Congratulations to Marshal Webster on being nominated for our Student Spotlight. A very deserving recognition!

<p>Greg Godard, Division Psychologist with Prairie Rose Public Schools, and his wife MaryLou Godard, Division Psychologist with the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education (MHCBE), presented first in the Navigating the Online World discussion and presentation series.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Their talk revolved around increasing awareness for parents in the digital age and much of the focus was about the serious ramifications of allowing children, particularly those in Generation Alpha (born between 2010-2024) excessive screen time and access to social media accounts. While the benefits of screens were acknowledged by both, they wanted to talk about the reasons for setting limits and the importance of parents being in control of screen time and not their children.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Greg began with discussing two newspaper articles, one from 2024 and the other from 1981, both talking about excessive screen time, highlighting how this is not a new question. One of the families profiled in the 1981 article is the Godard family, with a much younger Greg in the photo, because his parents chose to raise their children without a TV in the home.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“My childhood being deprived of a television did not mean I decided to have a screen-free life, I think there was a bit of a rebound effect,” stated Greg. “We had lots of screens in our house when our kids were young and we still do, but we tried to implement strict limits upon it and ensure our kids knew, from start to finish, we were in the driver’s seat.”&nbsp;</p><p>Statistics show Gen Alpha is spending as much as nine hours per day on their screens. “We know when we look back at the research, screentime jumped 50% during COVID,” said MaryLou. “This isn’t a COVID specific problem, this was in place before that. Gen Alpha is the group we are focusing on because they have a unique situation no other generation had.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>They are the first generation to be fully immersed in a digital world, having never known life without screens. “That’s really important for us to become aware of,” continued MaryLou. “They don’t know any different, they don’t know what life looked like before. That’s key as we look at this generation.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Gen Alpha are experiencing mental health problems that are different from previous generations. They have 30% less physical activity compared to Millennials, 20% have problems with social comparison, cyberbullying (a unique problem to this generation), sleep issues, increased suicidal ideation (one study in the USA states one in ten have seriously considered suicide), increased anxiety and increased problems with addiction, specifically screen/video game addiction or Internet Gaming Disorder.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Also, more of a tendency at this age to seek mental health help, which doesn’t necessarily mean increased mental health problems, only they are seeking help, which is a good sign. There is a lot of trouble in this generation and much of it can be attributed to two things: excessive screen time and social media,” concluded Greg.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“We are going to be biased on the negative side effects today,” added MaryLou. “Part of that is because we are talking prevention and we are talking about the Alpha Generation, we want to prevent things from getting worse.”&nbsp;</p><p>Excessive passive screen time, more than two hours per day, can lead to multiple problems and all data looked at by the pair was correlational, meaning the problems occur at the same time as the activity, indicating there is a strong likelihood they are related. The first was obesity, which makes sense as someone on screens is unlikely to be outside getting exercise. However, also contributing to obesity, a study done by the National Library of Medicine found, was the pairing between screens and food choices. Their research showed adverse changes in diet that included less fibre, fruit and vegetables.&nbsp;</p><p>“When people come into my office asking about their child’s anxiety, there are three things I want to find out,” said Greg. “Do they have sufficient diet and nutritional needs? If not, that might be one of the causal factors. Second, are they having sufficient sleep? A solid eight to twelve hours of sleep depending on the needs of the kid. Third, exercise, are they getting sufficient movement? Those three things outline the health recommendations needed to be addressed before we even look at cognitive behavioural therapy or anxiety medication.”&nbsp;</p><p>Sleep is important for everyone, but particularly for a developing brain. Staying up late at night on a screen or watching a movie means, according to studies, less good sleep. Additionally, if the person is watching stimulating content – movies and media are designed to arouse your sympathetic nervous system to make you feel an exciting sense of danger with suspense and plot twists – it raises one’s sympathetic nervous system, making them alert.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The result is the parasympathetic nervous system takes longer to kick in and calm them down, resulting in delayed onset of sleep and less or no restorative REM sleep. Recommendations are to not watch stimulating content within an hour or 30 minutes of going to sleep. Additionally, youth who are allowed phones in the bedroom often have them under their pillow or in their hand. 37% of adolescents report their phones waking them up several times a night either because of the light, haptic signal, or the sound.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Cortisol normally spikes in the body upon waking up, giving the person energy for the day to come. “When an individual is on screens, it messes with the cortisol spike, and causes less cortisol in the morning,” explained MaryLou. “More cortisol is pumped through the body because it is in flight or fight mode due to a post coming in or we aren’t sure what is going to happen. That cortisol stays in your body while you are sleeping, meaning you aren’t getting the letdown you need for your body to have a restorative sleep…we need REM sleep, which is a very deep sleep…we see this in kids who we talk to in clinics or at school, they will say they got sleep, but if we get them to a sleep examination site, we’ll see that they didn’t get the restorative deep sleep they need to function at school, causing multiple problems.”&nbsp;</p><p>Regardless of age, excessive screen time leads to nature deprivation. “I strongly recommend the book Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt,” said Greg. “Half of his focus is on the current generation having a reduction in play and too much parental hovering and helicopter parenting, not being allowed to go out and experience a bruised knee or what they call risky play, which is what kids need to develop resilience. He also talks about nature deprivation, this generation, from 0 – 14 years, compared to previous generations are suffering from a lack of free time outside to explore, risky play, exploratory play or what is called discovery mode learning.”&nbsp;</p><p>Gen Alpha, according to studies, doesn’t experience transcendence, or moments when they are enraptured by wonder or awe. “There is an area of the brain that lights up that rarely does so,” explained Greg, “except at these times, when something is so stunning or breathtaking it fills us with wonder or awe, almost like spiritual rapture. According to research, many who are spending lots of time on their screens are lacking in transcendence.”&nbsp;</p><p>The frontal lobe is most affected by excessive screen use and is the part of the brain that controls executive functions. “Executive functions are the pilot’s cabin of the brain, right behind the eyes to the prefrontal lobe, the area that pays attention to what the rest of the brain is doing,” said Greg. “If your mind wanders off and then you are quickly drawn back, that drawing back is your executive functioning coming back online to let you know you aren’t paying attention.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Executive functioning also helps us control impulses and regulate emotions, such as when we are having large emotions and can talk ourselves down and not freak out. For Gen Alpha, because the frontal lobe isn’t being used as much, one of the executive functions affected is attention and the ability to sustain focus. Attention time has reduced dramatically from previous generations and much of it can be attributed directly to screen time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“A meta analysis from 2022 by the National Institute of Health looked at 498 studies to verify, yes, there is a correlation between screen time and reduced attention span,” said MaryLou.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Another issue is the inability to delay gratification. A study with Gen Alpha kids tested them with online messaging with 95% expecting an immediate response with any kind of messaging, gaming, social media, or any digital interaction. “I need an answer right now,” said Greg. “Very similar to their reaction to life in general. They want things quickly and have trouble holding off.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Mind wandering, allowing the mind to travel in multiple rabbit hole directions, is also an issue and Gen Alpha has lost the ability to pull their thoughts back. “On the screens with all those boxes open, they are drawn to the next and then the next and next. That is mind wandering, that is what is happening in the brain for these children, affecting academics,” stated MaryLou. “One study from Quebec did a longitudinal study of child development and found each one hour increase of TV exposure at age 2 resulted in a 7% unit decrease in class participation. If the mind is on a rabbit trail, it’s hard to participate in what is going on. Also, they showed a 6% unit decrease in math proficiency.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Around the time GenX was having children, there was a general thought that putting infants and toddlers in front of the TV featuring a show with language heavy content, Baby Einstein, would increase language development. Subsequent studies have shown passive viewing of language decreases a child’s language development later in preschool.&nbsp;</p><p>“The only difference is if this is synchronous,” explained Greg. “If they are on the screen at the same time as someone talking back to them in real time, that’s the only time screen time from 0-2 years increase language, otherwise there is a negative effect.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Look for another article next week on the second half of the presentation the Godard’s gave at Medicine Hat College on January 22. All sessions are being offered free of charge. The second one, called Boundaries and Balance: Real Talk on Contracts, Compromise and Limit Setting, will be on Wednesday, February 26 at 7 p.m. in the theatre at Medicine Hat College.</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

<p>Registration for the Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) 2025-2026 school year is opening for all new and returning parents and families on February 3. New families will need to register online through School Engage and a link can be found at <a href="http://www.myprps.com/student-registration-guide">www.myprps.com/student-registration-guide</a> under the subheading New Prairie Rose Students.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>All parents/guardians of returning students will receive an email containing a direct link to login to their PowerSchool account and from there to School Engage, where they will find all the forms assigned to them. It should be noted the PowerSchool app most parents use for grades doesn’t currently support the link for School Engage and they will need to use a browser, such as Safari or Chrome to login.&nbsp;</p><p>If a child is new to PRPS and entering a kindergarten program, some schools offer part and full-time options. Once a kindergarten or junior kindergarten student is registered, another email will be sent out giving access to select their program preference and book a preschool learning check-up.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Any of our new 3–5-year-olds can be signed up for a preschool checkup where our Student Services team determines if there are any developmental delays so additional supports, if needed, can be added when they enter Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten,” said Angela Baron, Director of Communications for PRPS. “The screening dates start in the spring with the first one scheduled in mid-March and the last one in May. All the dates for the checkups are on the student registration page. Additionally, I.F. Cox School in Redcliff is offering subsidy options for early learning for the upcoming year which is a new offering.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>On the registration forms, there is a question about if your child is currently attending one of the many PRPS academy programs or if they would like to join one. If they answer yes, they will receive a separate email with a link to complete an academy registration form.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Baron advised, “some of the academies, such as trades, hockey and flight, fill up quickly, and it is advised to complete registration sooner rather than later.”&nbsp;</p><p>While PRPS is well known for unique programming and academies, which continue to grow, many of the schools within the division also offer special Prairie Rose Possibility programs, such as the AgPro program at Irvine School or the Academy for the Fine Arts at Seven Persons. Additionally, there are opportunities for students to receive drone certification, engage in agriculture research, participate in dual credit programs, and multiple other options available.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“Anyone interested in seeing all we offer are encouraged to check out our website (<a href="https://www.myprps.com/specialty-programs">www.myprps.com/specialty-programs</a>) under our speciality program section of our website to learn not only about the academies, but also what different programs are on offer that are unique to particular schools,” stated Baron.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>PRPS also accepts registrations from families not living within the PRPS attendance area, however these students do require an additional approval from the school principal.&nbsp;A link to the Out of District Application form is available on the registration guide webpage, link above, under New Prairie Rose Students/New Students Outside the PRPS Attendance Area. Out of District forms need to be completed and approved before the registration of the student will be considered complete.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“For those within Medicine Hat wishing to attend Prairie Rose schools, there are designated pickup locations within the city where PRPS buses can be caught. This current&nbsp;school year, there is one at the Big Marble Go Centre, one at Hillcrest Church and a third at Medicine Hat Lodge,” explained Baron.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>

<p>Eagle Butte High School will once again be taking over the Esplanade for several days in early February to put on their latest production. This year the cast and crew are performing Willy Wonka, a musical based on the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Grade 12 student Anthony Gallwey, who was also in Elf a couple of years ago, is taking on the lead role year. “I like flashy, iconic roles. That’s where I shine,” stated Gallwey.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>A man like no other, playing Willy Wonka offered some unique challenges and Gallwey felt he could fit the part. “I like to be big and loud. I didn’t know going into it how much work there is to being the lead of a production. I sorted out my priorities and realized this is not something I could slack off about. It’s been four months of hard work, and I think it’s paying off.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Getting into character has been the most difficult part of this role for Gallwey. “Willy Wonka is eccentric, yet he’s still humble about it. He still holds it close to his heart and I can’t just be loud, I have to be loud with a purpose. I’ve never had to think too hard into how much depth a character could have for a play.”&nbsp;</p><p>Every spare moment he has – at home, at school or during the hour commute between the two – is spent preparing for the role, going over his lines and singing the songs. Due to living so far from the school, it’s difficult for him to make all the rehearsals, but he ensures he is still practicing for those four hours when he’s absent.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Singing is what Gallwey enjoys most about being involved in the production. “Being able to sing while jumping across the stage has taken effort, but I have been working hard on that and it’s improving,” he explained. “At the beginning it was rocky, but now I’m singing more as Willy Wonka rather than myself. I feel the music more than the surroundings around it. I’ve been trying to be less of myself when it comes to singing but think more about what Willy’s emotions are and why he would be bursting into song at those moments.”&nbsp;</p><p>To embrace the role, Gallwey has used some method acting, where he attempts to stay in character all the time and get that experience from all those he interacts with. “I’ve tried to think if I was in this situation, but I was Willy Wonka, how would I react to it, to try and get a feel on how he would behave.”&nbsp;</p><p>Almost a year in the making, Gallwey believes Willy Wonka is Eagle Butte’s best production yet and he hopes lots of people will come out to see it. The performance will be accompanied by a pit band, made up entirely of volunteers. “I think it’s great they’ve put all their own time into the production. Their playing is remarkable, and they follow all of us, and we’ve got the relationship worked out,” said Gallwey.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>There will also be specially assigned seats, which Gallwey said will be bedazzled, for those who won golden tickets through a chocolate bar fundraiser. There are still some chocolate bars available for purchase with a few golden tickets left to find.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Ticket sales are going well, and some shows are starting to fill up. Evening performances are being held Thursday through Saturday, February 6, 7 and 8 at 6:30 p.m., with a matinee also scheduled on Saturday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets for any of the shows can be purchased at <a href="https://buy.tixx.ca/eventperformances.asp?evt=1524">buy.tixx.ca</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) received a letter from the Honourable Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, in late December informing them that&nbsp;the division will be awarded a Community Initiatives Program Project-Based Grant. PRPS applied for the grant earlier this year to assist in the purchase of a LED media wall for the gymnasium at Eagle Butte High School (EBHS).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“We are so appreciative for this grant money,” stated Principal of EBHS Rocheal Howes, “it is going to mean so much for all our athletes and Phys-ed students. Additionally, our entire student body will benefit from having a media wall, which we can use during assemblies, pep rallies, and other school-wide events.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Greg Elgie, who is a Vice-Principal at EBHS, along with the coach for the senior girls volleyball team, said it will be exciting to have the capability of instant replays at games and during practices. “We will use it for practice and game feedback as well as during games and presentations,” explained Elgie. “On senior nights we always have clips of the athletes for fans to see and during games the fans can rewatch the play that just happened. During practices it will be beneficial because if we have a drill we are working on, I can record and put it up on the screen for instant feedback. With the media wall, it will be more interactive, and we can get right back to continuing to work on the drill.”&nbsp;</p><p>Elgie added the team presently must go to a classroom to watch a video and break down a play or drill, then return to the gym to continue practicing. With the media wall available onsite, it will be more efficient in practices for instant feedback. The media wall will also provide the ability for the team to review a previously played game during practice.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Vice-Principal and Athletic Director at EBHS Lyall Foran is always looking for different ways to increase what they can do at the school during athletic events. “Having the capability to promote and showcase our athletes on a continuous basis and to have the live video replay to really engage the fans will make a huge difference for us and increase our capacity as a host anytime we are having an event here. We are really looking forward to that and increasing our capabilities as a whole school. The feedback received thorough instant video replays, along with using it to showcase our sponsors, student athletes and promotional pictures, will add a vibrant flair to our gym,” said Foran.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Grade 11 student Autumn Klaiber is a member of the EBHS senior girls volleyball team and is looking forward to the installation of the LED media wall in the gymnasium at EBHS. “Hat High and Crescent Heights have a one and it’s really nice because they have a big screen with the live streams playing that is a bit delayed, so if someone missed something they can still see the play.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Klaiber feels the media wall provides a different experience for the team and fans. “It’s much more professional and it’s also nice because it provides video footage that can be used to submit to colleges, which is handy. I think it will help improve my game because volleyball is all about form, so getting to view myself during a play helps me see what I am doing wrong and will really help our team improve.”&nbsp;</p><p>This is her second year playing on an EBHS volleyball team and Klaiber was also on junior high teams. “I’ve been playing volleyball my whole life as everyone in my family played, so I was brought up into the sport. I love that it is a team sport, and I get to play with others, it’s not just an individual thing and we have to work together.”</p>

Coulee Collegiate hosted our second Inservice Exhibition of the year yesterday where we were able to work with our students, and introduce them to all the supports and expertise that are available to them through Coulee Collegiate and Medicine Hat College. A lot of discussion today around: Counseling Services: Mental health supports for our students, and there's even the opportunity to refer students who you feel are at risk and would like someone to reach out to them for a conversation. Pop in to see them or maybe take part in their Walking Club! Tutorials: All of our classes offer a two-hour tutorial each day (M-Th) where students can pop in to work on their courses and get help from their teachers. Coulee Collegiate Academic Advisors: Meet with one of our awesome advisors to check on graduation requirements and what courses you need to get into a post-secondary program. Academic Coaching/Student Success Coach: Ever wonder how to get help with things such as time management, how to study effectively, finding a positive state of mind, and working on your student self-concept? Pop in and see Justine. Fitness Center: Take advantage of the new weight room and fitness center for all your physical and mental health needs. Free for our full time students! Math and Science Tutor and Writing Supports: Get help from Angela on any concepts in a math or science class or book a time to meet with one of the writing supports staff. They can help you in person, or you can even email in your essay or presentation, and they can provide feedback that way. English Writing for International Students: Shauntelle can help provide support for our International Students around English writing assignments and the planning process. Career Services: Need help finding a job? Career Services offers support around resume writing, the interview process, and the opportunity to learn about different careers that might be best for you. Stop by on January 29 and take part in our Job Fair...MHC will be packed with employers looking to hire. Accessibility Services: there are many educational opportunities and accommodations for students who may have a disability. Check in with them to see how they can support you. Indigenous Student Supports: Looking for a welcoming space to experience Indigenous culture? Check out the new Indigenous student support office. College Clinic: Yes, we have our own walk-in clinic at MHC. This is available to all CC students and their families. Chaplin George at the Interfaith Center: Here you'll find a space to connect; all are welcome. Stop bye for a coffee, snack or even soup on Wednesdays! We're all here to help you succeed and have the most productive and best time while at Coulee Collegiate! Take advantage of all the ways we can help you.

<p>Additional information can be found in the January 14, 2025, Board Meeting Agenda package: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gQJ5UU6d8ubt7QD0pe4d-QiEn9eb8cxP/view?usp=drive_link">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gQJ5UU6d8ubt7QD0pe4d-QiEn9eb8cxP/view?usp=drive_link</a></p><p><strong>Burdett School Presentation</strong></p><p>Principal Scott Raible presented an update on the progress and initiatives at Burdett School, which primarily serves a Mennonite community. The presentation highlighted the school’s efforts under three themes: Kindling Hearts, Forging Futures, and Igniting Minds.</p><p>Under Kindling Hearts, Raible shared how the school is fostering connections with parents and the community. Students performed a bilingual Christmas concert in German and English, breaking the tradition of separate performances. Other activities include fun hair days, drama productions, and a new music program with performances shared in Bow Island and Burdett. Fitness Fridays, regular therapy dog visits, monthly reading challenges, and a unique program where students teach parents UFLI (a literacy program) further illustrate the school’s commitment to engagement.</p><p>In the area of Forging Futures, the school introduced a new cooking program and two leadership teams while also recognizing students who exemplify integrity and positive character traits. Basketball has become a significant highlight, with most students in grades 6-9 participating on teams and enjoying loud and enthusiastic support at games.</p><p>Under the theme of Igniting Minds, Raible discussed the school’s creative academic initiatives. Students raised funds to bring a speaker from the Eagle Butte Observatory and create their books using Book Creator. Library “book tastings” are further sparking an interest in reading. Under the direction of teacher Angie Angle, STEM is also a big hit with the students. Using Thinking Classrooms and applied learning projects in science and math has greatly increased student enthusiasm for learning.</p><p>Looking ahead, the school has plans to add more hands-on learning opportunities. With approval from the County of 40 Mile, a fully enclosed chicken coop with ten hens will be introduced in March. The school has also been approved to establish honey bee hives and is exploring the possibility of adding cutter bees to their program.</p><p>Learn more about what’s happening at Burdett School by following them on Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/burdettschool">&nbsp;https://www.facebook.com/burdettschool</a></p><p><strong>AgPro Courses</strong></p><p>Nichole Neubauer presented an update on the new AgPro courses, introduced the Prairie Rose Honey project, and shared her vision for establishing a South Alberta Agriculture Academy for high school students.</p><p>The AgPro program focuses on preparing students to become agriculture professionals by connecting them with industry experts and exposing them to diverse career opportunities within the field. Students can enrol in courses such as AgPro Beef, AgPro Crops, AgPro Machinery and Technology (in collaboration with Western Tractor), AgPro Event Planning, and Farm Safety. A new AgPro Business course is also in development, where students will present their projects in a “Dragon’s Den”-style format.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>A Community Foundations Grant is funding the creation of video resources to make the AgPro content more accessible. These videos will allow the program to reach classrooms and school divisions that cannot visit the physical sites featured in the curriculum.</p><p>The Prairie Rose Honey project, a new initiative led by Nichole in collaboration with Sheldon Hill (former owner of Sweet Pure Honey), aims to teach students all aspects of beekeeping. This includes building frames and boxes, caring for bees, harvesting honey, and producing items like candles and lip balm.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Looking ahead, Nichole envisions a South Alberta Agriculture Academy for high school students. The academy would provide hands-on education in areas such as agricultural business, crop and animal sciences, and the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment. The program would prepare students for immediate employment after graduation by partnering with industry experts. Central to this vision is the creation of a multifunctional building designed to support various agricultural pathways, addressing an education gap that currently exists.<br>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Staff Wellness Update</strong></p><p>Tammy Toews, Manager of Human Resources, presented the Wellness Accountability Report, emphasizing the guiding principles of care, fostering connections, and promoting healthy and safe work environments.</p><p>Tammy began by reviewing Extended Disability Benefit (EDB) claims, which are considered long-term leave and fall under Occupational Health and Safety’s EL#14. This policy encompasses both physical and psychological well-being, including mental health.</p><p>With an increase in EDB claims, the focus has shifted toward improving workplace culture. Initiatives include proactive collaboration with school leaders, gathering employee feedback, partnering with the Horizon School Division, and conducting HEARTcare planning discussions and new teacher orientations. Additional efforts include sharing wellness bulletins with staff, providing ongoing resources and updates from ASEBP, and supporting school-based wellness activities.</p><p>A significant development is the implementation of ASEBP’s new sick leave program, which took effect on January 1, 2025. The program has demonstrated improved employee outcomes through active case management and medically supported return-to-work plans. These strategies have been shown to reduce EDB claims, and Tammy expressed optimism that Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) will see similarly positive results.</p><p><strong>Student Wellness Update</strong></p><p>Greg Godard, Division Psychologist, began his presentation by announcing the change of the title Family School Liaison Worker (FSLW) to School Wellness Counsellor (SWC). The division now has seven SWCs supporting schools across PRPS, alongside a school psychologist and a mental health professional dedicated to the South Alberta Hockey Academy.</p><p>In their roles, SWCs provide individual counselling to help students normalize, stabilize, and regulate their emotions while offering coping strategies to help them thrive despite challenging circumstances. Group sessions are also held for students facing similar issues, fostering peer support and helping them realize they are not alone. Additionally, PRPS offers free parent training to strengthen parent-child attachment, with an upcoming online session available to parents.</p><p>A new Crisis Response Manual, developed by Godard, was distributed to all PRPS schools in September. The manual provides guidance on addressing crises or traumatic events. Its purpose is to help schools ensure that students feel safe and supported, facilitating open conversations that promote emotional regulation, stabilization, and normalization.</p><p>Data from September to December 2024 revealed three main wellness concerns among students: anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and family-related issues. Emerging concerns in the PRPS student population include anxiety, overuse of screens, reversed family hierarchies (where children, rather than parents, exert control), and a growing trend of students self-diagnosing, often inaccurately. Godard recommended the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, which examines the impact of social media since 2012 and the decline in free play among children. The book also offers practical solutions to address these challenges.</p><p><strong>Financial Update</strong></p><p>Finance Controller Candice Hintz presented the Financial Accountability Report as of November 30, 2024. Funding from Alberta Education exceeded projections by $543,270, attributed to grant adjustments, increased enrollment, and the receipt of a Dual Credit Grant, Digital Assessment Grant, and Community Grant.</p><p>Additional staffing led to increased salary expenses, with certified staff salaries rising by $45,453 and non-certified staff salaries by $147,751. While total expenses are over budget by $497,795, the overall expected deficit has decreased, reflecting improved financial positioning despite the higher costs.</p><p><strong>Other Items:</strong></p><ul><li>The board approved changes to Policy GP #5 – Board Committees.</li><li>The board approved Introduction to Educational Assistant 35 as a locally approved course for school use.</li></ul>

<p>The January 14, 2025, PRPS Public Board Meeting will take place at the Prairie Rose Public Schools Division Office starting at 12:45 p.m. The meeting is only available in-person.</p><p>The complete agenda package can be found here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gQJ5UU6d8ubt7QD0pe4d-QiEn9eb8cxP/view?usp=drive_link">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gQJ5UU6d8ubt7QD0pe4d-QiEn9eb8cxP/view?usp=drive_link</a></p>

Contact us and let us help. We have a place for you! @prairierosesd8 Prairie Rose Public Schools @mhcollege Medicine Hat College @mhpublicschools Medicine Hat Public School Division

Congratulations to Sivin Thomas for being nominated for our Student Spotlight! @mhcollege @prairierosesd8 @mhpublicschools

English 30-2 Prep - January 8th English 30-1 Prep - January 9th Prairie Rose Public Schools @prairierosesd8 @mhcollege Medicine Hat College @mhpublicschools Medicine Hat Public School Division

Looking forward to seeing you all! In Person classes begin tomorrow and Distance Learning is back to regular hours. @prairierosesd8 Prairie Rose Public Schools @mhcollege Medicine Hat College @mhpublicschools Medicine Hat Public School Division

English 30-2 Prep - January 8th English 30-1 Prep - January 9th Prairie Rose Public Schools @mhcollege @prairierosesd8 Medicine Hat College @mhpublicschools Medicine Hat Public School Division

Wishing you a Happy New Year with the hope that you will have many blessings in the year to come. @prairierosesd8 Prairie Rose Public Schools @mhcollege Medicine Hat College @mhpublicschools Medicine Hat Public School Division

Prairie Rose Public Schools Medicine Hat College Medicine Hat Public School Division

Prairie Rose Public Schools Medicine Hat College Medicine Hat Public School Division

<p>On Wednesday, December 11, Irvine School held their third annual Miracle Market. The goal this year was to have 4,000 donated items for students to choose from when selecting gifts for others.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“On the Miracle Market Day, every student comes in and they are able to purchase items for their parents or siblings or their grandparents,” explained Principal Trent Rayner. “We have over 25 parents who act as elves and they wrap the gifts. The students are so excited when they get these presents for others, they learn the sense of giving as they aren’t buying for themselves.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Feedback from parent council regarding the Miracle Market was positive, with stories about how grandparents had tears of joy upon receiving the gifts and how enthused children were to be giving a gift they selected and paid for to their family members.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Despite how much work it is to run and organize the Miracle Market, Rayner said, “it is totally worth doing. For the most part, people donate anything they think people could use or would like.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>A large range of items are donated to the school in the week prior to the Miracle Market. Drop off times were during parent-teacher interviews in early December, but gifts were already being donated ahead of that date.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The market was open for the whole school day on December 11 with the younger grades going in first. “The Grade 9s take the Grade 1 students around the market first and help them select gifts. They will ask them what their parents do and other questions to help them select the best gifts to give,” stated Rayner.&nbsp;</p><p>Any gifts that don’t get used are donated to Seven Persons School, who will hold their own Miracle Market. This year, for the first time, anything left over from Seven Persons is being transported to Schuler School so they can also have a market this year. “It is now being shared between schools within Prairie Rose,” explained Rayner.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Money raised from the Miracle Market is being used to put together Christmas hampers for families who need some extra support over the holiday season. Last year, five hampers were delivered to families in the community. The hampers contained a turkey, fruit and vegetable trays along with a selection of other holiday food. Additionally, there were Christmas napkins, plates and other items, such as tea towels.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>During the last week of school, on Wednesday December 18, before the winter break, the school had their second annual Christmas dinner with all the fixings for the entire school. Irvine School has just over 400 students and, along with feeding staff and volunteers, it is a massive undertaking.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“We did it last year and it was really good,” stated Rayner. “I brought it to parent council and heard stories about multiple students saying they were so excited because they’d never had a turkey dinner before. It takes between 25 and 30 volunteers with some precooking turkeys and hams and bringing them into the school. We have huge community support to get the dinner organized, cooked and served.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Again, the youngest students were served first with each subsequent grade following. The students took the meal back to their classroom and ate together with their friends and teacher.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer&nbsp;</p>