Red Deer Public School District

February 11, 2015

Board Photo

Report from Normandeau School: School administration from Normandeau shared the life and learning of their school which serves 422 students from prekindergarten to grade 8 in north Red Deer.  Highlights included:

  • The school is building capacity around technology to support student learning. 
  • The school commented on the positive experience of the new Student Learning Assessment for grade 3 students and the insights it provided on student achievement. 
  • The school has 74 students on individual student plans as well as 63 who are English as a Second language students
  • The school has a pilot Youth Worker project that is providing additional support for students and families in connecting with community supports.
  • Positive Behaviour Intervention and Support is also building a very positive climate and culture.
  • The school has a diverse population that has in the past seen significant transience; the school has noted a reduction in moves in and out of the school this year. 
  • Normandeau is building strong connections with its feeder schools to help students make the transition.
  • The school has partnered with GH Dawe to acquire a school bus to provide more diverse option courses for middle school students and will be aligning timetables to increase opportunities.
  • SMART Day (Students Mentoring and Really Thinking) sessions on Fridays see student sessions organized by classrooms, division as well as cross curricular, cross graded and cross competencies. A range of interesting and engaging sessions are offered to students by staff and the community.
  • The school has also received tremendous support from the community raising money to help guild their band program as well as new facilities to support option classes.

ASBA and PSBAA Awards:The Board will nominate Shaw Community Television for the ASBA Zone Appreciation Award

Town Hall Debrief: The District hosted its Community Town Hall Meeting on January 29th.  More than 1400 people participated in an online engagement process in advance at the meeting.  100 parents and community members attended the meeting to discuss the online results and consider strategies that could be included in the district Education Plan.  The Board reviewed the outcomes of the meeting and looked at future opportunities to better engage our stakeholders.

Board Retreat: The Board of Trustee will be on their annual planning retreat February 19 and 20 to review priorities and set direction through the new District Education Plan

Facility Maintenance Plan: The Board reviewed the priorities for facility maintenance projects for 2014/15 totaling $3.5 million.

Accommodations Committee Update: With the opening of our new school in Inglewood, the District is undertaking a review of elementary school boundaries.  The process will include significant community engagement and is expected to be completed by June 2014 with implementation in September 2017

Correspondence:

  • Alberta Education: Education Manager Henry Pilipchuk appreciated the opportunity to review the District Education Plan and Annual Education Results Report
  • Deputy Minister of Education:  Notification of $100,000 in funding to support initial planning for the modernization of Westpark Middle School
  • Deputy Minister of Education:  Notification that the government is providing $102,271 to cover associated costs related to the move of Gateway Christian School to their new site.

Celebrations:

  • Edwin Parr Nominees – Three outstanding teachers were considered as the District's nominee for this award that recognizes excellence in beginning teachers
  • Town Hall Meeting - the Board has hosted three town Hall meetings, for the community, school administration and staff
  • Meeting with the MLAs - the Board met with our MLA’s to discuss issues and priorities. Topics included inspiring education and the upcoming provincial budget
  • Design Committee for the new Inglewood School Design is meeting to take a look at the hopes and aspirations we have for our next new school
  • Midsummer Night’s Dream was an outstanding production by the Hunting Hills Fine Arts program
  • A number of significant donations have been received by our schools and the Foundation to support student learning opportunities.
  • The transition of Annie L Gaetz to the Central School Campus during the school’s renovation project has been a very good experience.