PWPSD Good News Report - June 2022

School News

Alternative Education

Staff reflect on successful school year

Miss Kristina, a Grade 1-3 teacher with PWPSD’s Peace Academy of Virtual Education says she is happy with the unique and successful year of at-home learning. Students had the opportunity to come together online to share stories and learn together, while building connections with their peers, educators, and families.

The students visited a number of local facilities such as the Philip J. Currie Museum, Grande Prairie Museum, Grande Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie Public Library, and Muskoseepi Park. These in-person field trips allowed the students to participate in both educational programming and fun activities.

Clairmont Community School

Students contribute to community garden

The Grade 1 students worked together to plant four garden beds at the Clairmont Community Garden. Mr. Bateman, a CCS parent, and his helpers guided the students, who filled up their beds with carrots, lettuce, kale, potatoes and flowers. The students are excited to watch their seeds grow and to harvest them in September.

Hythe Regional School

Students make Wampum belts

As part of their Iroquois Confederacy unit in Social Studies, the Grade 4/5/6 students made their own Wampum Belts!

Peace Wapiti Academy

Students take their education outside

Mr. Vavrek and his Outdoor Ed class participated in some unique educational adventures.

Mr. Warkentin’s PE class enjoyed the sun as they tried their hand at cornhole.

Mr. Camsell’s Bio 30 class also took their learning outside.

Ridgevalley School

Students visit Debolt

The Early Childhood Services and Grade 1 groups had the opportunity to take a trip to Debolt, and they visited a number of sites: the Debolt Museum, General Store, Post Office, Fire Hall, Library and Feedlot Café. Students even visited the CJ Alpacas!

Preparing for the East Peace Wapiti Track Meet

Grade 5/6 students practice their high jumps for the first annual East Peace Wapiti Track Meet held at Teepee Creek School on June 8.

Congratulations to all the Ridgevalley track and field ribbon winners!

Robert W. Zahara School

Fish Freedom Friday

June 3 was dubbed Fish Freedom Friday at RWZ, as students released the rainbow trout they raised from eggs into the pond at Heritage Park.

Earlier this year, RWZ joined the FinS (Fish in Schools) program. Over the past five months, students and staff worked together to maintain and monitor the development of their rainbow trout – from egg to fry – in the school aquarium. This included cleaning the water in the tank, feeding the fish, and monitoring the PH levels of the water to ensure the trout stayed healthy. The Bow Habitat Station provided webinars and videos for students to learn more about rainbow trout and raising fish for release. 

A huge thank you to Mrs. Brown, Mr. Warr, Mrs. Muggaberg, Mrs. Wolski and Ms. McKeith for all their hard work. And thank you to Alan and crew for their support and Beth from the Town of Sexsmith for sharing some pictures. RWZ can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Grade 6 students become published editors

Last year, Mr. Wilson’s 5C class worked together to help edit Canadian author Sigmund Brouwer’s book Trapped, and this year they got a chance to see it. Now a published piece, the novel includes a special inscription dedicated to the 5C Story Ninjas. Each Grade 6 student will receive a copy of the book as part of their year-end gift.

Sexsmith Secondary School

Four Sabres sign with junior football teams

Top left to right: Kian and Dacian Fournier, bottom left to right: Dustin Boehmer and Nick Morris

Sabres graduates Kian and Dacian Fournier have both signed with the Edmonton Huskies Football Club, while Nick Morris and Dustin Boehmer will continue their football careers in Kelowna, BC after signing with the Okanagan Sun. Congratulations!

Flowers for seniors

This past month, students and staff worked together to grow pots of flowers to donate to the senior communities at Sunset Homes in Sexsmith, and Lakeview in Clairmont. Thank you Ms. Hoggan for leading this wonderful project!

Students compete in Provincial Track and Field

In early June, seven SSS athletes competed in the ASAA Track and Field Provincials in Medicine Hat. There were a lot of personal bests and surprise finishes! Thank you Mrs. Lario and Miss Connell for your coaching expertise!

Hearts abound!

The Biology 20 students got together with a Grade 8 science class to dissect some hearts! Although there were a few green faces in both groups, the students had a lot of hands-on learning!

Band students bring home the hardware

The senior and junior bands have lots to celebrate! This past festival season, the senior band earned themselves a silver finish, while the junior band received gold, in addition to being named the top group in their category. Thank you Mrs. Fedchuk for your hard work and leadership!

Spirit River Regional Academy

SRRA thanks sponsors for new scoreboard

Thanks to generous donations from Perrish & Heimbecker, Saddle Hills County, Cargill, Rycroft Lions Club, and the Volleyball Club, SRRA was able to purchase a brand new scoreboard. This scoreboard is able to do so much more than just keep score, it can even play movies! The students and staff are grateful to all those who donated to make this possible.

Grade 8 mixer

The Grade 8 students invited fellow Grade 8s from Ste. Marie Catholic School and Rycroft School to SRRA for a fun-filled day. They spent the morning touring the school and playing games to get to know each other, and then finished their day off with some bowling in Fairview.

Renegade Round Up

SRRA hosted the first annual Renegade Round Up, a mini, one-day basketball tournament. Elementary teams from Ste. Marie Catholic School, Savanna School, and Rycroft School joined in on the fun!

Congratulations to SRRA’s grad class of 2022!

Teepee Creek School

Teepee Creek hosts first East Peace Wapiti Track Meet

On June 8, Grade 1-6 students from Ridgevalley School and Bezanson School joined the students of Teepee Creek School for the first annual East Peace Wapiti Track Meet. The weather was ideal, and the students’ effort and enthusiasm were more than impressive! New friendships were forged and personal goals were achieved within the positive and inclusive setting.

Feedback from both students and staff was overwhelmingly positive. Titan Hauger, a Grade 1 student from Teepee Creek School said, “It was fun being with other schools to compete in events. I am looking forward to next year when we get to go to Bezanson!” Organizer and Principal of Teepee Creek School Darren Robertson said, “It was a great day, students from all schools had a lot of fun. Parents from all three schools were thrilled to be able to watch their children participate in sporting events again.”

A big thank you goes to all the staff, parent volunteers, and the Teepee Creek junior high students for helping make the day run so smoothly.

Wembley Elementary School

Students work together to unlock prizes

Grade 3 students took part in a week-long challenge to combine their knowledge and investigative skills to solve four different breakout box multi-step problems. Using clues and provided items, the students worked in groups to solve puzzles and other curriculum-related activities. Each clue led them closer and closer to unlocking the breakout boxes to reveal a prize. Thank you Mr. Beauvais, Miss Lavalley, and Mrs. Montes from the PWPSD Education Technology department for setting up the activities!

Upcoming events

• National Indigenous Peoples Day: Tuesday, June 21
• Eaglesham School Graduation: Saturday, June 18
• Peace Wapiti Enterprise Centre Graduation: Tuesday, June 28
• Last day of school for students: Tuesday, June 28
• Last day of school for staff: Wednesday, June 29
• Happy Canada Day! All PWPSD offices and shops closed: Friday, July 1
• Savanna School Graduation: Saturday, July 9
• Happy Heritage Day! All PWPSD offices and shops closed: Monday, August 1
• Professional Learning Days: August 26 and 29
• Organizational Day: Tuesday, August 30
• First day of 2022-2023 school year: Wednesday, August 31