“Meet the spook-tacular staff of I.F. Cox School! 🎃 We had so much fun dressing up and getting into the Halloween spirit. This year we tried something different and chose our costumes by grade level.

Happy Halloween from I.F. Cox School! 🎃 Today was filled so much fun as our students, staff and families celebrated Halloween together. From creative costumes to festive classroom activities, everyone had a blast. Wishing all of our students, families, and staff a safe and fun Halloween night! 👻 #kindlehearts #myprps

<p>Grade 3 students in Jennifer Tiffin’s class at Bow Island Elementary recently completed a project on oral storytelling to share the culture and/or traditions of each student’s family. Over a series of school days, time was set aside for three or four students to give their presentations. On Wednesday, October 9, the three students presenting were Lucas, Spencer and Braden.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Rather than have the students present in the classroom, Tiffin moved the class down the hallway to an open area so they could sit in a storytelling circle. Prior to lining up to leave the classroom, Tiffin and the class reviewed listening and presenting skills. “The person who is speaking is giving us a little bit of their heart and we want to be respectful of that,” explained Tiffin. Presenters were reminded to speak clearly, make eye contact, and engage their audience. Suggestions by the students on how to be a good listener included not talking during the presentation, watching the presenter, sitting still, and waiting until the end for questions along with asking good questions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Tiffin recognized Lucas as being the one student who had asked each presenter thus far a great question. “I love that we are not only listening but are asking questions because that shows me that you are really listening,” Tiffin told her class.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Once the students were sitting in the storytelling circle, with pillows in the middle for the presenter to sit on, Tiffin asked the class to tell her why they had undertaken this project. One student said so they could learn how to listen and speak to an audience. “Listening for me is one of the hardest parts of this but also one of the most important parts because listening is tricky,” stated Tiffin. Additionally, sitting in a circle lets the presenter know the other classmates care about them and want to hear what they have to say.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Lucas was the first presenter and told the circle that each Christmas Eve his grandpa makes yummy Rice Krispie Squares. His mom and dad invite all the family to their house for a gift exchange, which results in the house being full and boisterous. Answering questions from his audience, Lucas said his favourite part of the day was the gift exchange and then he explained how Rice Krispie Squares are made, opening the box he brought to show the class the treats he was planning to share with them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Spencer brought a storybook of pictures to use his during his presentation and talked about the tradition of feeding their cows using heavy horses hitched to a large wagon load of hay. This tradition has been in his family since the 1980’s, long before Spencer was born. Since Spencer was old enough, a rope has been tied to the back of the wagon so Spencer, along with any friends who are over, can ride in a toboggan behind the wagon. The cows are only fed this way in the winter, Spencer explained, because they can graze in other seasons. When asked his favourite part, Spencer said it was going into the ditches, where the snow is the deepest, on the toboggan, although if he doesn’t manage to steer it onto the tracks, he often tips over.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Braden was the last presenter of the day and explained his family is Mexican Mennonite. One tradition his family practices is to take an annual visit to his grandparent’s house to help with butchering the cows and chickens then making sausages. Another one is travelling to Mexico each Christmas to spend time with family and friends. Braden brought some sausages his family made with him to class for sharing. When asked how difficult they are to make, Braden said he didn’t know because his grandma makes the sausages each year. His favourite part of these two traditions is the travelling.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The class had briefly discussed earlier in the year that making connections is one way we can comprehend the world around us. Tiffin explained to her students that this project is about making connections through personal stories, highlighting how Braden and Spencer shared similarities in their stories. Another similarity is having large family get togethers at Christmas or making Rice Krispie Squares with a family member, which most students in the class could identify with. While the project examined what is unique for each student, it also showed each other what they have in common.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

We’re excited to share our November newsletter with you! This month’s edition is packed with important updates, upcoming events, and highlights from recent activities at I.F. Cox School.

Congratulations to 3D and Ms. Martín!!!

A balance bike was found on our playground this week. If it belongs to your family, please call the school to identify it. 403-549-3449

<p>While enrollment with South Alberta High School (SAHS) is in constant fluctuation, the number of students accessing the online school continues to climb. Some choose to take all their high school courses through SAHS while the majority take one or two courses at a time. Sherry Craven has been involved with SAHS since its creation two years ago. Changes this year include bringing on Corey Steeves as principal along with hiring a math/sciences teacher so all marking can be done in-house.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Our school is tailored to the individual and every student is unique. There was a student last year who realized in the second semester he needed CHEM 30 to get into an education program,” explained Craven. “He didn’t have it, wasn’t registered for it, and couldn’t have completed the course by the registration deadline. He decided to enrol in our school, took CHEM 30 and completed the course in about 90 days. Each student can go through courses as fast or as slow as they want.”&nbsp;</p><p>The benefit for this student was his post-secondary education wasn’t delayed by having to wait another year to complete the CHEM 30 course at an in-person school. SAHS is also ideal for students who are involved in extra-curricular activities that consume much of their time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Rodeo, dance, ballet or hockey, they are totally invested in that, and they need everything else to fit around what is essentially a full-time job. Instead of having to take all the option classes and attend school with required attendance, they are able to choose what they want to take, and the program is individually tailored to what fits them with interest levels, profile, extracurricular, and future plans/goals,” stated Craven.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>For each student who is enrolled, Craven starts a text thread with them as that works better than emails. Each student has access to her phone number and, on initially contacting her, only has to give their name and what class(es) they are enrolled in. As many of the students don’t work on their schoolwork during regular hours, it is expected texts will come in during evenings and weekends.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>As Craven explained, “one student is in ballet five days a week, it’s a huge commitment. We have to expect that sometimes students will text at 10:30 p.m. because that’s when they are doing schoolwork and when they have facilitation or logistical questions, such as how to book a test, or accessing different booklets, links, or grades.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In a regular school, if a student misses a class, they never get that back. With SAHS, all lessons are pre-recorded and have a slide deck with a teacher in the corner of the screen going through the lesson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Another type of student we get are those who struggle in a physical school setting and find it difficult sitting in a classroom but will thrive online. One student took several classes and at the end provided a testimonial that said when he’s sitting in a normal class and zones out, he never gets that back. In a class of 30 students, if he doesn’t understand something, he’s not going to ask a question because the teacher doesn’t have time to slow down, and he feels stupid asking. The next day it builds and builds, and he would get frustrated along with having increased anxiety.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>With the online lessons, students can do as much or as little as they want. Additionally, they can listen to lessons more than once and complete extra practice problems depending on their needs. The formative work isn’t as heavily weighted as the tests for online courses, so students must do the work to pass the tests.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Craven was teaching high school social studies at Eagle Butte when she got involved with creating online courses during the pandemic, learning from others how to use the platform and create instructional videos. “After teaching for 20 years, I thought it would be a fresh and exciting thing to try something different. For myself, being on the other side of education now, instead of being concerned about improving a student’s writing or get my planning and prep done, or marking essays, now my train of thought is completely different. Now, I’m trying to think of ways to grow and expand and what other opportunities we can create, what else can we provide that students would want to take to better themselves.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>SAHS is continuously developing courses and Craven’s favourite part about teaching is the creating part, either new lessons or new learning. “I was always reading books on pedagogy along with all the latest trends and styles in teaching and now I still find myself excited about that, but it’s different. It’s finding a niche for what students need and trying to make that work.”&nbsp;</p><p>Being a SAHS teacher and course creator is only part of Craven’s job. She is also the Student Experience Designer for the School of Trades as well as secondee for CAREERS The Next Generation. Going into her role with SAHS, Craven was concerned it would be like teaching during the pandemic, where students were disengaged.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“It was painful, and most teachers would agree it wasn’t a good teaching environment. It was forced upon us and a situation nobody wanted to be in,” stated Craven. “This is completely voluntary, the students who choose to take these courses want to be online and they want to do it this way. I would say the biggest thing that has impressed me is how polite and respectful the students are, how considerate they are of my time and how dedicated and driven, and grateful they are. They know exactly what they want, and they are good at asking for what they want and that has been impressive.”&nbsp;</p><p>Learn more about South Alberta High School online: <a href="https://southalbertahighschool.com/">southalbertahighschool.com</a>&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

Nothing warms our hearts like seeing the joy of friendship in action! Today, these two showed us that sometimes the best memories are made by simply sharing a swing. #kindlehearts #myprps

<p>Jacalyn Poncelet joined Prairie Rose Public School (PRPS) this year as principal at New Brigden School and knew from her first day there she’d made the right decision in taking the position. Originally from Kinistino, Saskatchewan, a small town less than an hour southeast of Prince Albert, Poncelet enjoys the strong connection to community and families in a rural school.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“I went there from K-12 then away for university at the University of Saskatchewan and back to Kinistino where I taught elementary for almost 17 years. The last five years there I was focused on literacy and numeracy intervention, so I love that kind of work and working with elementary and rural education. I was so excited to return back to this.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Poncelet moved to Alberta six years ago to be closer to her much younger sister, who had children just starting school within PRPS in Redcliff. She worked with the Medicine Hat Public School Division (MHPSD) for six years but last year involved much driving between Medicine Hat and Oyen after her boyfriend took a position at South Central High School with the hockey academy. Now living in Oyen, Poncelet enjoys watching the prairie roll by during her 20-minute commute to New Brigden.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“I love it, every day I come here very grateful I decided to take this opportunity,” stated Poncelet. “At first, I was a bit scared because everyone was saying how long it takes to get into MHPSD and now I was leaving. I knew on day one I made the right choice, it’s like a dream job.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In addition to being principal, Poncelet teaches grade 4-6 students. There are 11 students in Poncelet’s class, who receives help from an educational assistant (EA) when teaching math and language arts. The Grade 4-6 EA at New Brigden is also the secretary and bus driver for the school. The K-3 class has 10 students and the teacher in that class has an EA helping four days per week. Along with the custodian, New Brigden has five staff members in total.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“It’s really nice and everyone seems to be working well together, I enjoy the family atmosphere. That was the biggest part I missed when moving from a rural to a city school, that family feel in a classroom, and you can feel it the minute you walk in the door here. Even with the older students and the younger ones, I love seeing that leadership within from the students. They treat each other like brothers, sisters and teammates.”&nbsp;</p><p>Currently, there are nine families sending children to New Brigden School and Poncelet met all of them during May and June this year when she came out for a few of the school events. Additionally, there was a pancake breakfast on the first day of school where she was able to interact with the families again.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“The pancake breakfast started at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 10 a.m. We only have one kindergarten student, who left when the parents did and started school the following day. In the classrooms, we went over school rules as a group and a few other things and then went into our classrooms to start. We do buddy activities once a week, reading or other activities the younger students might need some help with from the older ones. We do wellness usually on Fridays, we are doing lots of stuff on growth mindset right now. The family school liaison worker (FSLW) and mental health capacity come in regularly and some of that is together as a group, it depends on what they are focusing on,” explained Poncelet.&nbsp;</p><p>This year, Poncelet is intending to immerse herself into the school culture and is looking forward to getting to know the students, families and community better. The first parent council of the year is coming up soon, which will be a new experience for her now that she is in an administrative role, and she is excited to be involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

We worked as a team today to build the first snow man of the year!

🎉 Today, our 2B students celebrated the end of their math pattern unit with a fun-filled "Pattern Party!" 🎊 They dressed up in patterns, made creative pattern hats and plates, and arranged a pattern snack on a skewer. The kids showcased their deeper learning of the pattern concepts in fun and hands-on ways. 🖍️🔢 Our students are building strong math foundations while having a blast! Way to go, Grade 2! 🙌 #KindleHearts #ForgeFutures #IgniteMinds #MyPRPS

<p>Substitute bus drivers are needed through Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) for extracurricular activities and field trips during school days and on weekends as well as to cover morning and afternoon routes. As a Class 2 license and S Endorsement is required, PRPS will train at no cost to the driver with a wage being paid as part of the training process. Those applicants who already hold a Class 1 or Class 2 license will still need to obtain an S Endorsement to be able to drive with students on board.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“School bus drivers do more than drive kids to and from school. They play an important role in fostering a stronger, more connected community by ensuring safety, building relationships, and contributing to the students’ and their families’ overall well-being,” stated Lois Bedwell, Chair of the PRPS Board of Trustees. “Every morning, after inspecting their buses, bus drivers start their day by greeting each child with a smile and a kind word. As a school bus driver, they may be more than just the person who gets the kids to school. They may also be a mentor, a confidant, and a pillar of the community. Does this sound like the perfect job for you? Please consider becoming a substitute bus driver for Prairie Rose.”&nbsp;</p><p>Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser said PRPS is pleased with how the new transportation system is running so far this year. There have been some learning curves, but he feels PRPS has adapted very quickly, which was aided by making improvements based on feedback from drivers. Improvements were made in many areas, including altering routes, how drivers are compensated, paperwork and driver meetings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“That part has been really good,” said Boser. “We’ve leaned on our drivers in many instances as they are the ones who have been out there driving. In many cases, for several years, so they know this industry better than we do and the feedback has been valuable. Overall, it’s gone well, and we are continuing to add staffing in the transportation department.”&nbsp;</p><p>PRPS is adding a transportation dispatcher/admin assistant, who will start in the next few weeks, and have also sat down to define current roles. Derek Beck is responsible for managing the fleet, which includes 39 new buses and five spare buses, and coordinates all maintenance and servicing. Wade Lanctot is the new Director of Transportation and oversees all driver and parent concerns, route planning, along with day-to-day operations.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“We need subs for our routes, but we are also in need of drivers who are able to pick up additional work through the academy programming, field trips and extra-curricular activities,” explained Boser. Some of the academies, such as hockey, are seasonal, but when they are running, the scheduling for a driver would be consistent from week to week. Substitute drivers would have as much or as little work as they want with a flexible schedule. “PRPS is willing to work with each person on the number of hours they want and the times of day they prefer to work,” said Boser.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Those individuals who are interested in being a substitute driver and already hold a Class 1 or 2 license must still obtain an S Endorsement because they will be transporting children. The S Endorsement course is all about safety as well as loading and unloading students properly. Currently, new drivers need to travel to Brooks or Lethbridge for this course with mileage and hotel costs along with a wage being paid. PRPS’s vision is to have their own driving school with route drivers acting as trainers whenever it works for them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Kids love getting on the bus in the morning and seeing a close friend, grandpa, dad or uncle drive them to school every day,” stated Trustee Nancy Haraga. “Sometimes it’s even someone who played a huge role in the community and has since retired and is looking for something to fill his/her time in the morning and afternoon.  It’s a way to kindle hearts and forge futures for the upcoming farmers and ranchers of our rural communities. The kids sure enjoy seeing new and old faces of their community. It’s a way, to put a face to their name. Don’t throw yourself under the bus, jump in and see what the ride is all about.”</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer</p>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx-SLzrsc0c

We're thrilled to announce the return of our TNT (Try New Things) Options Program for Grade 1-3 students! 🎉 This year's lineup of options is all about fun, creativity, and hands-on learning! From Glow in the Dark Art to Coding, from School of Rock to Food Explorers, we have something for every budding artist, coder, athlete, and adventurer! 🎨💻🎸 🚀 What is TNT? This initiative directly supports our school’s plan to provide students with unique opportunities to learn by doing and explore their interests in a fun and supportive environment. Classes like Diamond Art, Puppet Creators, and even a Pirate Mystery adventure are just the beginning! Look for this form in your child's backpack. We can’t wait to see our students shine in these amazing activities. 💥 #kindlehearts #igniteminds #forgefutures #myprps

🦃✨ Thanksgiving Gratitude! ✨🦃 Today, some of our amazing students shared what they are thankful for, highlighting the importance of gratitude and connection in our school community. Let’s celebrate the joy of togetherness this Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for? Share in the comments! ❤️ #KindleHearts #myprps

At our school, we believe in building strong relationships and celebrating the contributions of our community. Today’s visit from the Redcliff Fire Department is a perfect example of this commitment. Partnering with organizations like the fire department not only helps ensure our students’ safety but also teaches them the importance of trust, teamwork, and community spirit. A heartfelt thank you to the Redcliff Fire Department for their dedication and for being such an integral part of our town. Let’s keep these conversations going at home as we work together to keep each other safe! #kindlehearts #inspireminds #forgefutures #townofredcliff

🦕Digging Into Science: Learning About Landscape Layers! 🐝 Today, our budding young scientists had a blast learning about the layers of the landscape! 🌍 They worked together to bury a "dinosaur" and a "bee", exploring how different layers of soil tell a story about the past. With hands-on activities like gathering soil and pebbles and examining the layers they created, students gained a deeper understanding of how fossils are found and preserved over time. Check out our future paleontologists in action! 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 #engageminds #forgefutures #myprps

<p>Three of the six HALO pilots are licensed for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, so getting them certified to fly the Dave Rozdeba South Alberta Flight Academy student-built plane isn’t difficult. Thus far, only Captain Ryan Shrives is certified to fly the Vans RV-12 and said, “certification wasn’t complicated, it was more about time management and having people available. It was a few flights to get familiar with the machine and the systems.”&nbsp;</p><p>Shrives said the plane, which now has about 300 flight hours on it, was fun to fly and he has taken up CEO of HALO Paul Carolan to give him a feel for how the plane handles, what it can do and visibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“We haven’t used it on a search or a fire yet because in the cases where we were doing that this year, we needed to be able to deploy people and we can’t do that with the plane,” explained Carolan. “The idea is we might not always have to put people on the ground and then this makes way more sense because it can fly longer and is more affordable. We aren’t doing what I would call proactive patrols, but if someone reports something, the idea is between one of the two aircraft, we can confirm if there is a fire and identify the seriousness of the situation.”&nbsp;</p><p>This past summer, there were reports in Cypress County of the smell of smoke, but nobody knew where the fire was. This is the type of situation, said Shrives, where the plane could have been used to scout the area. “The reason we have the specific partnership with the plane,” added Carolan, “is because if the situation doesn’t require taking people out and being able to land and put them on the ground, the plane is a great asset to go look from an aerial reconnaissance perspective. It can stay up longer, is more affordable to fly and can cover greater distances. It is a great opportunity to have that under the program as well, plus Prairie Rose is deeply invested in the community and their support to be out there in emergency situations is a great way for them to give back.”&nbsp;</p><p>When HALO began working with Cypress County, the South Alberta Fire Academy was already in operation. Thus, there was a natural synergy for HALO to partner with Prairie Rose. Additionally, it allows Fire Academy students the opportunity to witness the EMS and helicopter side of emergency situations.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Cypress County represents nearly 40% of HALO’s annual call volume and they regularly train and work with their fire department. It could be for landing zone operations, medevac situations or the establishment and enhancement of the aerial fire program. HALO can provide aerial recons, where someone in the aircraft is spotting fires to establish the seriousness of the situation, what direction the fire is heading and if there are any obstacles in the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Additionally, HALO can also transport people to begin fighting the fire or provide situational awareness for crews arriving on the ground. “It’s a great use of both programs. If we have the crew available to take the plane and get eyes on to spot something and the helicopter is needed in a medevac, now it’s still here.&nbsp; It’s a great compliment, especially in cases where there is reported activity of fire, but nobody knows where it is, this is a great way to find it.”&nbsp;</p><p>The second PRPS student-built plane is due to be completed and moved to the airport in December for ground runs and final inspection. Harry Jaeger, who is an aircraft maintenance engineer, came in to work with the Flight Academy at a point when the first build was stalled. Having worked on about 50 plane-builds, he brought with him the technical know-how to get the project back on track and completed.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Currently, due to the large number of Grade 10 students entering the Flight Academy this year, Jaeger has four groups of students each week that help with the second plane build. “The students enjoy their build time; they are very engaged and love what they are doing here. I’ve taught lots of classes to adults, coming into the student level of Grade 10, 11 and 12, I found this was exactly where I need to be,” stated Jaeger.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>As Jaeger also has a pilot’s license and a background in flying experimental aircraft along with having an in-depth knowledge of the student-built Vans RV-12, he is the mentor pilot for the plane. “I’ve flown many other customer’s airplanes to ensure things are good. I’ve set them up and performed calibrations to ensure everything works the way it’s supposed to and it’s safe. That is the end goal, it must be safe.”&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>