HPE students had the opportunity to experience a mini planetarium this week. Elder Wilfred Buck travelled to High Prairie from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba, on Treaty 5 territory, to share his knowledge of Earth's solar system from both scientific and Indigenous viewpoints.

The beginning of a school year is full of firsts. For kindergarten students, it is their first time at school. This can be full of new learning, friendships, relationships, and discovery. But all of our students and staff are experiencing firsts. Students moving to the next school will be learning how to open lockers, new bell times, and new places to catch the bus home. New staff are coming into most of our schools, and we welcome them. We hope you find your way around your new environment and create those friendships and positive working relationships with colleagues. Students and staff will begin to develop new relationships and routines.

Linsay Willier-Kendall, a former High Prairie School Division student, visited Prairie River Junior High School on Monday, March 13. Linsay is from Sucker Creek First Nation, on Treaty 8 territory. She was a finalist on Canada's Next Top Model in 2009 and went on to compete in Miss Universe Canada, winning the People's Choice Award. Linsay is an actor, mother of a blended family, and a powerful motivational speaker.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association designates one week each year as Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week. This is a time to recognize those teachers who are always on standby to quickly step in whenever they are needed to ensure continuity of learning for our students.

Alberta’s annual Rural Education Symposium took place in Edmonton on March 5 to 7. It focused on the three R’s of rural education: Resilience, Reconciliation, and Rejoicing.

Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where differences are valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.

The High Prairie School Division would like to congratulate Saige Burnett on being awarded the Governor General's Academic Medal. Created in 1873, this has become the most prestigious award that students in Canada can receive and is awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs.

Six female students from High Prairie Elementary School participated in the University of Alberta CHOICES 2023 virtual conference on Friday, February 24. Each year, one team of girls and gender-diverse students from each school is eligible to attend this event, which is geared towards Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology (WISEST).

Grade K-6 students from École Routhier School and Joussard School participated in a group land-based learning event in Joussard on Thursday, February 16.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Murray Marran has been chosen as the successful candidate for the role of Superintendent and CEO, effective September 1, 2023.

The Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, for their regularly scheduled board meeting. The Board accepted the agenda with additions and then proceeded with the rest of the agenda items.

Pink Shirt Day is a movement which began at a Nova Scotian school in 2007 when a student received threats for wearing a pink shirt to school.

Recruitment for the 2023-24 MYC (Minister’s Youth Council) has officially begun.

Character education is the teaching of values and morality. Some schools have adopted the 7 Grandfather Teachings, or Seven Sacred Teachings, as a model for imparting these virtues. Each teaching is shared in the form of a story and is represented by an animal.

Many athletes from the High Prairie School Division represented Alberta North last week at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo.

The High Prairie School Division met on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, for their regularly scheduled meeting. After approval of the agenda with no additions, they moved into discussions of the regular agenda items.

We are currently hiring for an Indigenous Education Coach. Go to hpsd.ca/careers for details!

High Prairie School Division is pleased to have been one of the successful recipients of a two-year Alberta Education Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program. The grant amount totals $177,000 over two years. We are excited at the opportunities for growth and positive change this grant will provide to our schools and communities.

Eleven-year-old student Isabella Kulak, from Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, inspired a global movement after being told by an educational assistant on her school’s “formal day” that her handmade ribbon skirt didn’t even match her shirt and that she should wear something more like the other kids.

The TD Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples is a newly released program managed by the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (Canada). It offers $10,000 towards each tuition each year, $5,000 towards living expenses each year, and summer employment opportunities at TD Bank.

New dual credit opportunity...Drone Prep! If you are interested in obtaining your basic drone operator certificate, here is your chance. Through a partnership with Lakeland College, HPSD senior high students can enroll in a new course called GIS and Remote Sensing.

High Prairie School Division is gathering feedback for the 2023-24 school year calendar. The link below is to a short survey on the upcoming school year calendar, as well as a few questions about student services in our schools.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met via Zoom on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, for their regularly scheduled board meeting. The Board approved the agenda with updates and then moved into the agenda items.

Nominations are open for the 2023 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence. From now until January 17, 2023, you can nominate a teacher from an elementary or secondary school in Canada who meets the standards of excellence requirements. For more information, go to canada.ca/pm-awards.

E.W. Pratt High School hosted the tenth annual Tonesha Walker Memorial Tournament on December 2-3. After kicking off the tournament with an alumni game on Dec.1, HPSD students from Georges P. Vanier, E.W. Pratt, and Kinuso competed in the tournament amongst eight other schools.

Last week thirty-two Youth Council for Reconciliation members from across the division came together in High Prairie to participate in 'Still I Rise,' a virtual event hosted by Ever Active Schools. This event focused on celebrating Indigenous stories, fostering resilience for Indigenous youth, and encouraging reconciliation.

The High Prairie School Division filled a bus with food donations before participating in High Prairie's annual Winter Light-Up parade.

The High Prairie School Division would like to congratulate Jamie Chalifoux, Indigenous Education Coach, on his recognition this past weekend at the inaugural Okimaw Awards held at Edmonton City Hall.

Alberta’s Career Education Task Force is listening to your perspectives on how we can use career education programming for grades 7-12 to strengthen connections between schools and employers.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met via Zoom on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Trustees approved the agenda with no additions and then moved to the scheduled agenda items.

High Prairie School Division's staff and students participated in many activities last week in honour of Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day. It was great to see how teachers incorporated remembrance, peace, and gratitude into their art, language arts, music, and physical education classes.

High Prairie School Division is dedicated to providing a safe, caring, and inclusive learning environment. This year’s theme, #BeKindAB, focuses on learning how to recognize bullying and stop it in all forms while emphasizing the importance of being kind.

Rock Your Mocs is a worldwide social media event that began in 2011 as a way to wear moccasins in unity. The event also provides an opportunity to share stories, learn more about diversity, and promote cultural pride. Wearers are encouraged to take a photo of their moccasins, create a video or story, add the hashtag #ROCKYOURMOCS, and upload it to social media.

High Prairie School Division students are busy learning about Métis culture this week. Traditional Métis homeland included all of Alberta and two prairie provinces, bits of two other provinces, and one territory. Our school division includes Métis students from East Prairie Settlement, Gift Lake Settlement, and Peavine Settlement.

The Lesser Slave Forest Education Society (LSFES) is an organization committed to forest-focused environmental education. For over ten years, they have provided curriculum-related programming through interactive field trips and classroom presentations to schools throughout the High Prairie School Division.

At Lakeside Outreach School, students independently work through courses on and off campus at their own pace. Last year the school created a new initiative called Junior PD Days. These in-person learning experiences allow students to connect with their teachers in new ways, network with other students, and learn from experts within the local community while earning Career and Technology Studies (CTS) credits outside of core courses.

Today the High Prairie School Division honours the courageous Indigenous veterans who bravely served Canada. It is estimated that as many as 12,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people have served in the great conflicts of the twentieth century.

Students from Kinuso and Joussard went out on the land this month to participate in fall land-based learning.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Trustees approved the agenda with additions and continued with the rest of the agenda items.

HPSD’s students have been busy out on the golf course! Forty-two students from grades 7-12 participated in this years divisional golf tournament, with Lakeside Outreach School entering its first ever golf team, and Kinuso School entering its first golf team in ten years.

Students across the division participated in this year's Terry Fox Run, the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research. Together, our division raised over $7,700! A big thank you to our teachers and admin for their efforts in organizing this event and to all students who participated.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Trustees approved the agenda with additions and moved into the rest of the agenda.

Many of today's Indigenous Elders, leaders, and community members are Survivors of Canada's residential school system. They have been deeply affected by over 400 years of colonization, attempted assimilation, and cultural genocide.

High Prairie School Division is pleased to announce Cara Haubrich of C.J. Schurter School as our zone candidate for the 2022 Edwin Parr award.

High Prairie School Division is pleased to announce Steve McLeod of High Prairie Freson Bros. as our nominee for the 2022 ASBA Friends of Education Award.

Sora is the app that allows access to OverDrive, an immense digital library. All High Prairie School Division (HPSD) staff and students automatically have access to this amazing source of digital books, audiobooks, and, just recently, magazines!

The HPSD Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Trustees approved the agenda with additions and then carried on with the meeting.