Grande Prairie Public School District June 12, 2018 BOARD … Highlights/2017... · 2018. 6. 13. · The Board, on behalf of the Alberta School Board’s Association (ASBA) presented

GPPSDPRESENTATIONProvincial Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Award The Board, on behalf of the Alberta School Board’s Association (ASBA) presented Ryleigh Grant-Turner with the Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Award. There are 12 recipients across the province and the award recognizes

those who “embrace their own gifts, strengths and potential while celebrating the ways of their people” (ASBA website). One of the highest honours in Alberta Indigenous communities is to be presented with and to be wrapped in a special Star Blanket. The Board was joined by Elder Leonard Cardinal who, after a Cree prayer of thanks, provided some teachings to the Board on the Star Blanket itself and the ceremony required to give it to someone. Ryleigh was presented with this blanket with the appropriate ceremony befitting such an important event. Each of the blankets included the ‘Honouring Spirit’ star logo, a meaningful symbol representative of the different First Nations, Metis, and Inuit culture. Chair John Lehners said, “It is an honour to present Ryleigh with her certificate and Star Blanket on behalf of the Alberta School Boards Association. Opportunities like this highlight the excellence that exists among the youth in our District. The Honouring Spirit award celebrates youth who model strength and commitment along with a focus on education and pride in their culture. We are very proud of Ryleigh’s accomplishments in all of these areas and look forward to her future successes.”

June 12, 2018

Board ofTrusteesBoard ChairJohn Lehners

Board Vice-ChairJoan Nellis

TrusteesAndre OuelletteLesley CraigLynn DriedgerPaulette KuryloRob Martin

SuperintendentAlexander (Sandy) McDonald

Associate Superintendent, Secretary-TreasurerNorm Guindon

Assistant Superintendent, Human ResourcesNick Radujko

Assistant Superintendent of Programs & PlanningJames Robinson

Assistant Superintendent, Student ServicesChristina Farquharson

Organizational/Regular Board MeetingTuesday, August 21, 2018 06:00 p.m., Central Office

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Elder Leonard Cardinal standing beside Ryleigh Grant-Turner and GPPSD Board Chair John Lehners

The Grande Prairie Public School District is a learning community in which every student succeeds

BOARD HIGHLIGHTSGrande Prairie Public School District

Central Office, 10127 120 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 8H8

the Native Friendship Centre. Board Chair Lehners noted the power of these types of opportunities to work with the community. Superintendent McDonald noted that through these opportunities we heard the importance of having people who build relationships with our schools and with our families. A more formal plan will be brought forward to the Board in August to provide details about how to support FNMI programming in the District. All felt that it was important that this plan was built with these forms of input from the Indigenous community.

CULTURE & ENGAGEMENTHigh School Graduation CeremoniesHigh School Graduation Ceremonies - the May 22, 2018 Board Highlights noted the Trustee attendance and reporting on the Grande Prairie Composite High School Commencement. As a follow-up, here are the remaining two ceremony reports:

Charles Spencer High School Graduation.

Trustees discussed the graduation ceremony for the Charles Spencer graduation. Trustee Driedger noted that she especially enjoyed the way each graduate was introduced along with a quote that represented them.

Bridge Network High School Graduation

Trustee Nellis and Trustee Kurylo noted the pride in the graduates as they received their diploma certificates. Even as it was our smallest high school graduation, the Trustees felt that the staff, students and parents made it a very special night for all.

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NEWS &EVENTS

CONTACTINFORMATIONMOHAMMAD HAIDARCommunications & Design Specialist 780-532-4491 Ext. [email protected]

Maverick Movement Presentation Michelle Blair, Principal (Charles Spencer High School) brought a student team consisting of Kaydence Redding, Sophie Leslie and Grace Stephenson to present to the Board of Trustees on the Maverick Movement History and Purpose. This school club formed in 2014 and raises money for charitable causes both locally and abroad. The group has raised approximately $26,000.00 through various endeavours that they partake in to fundraise. They work mainly with the Me to We movement which is focused on increasing sustainability in communities across the globe. They provided an overview of the work they have undertaken as volunteers helping to build a school in Nicaragua, assisting with building a community garden in a village in Tanzania along with other locally focused initiatives such as the Rain Barrel Project, “meatless Tuesdays” and through their support of the True Heroes Coffee project which is aimed at assisting First Responders with PTSD issues.

SUPERINTENDENT’SREPORTFirst Nations, Métis and Inuit Programming UpdateThe Board and Superintendent discussed “what they heard” from the Sharing Circle that many of them attended at

Canada Day Heritage DayProfessional Learning DayProfessional Learning DaySchool Organizational Day

Labour DayFirst Day of SchoolProfessional Learning Day

Remembrance DayProfessional Learning Day

Remembrance Day StatProfessional Learning Day

Day in LieuProfessional Learning DayChristmas Break

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Photo: Family friends Ken and Shannon Dunfield displaying the Star Blanket in accordance with traditions.