We loved having the South Alberta Hockey Academy girls visit us today to play, learn, and create!

We were grateful to welcome Medicine Hat Family Service into our school today to kick off Mental Health Week. 💚 They shared valuable insights on safe, healthy ways to understand and manage our emotions while taking care of our mental well-being. Students also had the chance to slow down and connect through mindful colouring and creative art activities. Thank you for helping us build strong, healthy minds and hearts in our school community!

<p>Celebrating Our Prairie Rose Artists!</p><p>We are so proud of all our Prairie Rose Public Schools students who submitted their artwork to the 2026 School Art exhibition. Your creativity, talent, and hard work continue to inspire us!</p><p>Award Recipients:</p><p><strong>Esplanade School Art Invitation Award&nbsp;</strong><br>Jocelyn Wallin – Duck (Indigenous Art) (Mixed Media)&nbsp;<br>I.F. Cox School, Grade 2</p><p><strong>PRPS Lower Elementary Award (K–3)&nbsp;</strong><br>Blair Luscombe – Lodge Pole Pines: Folk Art (Mixed Media)&nbsp;<br>I.F. Cox School, Grade 2</p><p><strong>PRPS Upper Elementary Award (4–6)&nbsp;</strong><br>Chotika Jitjumnong – The Solar System (Oil Pastel)&nbsp;<br>Margaret Wooding School, Grade 6</p><p><strong>PRPS Junior Award (7–9)&nbsp;</strong><br>Lily Lawson – Saamis Teepee (Acrylic)&nbsp;<br>Parkside School, Grade 9</p><p><strong>PRPS Senior Award (10–12)&nbsp;</strong><br>Charlie Funk – 1960 Curbside Aston Martin (Charcoal &amp; Graphite)&nbsp;<br>Eagle Butte, Grade 12</p><p><strong>Visual Communications Department Award – Medicine Hat College&nbsp;</strong><br>Morgan Digney – Look at Yourself (Coloured Pencil)&nbsp;<br>Eagle Butte High School, Grade 12</p><p><strong>Deborah Forbes Drawing Awards&nbsp;</strong><br>Jaycee Dyck – Jaycee (Crayons), Bow Island Elementary, Grade 1&nbsp;<br>Blair Luscombe – Colourful Man: Picasso Style (Mixed Media), I.F. Cox School, Grade 2&nbsp;<br>Mack Van Ham – Me (Crayons), Bow Island Elementary, Grade 1</p><p><strong>Matthew James Morgan Armstrong Art Awards&nbsp;</strong><br>Zoii Wood – Self Portrait (Mixed Media)&nbsp;<br>I.F. Cox School, Grade 1</p><p><strong>Poul Nielsen Awards&nbsp;</strong><br>Sara Fehr – The Purple Flowers (Pencil), Eagle Butte, Grade 10&nbsp;<br>Amber Haskill – Glazing (Acrylic), Eagle Butte, Grade 10</p><p><strong>Esplanade Theatre Award&nbsp;</strong><br>Anneke Heglund – Seahorse Charcoal Drawing (Charcoal), Parkside School, Grade 8</p><p><strong>Esplanade Managers Award&nbsp;</strong><br>Morgan Digney – Fish (Mixed Media), Eagle Butte High School, Grade 12</p><p><strong>Donna MacLean Award (Excellence in Visual Arts)&nbsp;</strong><br>I.F. Cox School</p>

🧨TNT is back! 🙌 Our Try New Things program kicked off again a couple weeks ago, and students have been diving into all kinds of exciting opportunities. From new options like mapping, bocce ball, and visual journals to fan favourites like yoga, baseball, and STEM challenges (and so much more!) —there’s something for everyone. It’s been great to see students trying new activities, building skills, and having fun along the way!

You can place your order on school cash. If you don’t have school cash and would like to purchase please call the office at 403-545-3449.

Today our 2/3 classroom was filled with creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving as students worked together to build amazing box forts. It was inspiring to see ideas shared, challenges solved, and imaginations come to life!

🌿 School Council Fundraiser is Here! 🌿 We’re excited to be partnering with True Balance Aromatherapy to bring you a selection of natural, locally made products while supporting our school 💛 🛍️ Available items include: • Bath salts • Bug sprays • Lip chaps 📅 Fundraiser runs: April 27 – May 11 🛒 Order through: School Cash Online 📦 Orders delivered by: May 22 These products are perfect for you, your kids, or end-of-year gifts! Thank you for supporting our school — every purchase makes a difference 💛

Friendly reminder 🙂 No toys at school 🚫🧸 They can get lost, broken, or distract from learning. Thanks for helping us keep our school focused and running smoothly! 💙

💛 Jump Rope for Heart is coming! 💛 On May 13, 2026, our students will be jumping, moving, and learning all about heart health! ❤️ We’ll be spending the afternoon getting active with fun activities to keep our hearts strong while supporting an important cause. Students will be bringing home a paper pledge form, and families can also fundraise online. You’re welcome to use either or both options! Thank you for supporting our students as they jump for a great cause! 💪

Happy Earth Day! 🌎 Today our students rolled up their sleeves and helped care for the places they love most by cleaning up some of their favourite spaces around the Redcliff community. We are proud of their hard work, community spirit, and commitment to making a difference—one small act at a time! 💚♻️

We are so proud of our talented students whose artwork was selected to be featured in this year’s School Art Exhibit! 🎨 Their creativity, imagination, and hard work are on full display for our community to enjoy. Be sure to check out the exhibit at the Esplanade now until June 6! A special shout-out to Jocelynn, whose artwork was chosen as the backdrop for this year’s invitation. Congratulations to all of our young artists! 🌟

Learning happens best when schools and communities come together. 📚 Thank you to the wonderful community members who joined us last week during Education Week to share stories, inspire our students, and celebrate the joy of reading with our classes. We loved welcoming you into our school!

Come cool off with a Kona ice while you shop the book fair tonight!

<p>Prairie Rose Public Schools will receive four new modular classrooms and a washroom unit for Eagle Butte High School as part of the Government of Alberta’s recent investment to expand student learning spaces across the province.</p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools was one of the recipients of the 189 modular classroom placements announced by the Government of Alberta on April 17th as part of Budget 2026.</p><p>Eagle Butte High School is currently operating at 92 per cent capacity and is projected to reach 95 per cent based on early enrollment projections for the upcoming school year. The addition of modular classrooms will help ensure students continue to have access to appropriate learning spaces as the school community grows.</p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools will now begin working with consultants to determine the most effective site location and configuration for the new units. Funding provided through the program will support necessary site preparation, servicing and unit delivery and setup. While the division’s goal is to have the modulars in place during the 2026-27 school year, timelines will depend on planning, site readiness, and construction factors.</p><p>“This is very positive news for our school community,” said Rocheal Howes, Principal of Eagle Butte High School. “We are grateful to see this investment in our school. These additional learning spaces will help us better support our students and staff as enrollment continues to grow, while maintaining the quality of programming our students expect.”</p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools Board Chair Patty Rooks said the division is ready to move forward with implementation in collaboration with provincial partners.</p><p>“We appreciate the support from Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure in addressing enrollment pressures at Eagle Butte High School,” said Rooks. “Our team will be working closely with both ministries to ensure the modular classrooms are delivered and installed as efficiently as possible to meet the needs of our students.”</p><p>Eagle Butte High School recently completed a modernization in 2019. Due to continued enrollment growth, the school has since been reintroduced into Prairie Rose Public Schools’ Capital Plan as the Eagle Butte High School Facility Expansion.</p>

📚 Don’t forget—our School Book Fair is happening tonight and tomorrow from 3:00–6:00 PM! Come browse some great books, support our school, and help grow a love of reading. 🍧 Bonus treat: Kona Ice will be here both days too! Stop by for a cool treat while you shop. We hope to see you there!

Small town, big roar 🐯 If you're watching the @medhattigers tonight, be on the lookout for our Tiger fans who showed up loud and proud on the road—let’s bring the energy and sweep the series tonight! 💥

<p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(62, 62, 62);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:articulat-cf, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Additional information can be found in the April 14, 2026, Board Meeting Agenda package: </span><a href="https://www.myprps.com/news/april-14-2026-public-board-meeting-20260413151629"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(62, 62, 62);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:articulat-cf, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">https://www.myprps.com/news/april-14-2026-public-board-meeting-20260413151629</span></a></p><p>------</p><p><meta charset="utf-8"></p><p><strong>Eagle Butte High School Presentation</strong></p><p>Trustees received a presentation from Eagle Butte High School, with school administration and three students from the South Alberta Flight Academy in attendance.</p><p>The presentation highlighted a growing and dynamic school community, with increasing enrollment and a strong number of out of district students choosing Eagle Butte for both its academy programs and regular programming. The school is also seeing students return to Prairie Rose after previously leaving the division.</p><p>A key focus of the presentation was the launch of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program next fall. Students Emmit Openo, Mathew Young, and Brynmore Stanton shared their experiences and provided insight into programming at the school, including how the IB will support their learning by connecting academic coursework with their training in the Flight Academy and other future career pathways.</p><p>Highlights included:</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="e288596a8ae0384a008cb199f9495bc04">Expansion of programming, including IB, Space Exploration, Biochemistry, and Code Blue (paramedic)</li><li data-list-item-id="ef69f2a83230918f5b3b2438f6c99f839">Strong focus on student belonging, with an environment where every student has a group and feels comfortable being themselves</li><li data-list-item-id="e448c87f0d6dad1c60a8f64d54b64dd91">Continued growth in both academy and regular programming enrollment</li><li data-list-item-id="ee3eefc85110baae51fc55a558f320035">Community initiatives supported through grants, with students giving back through events such as paint nights and service based projects</li><li data-list-item-id="e8c7f0cf8f80e064c4243fbb7c1c0e378">Ongoing focus on staff wellness and school pride</li></ul><p>The presentation reflected a strong balance between academic programming, student well being, and future readiness.</p><p><strong>Year to Date Financial Report</strong></p><p>The year to date financial update as of February 28, 2026, was presented noting the division is approximately halfway through both the fiscal year.</p><p>Revenues are projected at $84,029,331, which is $801,232 higher than budgeted. Expenses are projected at $83,139,427, or $88,672 over budget. Overall, the division has moved from a balanced budget to a projected surplus of $889,904.</p><p>The current position reflects higher than anticipated revenues in areas such as sales and services and investment income, along with adjustments to provincial funding. On the expenditure side, variances are largely related to staffing and operational costs across the division.</p><p><strong>Executive Report</strong></p><ul><li data-list-item-id="e76f60a9e1370a410f0aae7f4fcd58187">All Prairie Rose school leaders recently had the opportunity to present to the Executive Team, sharing what has been working well and identifying opportunities to further enhance programming and support for students. The process generated a number of thoughtful and practical ideas, reflecting a strong understanding at the school level of both current successes and future needs. It also provided valuable insight to help inform divisional planning moving forward.</li><li data-list-item-id="e12ff73e74d8ce6fada5c14d1c9ed88a2">A staffing update was also shared, including additional support being added to the complexity team at Irvine School through recently received provincial funding.</li></ul><p><strong>Support Staff Compensation</strong></p><p>Trustees approved a 3% increase to support staff compensation, effective for the 2026–2027 school year. This increase will apply to all support staff including education assistants, administrative assistants, therapy assistants, librarians, maintenance, non-union custodial, technology, student wellness councillors, communications, human resources, payroll, finance, and transportation.&nbsp;</p><p>The decision reflects the important role support staff play across the division and recognizes the increasing scope and complexity of this work. Over the past year, support staff have supported students with diverse and complex needs, adapted to new systems and programs, and played a key role in integrating new schools.</p><p>The Board expressed appreciation for the dedication and professionalism demonstrated across all support staff roles.</p><p><strong>School Calendars</strong></p><p>Trustees approved an update to the main PRPS schools calendar and approved the Colony and Calgary Islamic school calendars for the 2026–2027 school year.</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="e76ca46bb103f880fcde717196604cbe1">The PRPS calendar includes a change to a professional development day, which has been moved from December 4, 2026, to October 8, 2026.</li><li data-list-item-id="e25b755247c07455b03efb22a4e83ec94">Colony and Calgary Islamic school calendars continue to reflect religious and community considerations, while maintaining some consistency with the Public calendar where possible.</li></ul><p>All approved calendars are available on the Prairie Rose Public Schools website: <a href="https://www.myprps.com/calendar">https://www.myprps.com/calendar</a></p><p><strong>South Central High School Field Trip</strong></p><p>Trustees approved in principle an international field trip for South Central High School, which includes travel to Greece and several historical sites.</p><p>The itinerary outlines a multi-stop educational experience, including time in Athens, Argolia, Olympia, and Delphi, along with a Greek Islands component. The trip is planned for Easter break 2027 and is designed to provide students with opportunities to connect classroom learning to real world historical and cultural experiences.</p><p><strong>Communications Accountability Report</strong></p><p>The Board received the annual Communications and Access and Privacy update, highlighting the increasing complexity and demand of this work across Prairie Rose Public Schools. Over the past year, efforts have focused on integrating new school communities, enhancing communication practices, and supporting the transition to updated provincial privacy legislation.</p><p>This work continues to evolve at the intersection of communications, technology, and privacy, requiring more coordinated systems and processes to support schools and departments.</p><p>Highlights included:</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="ef9acb7bd312fc66d16867028f371b27f">Over 5.22 million social media views across school accounts</li><li data-list-item-id="e21622c5fa857fc7179faacb9713f3e19">Expansion of communication tools and processes to support Calgary schools and diverse programs</li><li data-list-item-id="efbb04a798c9906fa025bbe2136feb77d">Increased demand for communication and system support</li><li data-list-item-id="e92379abbf58580bd64b5cf90263db3d2">Growth in access to information and personal information requests</li><li data-list-item-id="e3cfa510755f53d67c74c7bf6fd4eea33">Ongoing implementation of the Protection of Privacy Act and Access to Information Act</li></ul><p>This work continues to strengthen communication practices and support a more coordinated approach across Prairie Rose Public Schools.</p><p><strong>Accolades</strong></p><p>Trustees recognized the efforts and contributions of staff, students, and partners across Prairie Rose Public Schools.</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="e468411ac3d8bac5b8334c6e375bf95e4">Foremost School for successfully hosting provincials, with staff and community members stepping up to support the event</li><li data-list-item-id="ed30226327d8278d3455656d02e5fd10e">Staff across the division for their engagement and participation during Education Week</li><li data-list-item-id="efcc745aac39ddb3eea339e2c752c33f7">Executive Assistant Tannis for her ongoing work to support to the Board of Trustees</li><li data-list-item-id="efc9c3f318bddfa767e1ef64d7b7f7b2f">Trustees Graeme, Patty and Nancy, for their work in preparing and presenting at a recent meeting with the County of Forty Mile on behalf of Prairie Rose</li></ul><p><strong>Trustee Reports</strong></p><p>Trustees provided updates from their respective committees and associations.</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="ef1c9d5a518489f0baaecbf80b9b2c32c">Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) Zone 6 meeting scheduled for April 29</li><li data-list-item-id="ebd01769a578dd66320493ecb572568e6">Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta (PSBAA) meeting held April 9, with discussions focused on professional development, moral decision making, superintendent evaluations, and Indigenous relations</li><li data-list-item-id="e03bb861a6617d5b5fcb2b62ca66462b3">Rural Caucus of Alberta School Boards has begun holding monthly meetings, with a focus on strengthening rural voice and increasing input into provincial decision making</li></ul>

<p>At the April 14, 2026, Public Board Meeting trustees approved a change the school calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The change impacts the December 4th PD Day, which has now been moved to October 8th.&nbsp;</p><p>The approved calendar can be found here: <a href="https://www.myprps.com/calendar">https://www.myprps.com/calendar</a></p>