PWPSD Good News Report - May 2022

PWPSD News

3D Charity Hockey & Soccer tournament raises over $50K for seriously ill students

On May 6, students throughout the Division braved the wind and rain, and participated in the 20^th anniversary 3D Charity Hockey & Soccer tournament. The tournament aims to raise funds for seriously ill students within PWPSD, Grande Prairie Public School Division and Grande Prairie and District Catholic School Division. Participants played 3-on-3 hockey and 4-on-4 soccer from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 7:00 p.m.

Through door prizes, auction items, and donations, this year’s tournament raised more than $50,000 for students in our region.

 

Indigenous Education Services hosts Culture Camps

Throughout the month of May, Indigenous Education Services hosted Culture Camps at schools across the Division. The team shared cultural, land-based learning activities with the students at Spirit River Regional Academy, Teepee Creek School, Rycroft School, Wembley Elementary School, and Penson School. The sessions included drumming, learning about plants as medicine, and traditional active games; they were well received by both students and staff.

 

Students participate in North-End PWPSD Declamation

Spirit River Regional Academy (SRRA), Savanna School, Bonanza School, and Eaglesham School participated in this year’s North-End declamation. Each school hosted their own school-based competitions, with the winners moving onto the North-End Peace Wapiti Public School Divisional Declamation, hosted by SRRA.

Winners had their names added to plaques that will be on display at each school until next year when new champions are crowned.

 

School News

Alternative Education

Taking his learning outside

Benjamin Edgington, a parent-directed homeschooling student, has been exploring his passion for learning about the outdoors. He had the opportunity to take several courses with Kaykima Wilderness Skills this past fall through the forest school program A Wilder Calm.

 

Harmony with horses

PWEC and PWA students explored the field of Animal-Assisted Wellness to gain a greater understanding of how intentional animal-human interactions are being used in a variety of settings to promote health and well-being. Over a series of workshops held at Evergreen Park, students experienced how horses can help enhance their own feelings of wellness, peace, empowerment, and self-confidence. Students also facilitated this experience for others. Students gained both skills and insight into how they could work and volunteer in this evolving and complex field.

 

Bonanza School

Spring Tea with the community

On May 4, students and staff welcomed the Bonanza community to a Spring Tea hosted at the community hall. Students worked hard putting together a variety of performances for their friends and families. Thank you to everyone who supported our students!

 

For the love of trees

The Grade 1/2 students enjoyed a visit from CANFOR employees who taught them about the importance of trees and how to properly care for them. The students got to plant a tree together and then they each brought one home!

 

Elmworth School

Frisbee Rob visits Elmworth

Frisbee Rob (Robert McLeod) with Mrs. Walker and Grade 5 student Hope Redmond

Motivational speaker Frisbee Rob visited Elmworth School to spend some time with students, teaching them some fancy and fun Frisbee moves. Using Frisbees to deliver positive messages about the importance of determination, perseverance, resiliency, empathy, and acceptance, Frisbee Rob was a hit with students in all grades!

 

Helen E. Taylor School

Students participate in Identity Day

All HET students participated in Identity Day, where they presented on a topic they are passionate about to their peers and partner class.

 

Music classes compete in Grande Prairie Music Festival

Mrs. Johnson’s Grade 4-6 music classes entered the virtual 2022 Grande Prairie Music Festival, and you can watch their performances on YouTube! The Grade 4-5 students delivered a winning performance and were awarded a Grande Prairie Music Festival Plaque in the Orff Ensemble category.

 

Hythe Regional School

Veresen Midstream donates $8,500 to Nutrition Program

Students and staff at Hythe Regional School are enormously grateful for Veresen Midstream’s extremely generous donation to their Nutrition Program.

 

Elementary students show off skills in air band competition

The elementary students at Hythe Regional School starred in their air band show and then wrapped up the event with their buddy lunch!

 

La Glace School

County of Grande Prairie’s Public Works visits La Glace

The County of Grande Prairie’s Public Works department stopped by La Glace School to congratulate Kay-Lynn on her Flag Competition win; her successful design won her a new drone!

While at the school, the Public Works employees presented to the junior high students about what their department does for the County, and served hot dogs, salad, and cookies to all the students and staff!

 

Jr. high students enjoy an exciting month

The junior high students had a lot to be excited about this past month. Their field trips to Bowling Stones and The Off Season gave them plenty of opportunities to get active and have some fun, while their old and outdated science lab got a much needed face lift. Their new, fully functioning kitchen provides all the equipment they need to learn about cooking and baking!

 

Students develop citizenship skills on Earth Day

On April 22 the whole school worked together to clean up the school yard and community.

 

Peace Wapiti Academy

Students work together for a cleaner school

Mr. Warkentin’s Grade 9 class enjoyed some much-needed fresh air while they worked together to clean up the school grounds!

 

Foods students create their own soda

The Foods 10 classes have completed a soda pop project! Each group created two unique beverages, chilled them overnight, and carbonated them the next day. Students had a variety of juice powders, juices, seasonings to simmer, and colours/flavours to work with. They considered the aspects of what makes a soda appealing and came up with refreshing (and sometimes more nutritious!) results.

 

Students band together for a great cause

The PWA Band has joined forces with the Grande Prairie Composite Band to create their own recording for a special STARS Air Ambulance event happening on May 25. The recording will be played as the new Airbus H145 helicopter is welcomed at the STARS base in Grande Prairie.

 

Ridgevalley School

Hats on for Mental Health

On May 4, students and staff at RVS showed their support for mental health by wearing their hats to school.

 

Badminton success

RVS students Addison Moody and Grace Doerksen medaled at the district badminton competition, while qualifying for Zones, hosted in Falher. Well done!

 

Ridgevalley’s newest farming community

For their Needs of Plants and Animals science unit – the Grade 1 students worked together to create their own farms! They worked their dirt, prepared their soil and planted their seeds. Each student carefully counted out 30 seeds of barley, oats, wheat, and peas to plant their crops.

 

Sexsmith Secondary School

Students participate in town-wide clean-up

Students took to the streets (and fields and creeks) to help with the town-wide clean-up day.

 

Students place second at their first car show

After a long and exhausting day for a number of student volunteers, Sexsmith Secondary School placed "runner up" in the Young Guns category at their first ever car show! Several students took it on themselves to represent their booth and spend an entire day talking to the public about the school’s program and display vehicles. Not only did they have a ton of fun, but they made connections with a lot of local businesses for offers of donations and resources. Great job!

 

Students honour missing and murdered Indigenous peoples

For Red Dress Day, students and staff made a pledge to honour and remember missing and murdered Indigenous peoples by writing the names of women on red paper dresses hung throughout the halls. Red Dress Day is recognized annually on May 5.

 

Upcoming events

• June is National Indigenous History Month
• Final Board Meeting of the 2021-22 School Year: Thursday, June 16, 10:30 a.m.
• Happy Father’s Day!: Sunday, June 19
• National Indigenous Peoples Day: Tuesday, June 21
• First day of summer: Tuesday, June 21
• Last day of school for students: Tuesday, June 28
• Last day of school for staff: Wednesday, June 29