GYPSD news

School Highlights - TLC & Fulham School

Stuart Graham, principal of The Learning Connection Centres (TLC), spoke to the board about a new system for students to independently register online for courses. He also discussed a possible new teen parent program that is in the planning stages for Hinton. Mr. Graham was also joined by Barb Schmidt from the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre in Jasper National Park. Ms. Schmidt shared the many exciting sessions offered at the Centre in partnership with TLC including a new ‘Rock and Pop’ program offered during the summer of 2016 where 18 students earned 7 credits over 10 days.

Four students from Fulham School joined today’s Public Board Meeting by video conference to share what they think is great about Fulham School such as their great teachers, breakfast program, Pancake Day‘as who doesn’t love pancakes!’ and their enjoyment using their playground and indoor gym equipment.

Capital Projects Update

Facility Services provided their regular updates to the Board on two current capital projects in the division: the modernization project for Grande Cache Community High School (GCCHS) and the replacement school in Edson.

GCCHS: Masonry and structural steel is continuing and should be completed in November. The mezzanine slab has been poured allowing for the installation of the me-chanical units.The roof and other building envelope ac-tivities have started with the goal of all roof work being completed in December.

Edson: Installation of the grade beams has been com-pleted and the underground services are finished, in-cluding town utility connections. Masonry block work will start in November on the gymnasium and steel work should begin in early December.

Other News in Brief

Trustees approved the 2016-19 Three Year Education Plan and the 2015-2016 Annual Education Results Report. The report guides the division in developing strategies and goals for the upcoming three years as well as reports on the results from last year’s Account-ability Pillar Surveys. The document will be posted on the GYPSD website as of November 30, 2016.

An amended agreement with Xerox Canada will pro-vide the division with new technology to replace ex-isting devices at schools to enhance the print and document management technology. Additionally the vendor will implement software solutions for the trans-portation department to automate the fuel expense management process with the potential of providing other software solutions to other areas in the division. The amended agreement, expiring August 31, 2021, will also cumulate cost savings for the division.

Each fall the board receives an update on the cur-rent budget for the division which is adjusted to reflect changes in enrolments, and resulting changes in the distribution of resources. Total enrolments for kinder-garten and Grades 1-12 are lower than anticipated due to the overall economic situation and families moving out of the division’s operating region, especially re-garding Grande Cache.

Stuart Graham, principal of The Learning Connection, gave a presentation to trustees on their successful summer school programming which has been offered to students over the last several years to assist stu-dents in high school completion. Over 300 students registered for summer courses ranging from math to work experience opportunities.

Take Your Kids to Work Day was on November 2, 2016 and Grande Yellowhead students have participated in the program for the past 22 years. Take Our Kids to Work is an annual, national program in which Grade 9 students are hosted by parents, relatives and volunteers at workplaces across the country. Almost 300 students across the division took part this year with many positive comments re-ceived from the parents, the many businesses involved and from the students themselves including one comment“I never knew my dad worked so hard!”

The board received a report regarding an update on the implementation of Regional Collaborative Service Delivery Models (RCSD) for the division. GYPSD belongs to 3 different RCSD regions: Aspen Collaborative Services RCSD encompasses the areas of Hinton, Jasper and Edson and it covers schools from Fox Creek to Athabasca; Grande Cache schools belong to the Peace Collaborative Ser-vices RCSD and covers schools from Grande Cache to Peace River; and Wildwood and Evansburg schools fall within the Parkland Evergreen and Area RCSD which includes schools from Wildwood to Spruce Grove. A change to the Aspen Collaborative boundary to include schools in Wildwood and Evansburg is currently being queried. For the 2016-2017 school year, each RCSD zone in GYPSD will be focused on maximizing resources and enhancing services through collaboration. Each zone will continue to work with school staff, families and service providers to ensure students can be success-ful. Each zone uses a school linked team framework, focused on the professional services of speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and mental health within a student centered, flexible approach. Each team offers direct, consultative and collaborative services.

During the 2015-2016 school year, GYPSD hosted five international students in Jasper Junior/Senior High School from Germany and Spain, and four international students in Harry Collinge High School (Hinton) from Spain and Mexico. International students attend from one semester to fulltime as well as participate in short term programs from 4 to 12 weeks.

Trustees received an update on staffing positions across the division for the 2016-17 school year.