At a special meeting on Friday, October 8, 2021, held by the High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees, the following motion was carried regarding vaccine mandates for adults in HPSD buildings: To require that all High Prairie School Division employees, volunteers, and HPSD partners follow the Administrative Procedure on mandatory vaccinations for Covid-19 and that the same administrative procedure be followed by all contracted service providers and tenants in HPSD buildings.

Today is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The HPSD Indigenous Education Team is working with schools and students to honour and recognize the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The High Prairie School Division’s Indigenous Education Team has been organizing events leading up to the day as well as division-wide events that have taken place to further knowledge and understanding of residential schools in Canada.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The Board approved the consent agenda, added items to the agenda, and moved into the remainder of the agenda items.

We have received notification from the RCMP that it is safe for all students and staff to continue attending regular classes tomorrow, Wednesday, September 22, 2021. The safety of students and staff is the top priority of High Prairie School Division. As such, we take any threat seriously and work closely with our partners in law enforcement to follow their direction when it comes to threats against our Division. In situations where the Division receives threats of any nature, we must ensure we are not compromising subsequent RCMP investigations. We continue to remain vigilant in protecting the health and safety of all students and staff. Should we receive further direction or guidance from the RCMP, that information will be sent to all students and staff. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Updates on the COVID-19 pandemic including resources for staff and parents

The Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. The Board approved the consent agenda and moved into the rest of the agenda items.

I would like to welcome all staff and students back into our schools for what I hope will be a full year of face-to-face, engaged learning. While the provincial government has lifted many restrictions, we will stay tuned to the changing conditions and respond to rules and protocols around COVID19. Presently only students from K-12 need to wear masks on the bus. There is no mandate for any student or staff to wear masks, social distance or stay in a cohort while at school.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met on Thursday, August 19, to discuss the proposed re-entry handbook for the 2021-22 school year. Trustees reviewed the updated document, which provides guidance and direction to schools on their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document was updated to comply with the Government of Alberta's 2021-2022 School Year Plan.

High Prairie School Division has posted the contract tender documents for custodial services at all schools within the division. All documentation can be found on the Alberta Purchasing Connection (APC) or by clicking on the links below.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, for their regularly scheduled meeting via Zoom. Trustees approved the consent agenda and moved into the remainder of the agenda items.

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is an opportunity to honour the heritage, contributions, and cultures of Indigenous people in Canada. Canadians from all walks of life are invited to participate in National Indigenous Peoples Day events that will be taking place from coast to coast to coast.

We have been made aware of the charges laid against a teacher in our Division. The teacher is no longer on active duty with the Division. This is an RCMP matter and is before the courts. As such, it is neither appropriate nor permissible for High Prairie School Division to comment further on this matter.

High Prairie School Division is not planning to offer At-Home Learning in the upcoming school year, with hopes that we are no longer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and guardians registering their children for in-person classes with HPSD will register with the physical school in their area.

High Prairie School Division is pleased to announce the appointment of the following school administrators into new roles within the Division. Our team of qualified principals and vice principals oversee the smooth educational operations within their schools and are integral members of the Division.

High Prairie School Division has (1) school bus for sale. To place a bid, or to find out more information, download the form below.

The Government of Alberta document Guidance for Schools (K-12) and School Buses - Scenario 1 includes a section specific to ceremonies and celebratory events, including graduation ceremonies. It states that: "A school may host a graduation ceremony on school property, during regular school hours, following the measures below:

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, via Zoom for their regularly scheduled meeting. They accepted the consent agenda, added several items to the agenda, and continued with their regular meeting.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees discussed the proposed curriculum at the April Board Meeting. They did not make a motion to approve or deny piloting the proposed curriculum as our Board had meetings planned with local MLAs to discuss what options were available to our students and staff for providing feedback on the proposed curriculum, regardless of whether we piloted it or not.

The government update on COVID-19 yesterday discussed additional stronger public health measures. Included in the media release was information regarding targeted hot spot regions.

High Prairie School Division is pleased to announce the appointment of Nadine Doris as Payroll Administrator at the Learning Support Centre. The Payroll Administrator is responsible for payroll preparation, benefits administration, and accounting functions related to payroll. Mrs. Doris has over 20 years of experience in bookkeeping, accounting, and administrative duties.

High Prairie School Division is proud to announce Justin Miller as our zone candidate for the 2021 Edwin Parr award. The Edwin Parr award is given to a first-year teacher who goes above and beyond in the duties normally expected of a teacher.

High Prairie School Division is moving all Grade 8-9 students at Prairie River Junior High School to learning from home until May 10. Recent cases of COVID-19 have resulted in there being a staff shortage that will not be resolved until the most recent isolation period is over.

High Prairie School Division is moving all Grade 9-12 students at Kinuso School to learning from home until May 14. Recent cases of COVID-19 have resulted in there being a staff shortage that will not be resolved until the most recent isolation period is over.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met via Zoom on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, for their regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting began by approving the agenda and then moved into the agenda items.

High Prairie School Division is pleased to announce the appointment of Sandra Cairns as the new Manager of Human Resources.

High Prairie School Division is deeply saddened by the tragedy that took place this past weekend. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones affected by this sudden loss involving our current and former students.

Alberta Education is conducting their annual education surveys with all parents and guardians of students in grades 4, 7, and 10 and those in schools with under 120 students in grades 4-12. Parents and guardians will be mailed a random access code (RAC) to access the online survey, which closes on April 23, 2021.

High Prairie School Division is pleased to welcome Katie Doucette as the new Safety Officer. Mrs. Doucette, a graduate of High Prairie School Division, has over 11 years of experience in the safety/emergency medical field.

The Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, via Zoom for their regularly scheduled meeting. Trustees approved the consent agenda, additions to the agenda, and moved into their regular meeting.

Holy Family Catholic Regional Division and High Prairie School Division Requires a Temporary Success Coach for Mental Health Capacity Building Project (HOSTS Project) HOSTS Project is seeking 1 full-time position as a Success Coach. The individual is required to have relevant training and experience and position would commence March 22, 2021 to March 30, 2022. This position is located in High Prairie and offers a variety of experiences working in schools and community settings.

The Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, February 17, for their regularly scheduled board meeting. They approved the consent agenda and moved into the rest of the agenda items.

Holy Family Catholic Regional Division and High Prairie School Division Requires a Temporary Success Coach for Mental Health Capacity Building Project (HOSTS Project). HOSTS Project is seeking 1 full-time position as a Success Coach. The individual is required to have relevant training and experience, and the position would commence February 22, 2021, to June 30, 2021. This position is located in High Prairie and offers a variety of experiences working in schools and community settings.

The Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, January 20, for their regularly scheduled board meeting. They approved the consent agenda, additions to the regular agenda, and then moved into the agenda items.

On January 8, we will be emailing all parents and guardians to tell us if they would like their child to learn in-person or at-home for the third quarter of the school year.

The HPSD Board of Trustees met via Zoom for their regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, December 16. The meeting began with the approval of the consent agenda and additions to the agenda.

The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, November 18, for their regularly scheduled meeting.

The Government of Alberta has announced an update regarding diploma exams. On their website, www.alberta.ca/diploma-exams.aspx, they have stated that the January 2021, April 2021, June 2021, and August 2021 diploma exams are optional due to COVID-19.

High Prairie School Division has reviewed the results from the Annual Education Results Report and prepared our Three-Year Education Plan, which includes our detailed financial statements. We continue to use School/Community planning sessions, APORI survey data, Student Engagement Sessions, school survey data, and face-to-face interviews with students, staff, parents, and community members to give us some excellent perspectives on what we are doing well and what we can improve.

The HPSD Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, October 21, for their regularly scheduled board meeting. They began by adding items to the agenda and approving the consent agenda.

Check out this great video made by students and staff at Joussard School.

High Prairie School Division is accepting sealed tenders for the provision of Custodial Services at several locations.

The impacts of COVID-19 have been felt by many of us and our children are no exception. Alberta Health Services has traditionally been assessing children for speech language issues. These services have been limited because of COVID. We are pleased to inform you that during the month of September, Alberta Health Services and High Prairie School Division are partnering in an effort to identify children aged 2 years-8 months to 4 years-8 months who may require early intervention services.

The Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Trustees began by approving the consent agenda and adding additional items to the agenda.

These unprecedented times may have created challenges for you as you consider how to support your child in the weeks and months ahead. This is especially true if your child has special needs. Our schools are working hard to ensure supports and services are in place when school resumes.

High Prairie School Division is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Vice Principals and one new Principal in the Division. Additionally, there are two Vice Principals who have transferred to other schools with HPSD and one Vice Principal who has been appointed as Principal of another HPSD school.

Landon Fink is High Prairie School Division's nominee for the 2020 Edwin Parr award. The Edwin Parr award is given to a first-year teacher who goes above and beyond in the duties normally expected of a teacher.

The HPSD Board of Trustees approved the budget for the 2020-21 school year at their special budget meeting on May 14. The approved budget required the Division to make calculated financial decisions to address a variety of factors impacting all school authorities in the province. Changes to how school divisions can use their reserve funds, the elimination of the Regional Collaborative Services Delivery (RCSD) Grant, changes to the Program Unit Funding (PUF) Grant, and anticipated increases to insurance premiums are some of the key factors impacting budget 2020-21.

High Prairie School Division is continuing to work with local partners to provide food security to its students. The Government of Alberta directed school authorities to find innovative ways to provide meals or food to students from their school nutrition funds while in-school classes are cancelled.