GYPSD news

Jan. 7 meeting

Trustees received the First Quarter Financial Statement of Revenues and Expenses as part of their preliminary review of the current financial report for the year ending August 31, 2018. As of November 30, revenues and expenses were within targeted expectations. The division is currently conducting an in-depth analysis of all revenues and expenses to ensure strong fiscal management moving forward.

C. Halabi, Director of Transportation Services, provided updates on a number of items including student ridership, waiting lists and ride times per zone. The division currently transports 2,566 students registered on 53 school bus routes in all areas except Jasper. The number of ineligible riders has decreased, down to 301, or 12 per cent of the total ridership, from 432 as reported last year at this time.

Providing equitable, relevant, and innovative learning environments and opportunities are part of the technology department’s ongoing commitment to the staff and students of Grande Yellowhead. The board received a detailed report from K. Shipka, Assistant Superintendent, Learning Services, on the many initiatives currently provided, or that are in progress throughout the division. Projects include professional development opportunities such as the Google Summit for staff held in Jasper in the fall; purchasing of equipment and technology tools foruse in the classroom through the Classroom Improvement Funding grant; and online reporting resources on digital citizenship and caring behaviours targeted for youth and their families.

Grande Yellowhead is proud to develop multiple partnerships within the community to enhance the educational opportunities for our students. This past year, a group of teachers from across the division participated in projectbased environmental studies workshops co-sponsored by the Alberta Council for Environmental Education, Shell Canada, and GYPSD. Teachers were able to initiate hands-on learning activities within their schools at all grade levels, and some of the projects also met the Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) curriculum requirements. Projects varied from green school initiatives to leadership studies. Over the last several months, GYPSD has also been working with Grande Prairie Regional College, (GPRC), to create a partnership to offer a Dual Credit Pre-Employment Welding program within our Edson community. This program will enable students to challenge their period one exams while training with the college out of our Parkland Composite High School’s upgraded welding shop. This is very exciting as our first cohort of students is scheduled to begin this February.

The official opening of the division’s newest school, Mary Bergeron Elementary School in Edson, was on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. in the gymnasium. Honourable David Eggen, Minister of Education, is attended on behalf of the Province and the public was invited to attend the ceremony and take a tour of the school.