stakeholders towards making the school division and our rural communities an amazing place to learn, work and pursue joint partnership opportunities. This program will allow our staff and community members to nominate those who go above and beyond to promote PRPS's core principles and our education goals. Additional awards will be added in the following years, but the first three awards available for nomination starting the 2022-2023 school year include; the Grade 9 Student Leadership Award, the High School Student Leadership Award and the Community Champion for Education Award. Award details and information on how to make a nomination can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/19V45LK5dInfZZxBoEYOOnS_WNON6DMQN/view?usp=share_link">https://drive.google.com/file/d/19V45LK5dInfZZxBoEYOOnS_WNON6DMQN/view?usp=share_link</a></p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><img class="image_resized" style="width:41.63%;" src="/images/76c892ce-1785-4927-b4c5-67217f078321?fingerprint=ppb20251217023516" alt=""><img class="image_resized" style="width:41.85%;" src="/images/ceb8d81f-fcde-47d9-b0d8-3e9e0be1f9bb?fingerprint=ppb20251217024943" alt=""><img class="image_resized" style="width:44.02%;" src="/images/c54d043d-fae1-49a8-8e58-2e1fbec1fae8?fingerprint=ppb20251217024807" alt=""></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><strong>Financial Report</strong><br>Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Candice Hintz provided a financial update to the Board for information. As of February 28, 2023, the division was 50% of the way through the current fiscal year. It was shared that due to an increase in expected revenues of $665,150, the division is now expecting a $27,712 decrease in the projected deficit from ($926,606) to ($898,894). The complete financial report is available in the Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>Interim Vice-Chair Elected</strong><br>Acting PRPS Board Chair Lois Bedwell asked for nominations for interim Board Vice-Chair, as the position is currently vacant due to the leave of absence of trustee Cathy Hogg. Trustee Patty Rooks was acclaimed to the position.</p>