My favorite day of the year is here!! The students are all helping prepare the gym for our Turkey Dinner.

The school has started a new fundraiser! Please call the office if you would like a great deal on Mavericks tickets for next season! 403-548-3449

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON DECEMBER 6, 2023.</i></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools has received a clean financial audit, with statements presented to the board on Nov. 28.</p><p>Board chair Lois Bedwell was on the audit committee and stated she learned a lot during pre- and post-audit meetings. Accounting firm MNP LLP gave PRPS a clean audit and was impressed with the work done by the financial team. Controller Candice Hintz touched on three of the main schedules in her presentation.</p><p>Last year, PRPS received new and initial funding, but only for a few months, and this year it is available for the full 10 months of operations. Badlands Baseball Academy has been incorporated into PRPS operations this year and the division was approved for collegiate funding for the South Alberta Flight Academy.</p><p>New this year is the assets retirement obligation (ARO), estimated at a $4.6 million cost to deal with any asset retirement obligation, such as asbestos and septic tanks, at the end of useful life. Most assets are in the schools, which Alberta Education will likely fund when the time comes, but since it’s not confirmed, PRPS must record this cost as a liability. With the ARO, it makes the total liabilities higher than total assets, resulting in a net debt amount due to that change in accounting policies.</p><p>Actual revenue was $1,549,994 higher than budget due to increased funding from Alberta Education, increase in fees, increase in interest income, additional donations and ASBIE (Alberta School Boards’ Insurance Exchange) equity return.</p><p>Actual expenses were $1,360,545 over budget, which was due to increased support for programming, additional professional development, increased utility costs and expenses incurred due to increased funding.</p><p>CFO Ryan Boser asked the board to approve a motion, which was carried, prior to approving the audited financial statements.</p><p>“In order to fund the deficit this year and get our reserves down below the maximum, which we successfully did, it does require a reserve transfer to move $1,003,458 from restricted operating reserves to unrestricted operating reserves. Essentially what that means is we are moving just over $1 million from our restricted reserves into operations to fund that deficit, and that was part of our plan all along.”</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON DECEMBER 5, 2023.</i></p><p>For K-3 students at I.F. Cox School in Redcliff, there is a new Prairie Rose Possibilities project available called TNT, or Try New Things.</p><p>Parents wanted to see broader programs in the school and this project offers opportunities for students to take part in different areas of interest. Another benefit is children engage with different teachers as well as students from other grades while participating in their chosen courses.</p><p>The project aligns with kindling hearts by bringing a sense of well-being to both students and staff. It allows staff to offer courses in subjects they are passionate about and gives students a choice of what topics they want to engage in. It also provides an opportunity to bring parents and stakeholders back into the school post-pandemic. It ignites minds by providing high yield strategies, co-operative learning, executive functioning skills and non-linguistic representation.</p><p>Additionally, by cultivating wonder, strengthening partnerships with stakeholders and offering prospects for deeper learning, the program is forging futures.</p><p>The program started with teaching staff offering courses and has grown to include support staff and a divisional lead. First-year education students from Medicine Hat College, a retired teacher who is a watercolour artist, the Mavericks baseball team, along with men’s and women’s sports teams from the college have all come into the school.</p><p>There were 92 parent responses from a survey and 100% were positive, with comments focused on how much they were looking forward to sessions restarting again this year.</p><p>Trustee Patty Rooks stated the program was a great way to create a sense of community, and while she is aware it creates extra work for the teachers, it is appreciated.</p><p>The school is having a Christmas fair and fun night and many groups have been working on products to sell, such as baked items, ornaments and watercolour paintings. The fair will take place Dec. 6 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the school is in the process of choosing a charity to donate all proceeds to.</p>

Here is the link for our December newsletter, enjoy!

<p>The November 28, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda Package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IXInzuN7EFDeKlyOezLkvCr58mlAWksf/view?usp=drive_link">November 28, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p><p><strong>PAT and Diploma Results</strong></p><p>Assistant Superintendent Boyd Craven presented the 2023-2024 Prairie Rose results from the PAT (provincial assessment testing grades 6 and 9) and Diploma (grade 12) exams for information. It was noted that Prairie Rose students did very well in most areas compared to the provincial results.&nbsp;</p><p>Some highlights of the report include:</p><ul><li>The divisional PAT results were higher at the acceptable level than the province in every subject.</li><li>Overall, the diploma acceptable standard increased from 71% to 77%.</li><li>There was an overall increase in the diploma standard of excellence from 10.9% to 11.8%.</li></ul><p>The full report can be found in the November 28, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p><strong>IF Cox Presentation</strong></p><p>IF Cox School Vice-Principal Tracy Frank provided an overview of the school’s Prairie Rose Possibility program called TNT or Try New Things. The program runs in six-week cycles, with each student getting to choose two options during that time frame. Some options available to students have included sign language, coding, pickleball, virtual reality, running, pinata making, magic tricks, field trips and more. The options are chosen based on staff interest and their passion for sharing with the students. Outside community members are also brought in to offer additional subject options. The program was developed to offer opportunities for younger students to engage in areas of passion and interest, much like they do at the junior high level. It was also shared that TNT classes are not grade-specific, but students from K-3 all participate together in their chosen subject areas. This has helped transition students between grades and the Redcliff schools as they get to know students outside their direct peer groups. The full presentation can be found in the Board Meeting Agenda package for November 28, 2023.</p><p><strong>Cypress County Ag Conference</strong></p><p>Trustee Graeme Dennis commended Cypress County on successfully hosting the Ag Connections Conference on November 22, 2023. Community partner Nichole Neubauer and the Irvine School ADC students were also congratulated for their presentation at the conference. It was noted that a lot of great work is happening in agriculture, which has been intertwined with learning in PRPS.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>PRPS Executive Report</strong></p><p>Superintendent Reagan Weeks shared the executive report with the board, highlighting several exciting and upcoming initiatives across Prairie Rose Public Schools.&nbsp;</p><p>Some of the highlights include:</p><ul><li>Recent Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence winner and Ralston School teacher Jocelyn Encinas will spearhead a new Prairie Rose Possibility program focused on robotics at Ralston School.</li><li>PRPS Instructional Coach Cammie Kannekens was invited to attend the Google for Educators conference in Ireland to represent PRPS at Google headquarters</li><li>PRPS will launch an expanded drone program with new partnerships for training specific to the agriculture industry. The training will take place at the airfield in Foremost.</li><li>The DR South Alberta Flight Academy is touring CFB Cold Lake to learn more about the Canadian military aviation program.</li></ul><p><strong>Audited Financial Statement</strong></p><p>Board Chair Lois Bedwell provided highlights from the MNP audit report. Overall, PRPS was given a clean audit from MNP. The full report can be found in the November 28, 2023, Board Meeting Agenda package.</p><p>Total revenues for the 2022-2023 school year amounted to $55,697,369.</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>K-12 Instruction</td><td>$39,151,322</td></tr><tr><td>Plant Operations and Maintenance</td><td>$6,035,008</td></tr><tr><td>Transportation</td><td>$6,234,628</td></tr><tr><td>System Administration</td><td>$2,220,085</td></tr><tr><td>External Services</td><td>$28,084&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Total expenses for the year totalled $56,416,818.</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>K-12 Instruction</td><td>$39,039,516</td></tr><tr><td>Plant Operations and Maintenance</td><td>$7,294,079</td></tr><tr><td>Transportation</td><td>$5,905,299</td></tr><tr><td>System Administration</td><td>$2,106,651</td></tr><tr><td>External Services</td><td>$33,926</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The total operating deficit for the 2022-2023 year came in at $719,449, a planned deficit amount to get division reserves under the allowable 4.42% of August 31, 2022 expenses ($2,374,703). Operating reserves now sit at $2,228,252. Trustees approved a motion to move 1,358,000 from restricted to unrestricted to cover the deficit. The 2022-2023 financial statements were approved as presented.</p>

<p>The November 28, 2023, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is only available in-person.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IXInzuN7EFDeKlyOezLkvCr58mlAWksf/view?usp=drive_link">November 28, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda</a></p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 23, 2023.</i></p><p>The cosmetology 20/30 class at Eagle Butte High School will be holding a Cuts for Cancer fundraiser on Dec. 1. Teacher Ingrid Rose explained the fundraiser hasn’t been done at the school for a few years, but they are excited to bring it back.</p><p>The students are nervous yet excited about the prospect of working on people rather than mannequins.</p><p>“They just finished learning hair cutting and layering and they will wash and cut. I’ve already talked to the Canadian Cancer Society and all the proceeds will go there and there might be one person who pays $5 and another who pays $100. Last time I had it, we had our superintendent and he had no hair here (on top) but he put in a hundred bucks, it’s just a donation and it’s good for us to help the community,” said Rose.</p><p>Grade 12 student Ryeanna Jones said, “I like it because I have a lot of people I’ve lost to cancer in my family so I think this is a very good fundraiser. This brings light to the struggle with it (cancer) because it’s such a worldwide thing and a lot of people deal with it.”</p><p>Lana Giles, also in Grade 12, added, “I think cancer touches everyone … who knows at least one person close to them that has been affected by it, so I think it’s important to recognize it even at a high school level, it’s a conversation we need to have.”</p><p>Cuts for Cancer is on Dec. 1 from 10-11: 30 a.m., and those who wish to participate are asked to book in for their cut beforehand by calling the school at 403-528-1996.</p><p>“I’m really excited and nervous at the same time. I really like being in this class,” said Grade 11 student Hope Burkitt, who is in her second year of cosmetology.</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 4, 2023.</i></p><p>As part of the Careers Technology Foundations options, Irvine School is now offering all junior high students Life Skills with Certifications. Courses will become available at different times of the school year with a combined babysitting/emergency first-aid and a firearms/hunter education safety courses underway.</p><p>Principal Trent Rayner has wanted to run certification courses for a few years and mentioned the idea to teacher Linda Kraft, who ran with it.</p><p>“We’ve been valuing and getting more and more community partnerships, so another partnership developed between us and Safety Buzz through Linda setting that up,” Rayner said. “We are working with them to make sure most of our junior high students will leave this year being certified in something they can either use practically, for their portfolio or on their resume – anything to help them get a job and help them in real life.”</p><p>The first-aid/babysitting course is full and has a waiting list. Rayner wasn’t sure about it, as the course, while valuable, can be dry, but is pleased with the response. It speaks to how the students are responsible enough to see the value in the course along with knowing how it will set them apart from other junior high students when it comes to getting their first job.</p><p>“The amazing thing is these kids are picking certifications right now when they could be taking other courses, such as active living or low-organized games. That is what has surprised me so far about this,” said Rayner.</p><p>Kraft is excited LSC has taken off so well, with double-digit numbers enrolled in both courses currently offered.</p><p>“I put it out to the kids so anything they are interested in and anything parents see might be a benefit, we are happy to take a look at it,” stated Kraft. “There are so many times when kids or parents say, ‘Too bad you didn’t learn that in school.’ We are offering these real-life skills courses, especially the emergency first-aid, that every single individual can use and could potentially be required for their part-time jobs moving forward.</p><p>“In my health class it ties in nicely because we do portfolios and resume, career/job type stuff, so this is something to help fill their resume.”</p><p>Grade 9 students Odin Jordet, Ethan Bowey and Parker Bellamy all enrolled in the babysitting/first-aid LSC. All three play a variety of sports and enjoy being active, and they are all taking the course with the goal of a well-paid lifeguard job. First-aid is required before they can complete their Bronze Cross in swimming, a prerequisite for the lifeguarding certificate.</p><p>“It’s a good course to have,” stated Jordet. “It will look good on a resume. It’s cheaper (to take) in school and then I don’t have to use my personal time that I like to spend doing sports.”</p><p>Bowey also said it will look good on his resume for future jobs.</p><p>“You need to get your first-aid before you can go do your Bronze Cross, they made that mandatory this year. I’m going to see how far this gets me because it says you need your full first-aid, but I’m going to see if this course gives you a full one,” stated Bowey, who is also interested in the boating course that will be offered later in the year.</p><p>Bellamy talked about how useful first-aid is in a rural environment where an ambulance could be 90 minutes away or HALO needs to be called. He said all but two of the boys in the class have babysat before.</p><p>“I think it’s because most of us have younger siblings. There are people south of us who have little kids and if you get into a wreck with cattle or something, you gotta go babysit for a bit because it’s hard to pack a four- or five-year-old on a horse,” explained Bellamy.</p><p>Driver’s education, referee certification for volleyball and basketball, a boating and water safety course as well as financial literacy are being looked at as future courses. Further down the road, the school is looking into life-skills classes that might not have a certification but are no less useful.</p><p>“How many kids, including my own, know how to sew a button onto a shirt or change a tire? Things I know they should know. If my kids or these kids could come home with 12 different life skills, simple as that, that would help so much moving forward,” concluded Rayner.</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 2, 2023.</i></p><p>Cross-country at Eagle Butte High School is not considered an individual sport, rather coach Darryl Smith creates a team atmosphere to support students of all abilities and levels to be successful.</p><p>“When I talk about the program it’s the idea of having a set of guidelines and meeting the expectation of what came before us and moulding that for us and the legacy of those coming after us. If we don’t do that it falls apart,” explained Smith. “The kids hold themselves to a standard of being appropriate. There is an expectation of honour and respect. The kids here know my expectations and what the team needs.</p><p>“Excellence for us could mean how we act, it could mean how we run, or how we train. I talk about this a lot. Kids will meet your expectations and always step up, always. I don’t think we give them enough credit.”</p><p>Grade 12 student Brianna Finke joined cross-country this year to help her get in shape for other sports, primarily hockey, and because of the fun team culture. Training and competing in cross-country not only helped Finke attain a higher level of positivity, but also increased her stamina for when she is on the ice.</p><p>“Mr. Smith has helped me a lot. He’s taught me how to bring out the best in myself and my energy and put it onto other people, too,” stated Finke.</p><p>Finke wants to continue playing hockey at a post-secondary institution while pursuing a degree in education with the aim of becoming an elementary school teacher.</p><p>Quinn Olson, who has been on the team for three years, has experienced a shift from an observing role in her first year to taking on more responsibility in successive years.</p><p>“Moving up through the years, I took on more of a leadership role guiding the younger kids and then eventually Smith calls you a team captain and I was leading warmup and doing the cheer,” stated Olson.</p><p>In classes now, Olson is less likely to sit back and wait for others to make decisions, rather she takes greater initiative when working on projects while also taking more chances, which supplies greater opportunities.</p><p>Following graduation, Olson is interested in a career in real estate. During her first two years on the team, she qualified for provincials, but only ran in them last year due to the pandemic the year before.</p><p>“There are a hundred-some kids running and if you don’t position yourself at the front, you are pretty much packed in until it all levels out. For the first 1 km, I was stuck between seven to eight different girls and couldn’t get by,” Olson explained.</p><p>This is the second year on the team for Grade 11 student Ryker Weiss, who plays basketball and joined to get ahead on training and enable him to perform at his best when on the court.</p><p>Cross-country is about getting into the right head space.</p><p>“When you are running you feel like you want to give up but if you keep pushing yourself than you’ll realize how far you can actually go,” stated Weiss. “When I practise, I’m right beside Mr. Smith and he’s always pushing me to go further, so I always just think I’m running with someone and if I slow down then they will go in front of me, so I try to keep forward.”</p><p>Shop is his favourite subject and Weiss wants to go pursue a career in carpentry after he graduates. This year, Smith gave Weiss more of a leadership role and he had to pay attention to what everyone on the team was doing, which has helped increase his social awareness and communication skills.</p>