Week of March 24—28, 2014

Superintendent’s Memo Last week we shared the story of Aaron Friesen, a student at Delnorte School

in Innisfree. Aaron is a fine young man who has a dream of independence. A

part of that dream of independence is to be able to get from one place to another

without having to rely on others for transportation. Aaron has entered a contest

that might afford him the opportunity to win a van that would be customized for

his use. We asked you to visit the Mobility Awareness Month website at http://

mobilityawarenessmonth.com, register yourself, click the “Vote Now” button,

search for Aaron (all you have to do is put in his first name and click “search”) and

then give Aaron your vote. You must remember to check the verification at the

bottom of the website and submit your vote! I checked the total votes on the web-

site on Friday morning and Aaron’s total votes

sit at 2, 817. While this is good, it does not

reflect the over 5,000 voters that we have in

BTPS. We also know that on the website you

can answer a knowledge question that will

provide for a second vote for Aaron. This

week I want to challenge everyone in BTPS:

students, teachers, support staff, central services staff, parents and board mem-

bers to vote at least once for Aaron. If we all pull together, perhaps we can push

Aaron’s total to 7,500. Wouldn’t that be a great endorsement of our team and

how we are working together to support a cause!

I have heard from many schools that they are working hard in preparation

for the upcoming Superintendent’s Public Speaking Contest! School level

speak offs are being hosted and school level representatives are being identified

for the April 30th event.

We are so happy that Lakeland College will once again allow us to use their Alum-

ni Hall Theater on the Vermilion Campus for this event and I want to personally

thank their new president, Dr. Tracy Edwards, for her support of this event.

Continued next page.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From the Supt (cont’d) ...... 2

Public Speaking Comp. ...... 2

From Dr. Folkins…………….3

Curriculum ......................... 3

FNMI Teacher Resources .. 3

CUPE-Board Communication 4

Technology ......................... 4

From Amisk School………...4

Transportation ................... 5

Student Education Services.5

Items of Interest………….....6

MISSION: Buffalo Trail Public Schools is committed to maximizing student learning, in

a safe and caring environment, supported by a highly effective team.

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT (FROM PAGE 1)

The topics for the three divisions are:

Elementary Division – Open to students currently enrolled in Grade 4, 5 or 6

Topic: If I could be my Principal for just one day… Speech Length: 2-4 minutes

Junior High Division – Open to students currently enrolled in Grade 7, 8 or 9

Topic: The world would be a better place if… Speech Length: 3-5 minutes

Senior High Division - Open to students currently enrolled in Grade

10, 11 or 12

Topic: An engaged thinker who is an ethical citizen with an entrepre-neurial spirit means… Speech Length: 5-7 minutes

The school level competitions will come to an end by April 22nd as this is the date that the information on who will be representing the school in each of the categories will need to be sent in to Rosanne Isberg, so we can finalize the program for our April 30th event. This is a reminder to all schools that we have plenty of room now to have students and parents attend the event

and support our competitors.

This week the BTPS Board of Trus-tees will be continuing their Board School Tour and community engage-ment activities. They will be starting at Provost on Wednesday, March 26th and at Wainwright High School on March 27th. These tours are very busy, but very productive. The Board is also looking forward to their second Re-gional Parent Advisory Council meet-ing in the BTPS Training Center at Wainwright High School starting at 7:00 p.m. on March 27th. We hope to see many members of our parent coun-cils in attendance. Our last one was very well received. This is an oppor-

tunity to hear about some of the things happening in BTPS and on the provin-cial educational landscape!

We have many great things happen-ing in BTPS! Each week’s memo showcases some of the achievements of members of our team and we are looking forward to continuing to share in our success! Thanks to all of you for your hard work for our students!

Take care,

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SUPERINTENDENT’S

PUBLIC SPEAKING

COMPETITION

Schools are reminded that

school-level public

speaking competitions

need to be completed within

the next few weeks. Results

of the competitions are to be

forwarded to

Rosanne.isberg@btps.ca no

later than Tuesday, April 22,

2014.

The Superintendent’s Public

Speaking Competition will be

held on Wednesday, April 30,

2014, starting at 9:30 a.m.

The event will once again be

held at the Alumni Hall

Theatre on the Vermilion

Campus, Lakeland College.

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“Each week’s memo showcases some of the achievements of members of our team and we are looking forward to continuing to share in our success!”

KES students showed their support for Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics by

participating in a torch run, followed by a “sea of red” assembly on February 10.

CURRICULUM

Diploma Reminder: With the upcoming April session for Diploma exams, here is a link to check the subject area bulletins and general information bulletins. You will find Diploma exam resources like; Schedules & Significant Dates, Administra-tion Directives, Accommodations, Resources, Web Documents and more. Please take a look, they are an extremely valuable tool. DIP link: http://education.alberta.ca/admin/testing/diplomaexams.aspx

LearnAlberta seems to have an endless supply of teacher resources. Take some time to explore all the areas of the website. Last week we explored CTS Photog-raphy under the "T4T" (Tools for Teachers) link.

This week, check out the "Online Reference Centre" and find grade related Social Studies or Life Science resources.

Use your jurisdiction login or create your own account to access all resources.

Stay current with Alberta Education's Curriculum Redesign progress...For the latest updates and newsletters, visit: http://education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/curriculum/curriculum-redesign-updates.aspx

Professional Development events: Friday March 28 will be the third meeting this year, that our TES teams will come together to work towards their target of cre-ating, administering and analyzing a common assess-ment. Please remember to bring your materials that will support you in this work.

Webinar resources: Interested in accessing PD sessions from home? You can at CARC’s Webinar Archive (link below). CARC has cached numerous webinars with teacher focused topics so if you need tips or help with implementing curriculum or just simply ideas for the same; check out these valuable webinar resources.

http://www.carcpd.ab.ca/elearning/archive/index.html#apm1_10

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FNMI TEACHER

RESOURCES

Here is a fantastic resource to help teachers who are struggling with teaching FNMI perspectives as they may have little experience with FNMI communities. The resource provides sample teaching strategies for meeting the needs and recognizing the gifts of Aboriginal students, along with information about Aboriginal cultures. This free resource can be downloaded by chapters or as a complete pdf at http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/OurWords.asp

BTPS has a number of schools participating in an upcoming learning opportunity that supports high school social studies students and teachers, with curriculum focus on FNMI outcomes. The students and teachers will visit Blue Quills Community College, a First Nations College located near St. Paul. Blue Quills offers a day full of experiences in a supportive environment while enabling conversations about how the legacies of colonization, indigenous governance structures and/or colliding worldviews impact our communities as Canadians today.

Reminder: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Education Day – March 27, 2014 – This is an opportunity for all Canadians, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, to learn more about the legacy of the Residential school system.

Interested Schools are invited to participate in education sessions, via webcasts, on March 27, 2014, free of charge.

Your principal has further details about this event.

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Submitted by Willeke Slomp

CUPE-BOARD JOINT

COMMUN ICATION

March 21, 2014

Dear BTPS Stakeholders,

The Buffalo Trail Public Schools Board of Trustees and CUPE Local 1606 are proud to report that the Board-CUPE Joint Committee has been re-established and engaged in recent work to support conversations around matters of mutual interest.

The Joint Committee is com-prised of members of the Board, CUPE Local, and Cen-tral Services Administration that meet and work collabo-ratively in a solution-focused setting in an effort to enhance the experiences of both our CUPE members and students. The Joint Committee presents an opportunity to strengthen communications between the Board and CUPE Local and further foster a positive working relationship towards our mutual purpose in sup-porting all BTPS students.

The Joint Committee met on November 22nd, 2013 and March 17th, 2014 and en-gaged productive dialogue around the topics of employ-ee safety and professional learning, with plans for both immediate and long term action in both of these areas. The committee looks forward to continuing this important work in the fall of 2014. In the months and years ahead, stakeholders of BTPS can expect the Joint Committee to continue to work collabora-tively and discuss ways to strengthen our organization through the important roles that our CUPE members play.

Sincerely,

BTPS Board-CUPE Joint Com-

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TECHNOLOGY

SLA FIELD TEST

The Grade 3 PAT exam is evolving into a Grade 3 SLA as many of you know. What you maybe didn’t know is the numeracy and literacy part of the exam will be done online using digital technology. A group of Grade 2 teachers from VES, WES, Amisk, KES, Provost, Clandonald and Edger-ton have volunteered to do field tests of this process so the department can make sure the tool is appropri-ate and your technology department can make sure all technical consider-ations are take care off well in ad-vance of the actual administration.

We have complete our initial tests with the web site using an iPad, Chromebook and windows netbook and found that the tool works in our network with any of these devices signed on as a student. We are now ready to support the teachers as they get the our grade2 students to work with this tool.

Requirements of school

Each student has their own device.

Each device will have touch capabili-ties if not that it must have a mouse.

Each student must have their own set of headphones.

Each student will need to be able to

log on to device and get to the web page of the tool.

GAFE STATISTICS

5,681 GAFE created accounts Sept 1st for Pilot

3197 authenticated accounts

• 56 % of accounts (1 % growth since Mar 14th)

2339 actual operating accounts (person has actually been working with it)

• 41 % of accounts (1% growth since Mar 14th)

HELPDESK

Email volume has been light. Please remember to contact us with any problems you are having.

Reminder: Do not call the main cen-tral office switch board as they are not trained to help with technology.

Email us at techhelp@btps.ca tech problems; sishelp@btps.ca for Pow-erSchool PowerTeacher problems

Phone 780-806-2053

Text 780-806-9228

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FROM AMISK SCHOOL

March 10-14 was Pete the Cat Week at Amisk School. Throughout the week, students enjoyed a variety of Pete the Cat books, watched videos and sang along with the stories and songs. They learned about the authors and illustrator of the books. They also learned about the real Pete the Cat who was the inspi-ration for many of the book ideas. They took part in creative writing activities and art pro-jects. At the end of the week, there were draws for Pete the Cat stuffies and a book. Pete the Cat has a great message for children; no matter what happens, “It’s all good” and “If you want to be cool, just be you.” Thanks to Mrs. Lynn Manning for putting all the activities together for the school to easily participate in. GREAT FUN! (from Patti Hovde, Admin Assistant) GO BACK 4

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X

TRANSPORTATION PAMPHLETS: You will find in next week’s van mail the 2014-2015 Transportation Pamphlets to pass out to families. I know schools like to put them in their new student and kindergarten packages, but I would also like a copy to go home to every family. There is pertinent information for all families who use the school bus

in the pamphlet so it is important that everyone gets one. If you require more pamphlets, please call Stacy Joy at 780-806-2052. If you have extras, please return them to our office via the van mail. Thank you.

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Foothills Academy Society is a not for profit organization in Calgary, AB that services individu-als with learning disabilities. We are looking for school districts who would be interested in pilot-ing an E-course entitled Learning Disabilities & Associated Disorders. This is a PD opportunities for all staff members to learn more about how to create inclusive classrooms. http://www.foothillsacademy.org/programs/workshops/e-course/

For more details, please send an email or contact me at 403-270-9400. Thanks,

Kim Tackaberry

Program & Presentation Manager

Foothills Academy Society

ktackaber-ry@foothillsacademy.org

www.foothillsacademy.org

403-270-9400 XT 729

TRANSPORTATION

STUDENT EDUCATION SERVICES

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COMMENTS ABOUT

THIS NEWSLETTER?

Please send your comments

or suggestions to

Rosanne.isberg@btps.ca.

We’d love to hear from you!

BUFFALO TRAIL PUBLIC

SCHOOLS

1041 10A Street

Wainwright, AB T9W 2R4

P: 780.842.6144

F: 780.842.3255

E: central_office@btps.ca

www.btps.ca

Twitter: BTPS#28

ITEMS OF INTEREST

8th Annual Aboriginal Day Live Flag Contest—If you’re between 12 to 17 years of age, you’re invited to design a flag that reflects what National Aboriginal Day and being Aboriginal means to you! This is your chance to be creative and de-sign something original that shows your pride in the culture and heritage of Abo-riginal Peoples.

The winner’s school will receive $750 towards the purchase of classroom learning materials. The winner receives $500 and a trip to Winnipeg with their parent/guardian to be part of APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live celebrations. The winning de-sign will be made into an actual flag, unveiled during the live broadcast of Aborigi-nal Day Live 2014, and then will be flown on top of APTN’s headquarters in Winni-peg for one year.

The deadline for entries is May 6, 2014 at midnight EST. For more information and submission specifications please read the contest rules available at http://adlflagcontest.com/rules-and-regulations/

From Derek Fullerton, Ticket Sales Assistant (Edmonton Oilers/Edmonton Oil Kings: First off, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your participation in this year’s Reading, Give it a Shot literacy program. The lucky classrooms have been drawn and we are therefore only a few days away from completing another successful season. Below are some specifics that demonstrate the incredible efforts of both teachers and students across Oil Country:

# of Participating Districts = 51

# of Participating Schools = 201

# of Participating Classrooms = 323

# of Participating Students = 7,905

# of Winning Classrooms = 237

# of Students Able To Attend Oilers or Oil Kings Game = 6,391

As you can see, we had a fantastic participate rate and were able to bring just over 80% of the total students to a live Edmonton Oilers or Oil Kings game at Rexall Place this season! Another key piece of this year’s success was the addition of online regis-tration/submissions via both the Oilers and Oil Kings websites. This helped to simplify the submission process and make the Entry Form more easily accessible.

Before we officially wrap-up the program for 2013-14, I would like to offer each of you the opportunity to pass along any and all feedback. We greatly appreciate all constructive comments that you have in order to help continually improve Reading, Give it a Shot moving forward. Please send an email to either me (dfullerton@edmontonoilers.com) or our Reading, Give it a Shot account (readinggiveitashot@edmontonoilers.com). You are also welcome to contact me di-rectly via phone at 780.409.5914.

Finally, I would like to once again thank all of you for your involvement, as we highly appreciate your support. We hope that your school district will remain involved in the future and help encourage your teachers to participate in order to allow students the opportunity to attend Edmonton Oilers and Oil Kings hockey games and help grow this wonderful program.

Thanks and all the best for the remainder of the school year!

Think your school is the greenest? Show us how you've greened your thumbs and rolled up your sleeves for the environment, and you could win a $3,000 award from Tree Canada and FedEx!

If you've actively pursued conservation, waste reduction, and ecology education at your school, submit an application form. We award points for: Ecological School Yards, Reducing Waste, Conserving Energy, Being a Caring School, and Eco Educa-tion. Deadline: April 11, 2014. All entries must be sent to info@treecanada.ca.

More information on the Green Schools, Green Futures Award

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