BTPS Newsletter

It is tough to believe that March is almost halfway done! The year seems to be flying by.

The Alberta government released their budget on February 28th. The funding manual which shares the funding to individual school divisions has not yet been released. BTPS funding allocations are determined using the Provincial Funding Framework. Alberta Education Funding is distributed under five (5) main categories: Base Instruction, Services and Supports, Schools/Facilities, Community, and Jurisdiction. Our 601AP Budgeting and Reporting as well as the exhibit 601.1AP Budget Guidelines shares information about the process and allocations of funds.

BTPS celebrated International Women’s Day with Darci Lang last Thursday. We had a great evening of networking and sharing. The evening was a success due to the collective effort and dedication of everyone involved. The organization and planning of the event by Bri, Patti, and Michelle, along with the support from the facilities team and technology team, ensured that everything was set up and running smoothly. The enthusiasm, engagement, and active participation of the attendees created an uplifting and inspiring atmosphere that made the event a success. Their willingness to listen, learn, and support each other was a testament to the spirit of International Women's Day and the power of women coming together to empower each other. Overall, the success of the evening was due to the collective efforts of everyone involved, including the participants who made it a memorable and impactful event.

I very much enjoyed our March 10th BTPS Learning Day. The Learning Services team did a great job planning this day for us and I also want to thank the facilities and technology teams for setting everything up for that day. It was an amazing day of learning, sharing, laughs and collaboration. I always enjoy listening to Darci Lang as she reminds me to be mindful of all that I am grateful for and how I can ensure that I am living life to the fullest. Dianne McConnell’s personal experiences are impactful as she shares the importance of having an inclusive mindset and ensuring that all students, regardless of their abilities, feel welcomed and valued in the classroom.

I was excited to see the new ChatGPT course on our BTPS Learning with Leaders menu. I completed the course last week! I do think there is lots to learn with AI and how we can use it in a positive manner in our schools and work as well as address the challenges.

I am participating in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Reading Challenge as I commit to advancing my own learning of the calls to action and to reconciliation.

Take care,

Rhae-Ann

To view the information for this years Superintendent's Public Speaking Competition, please visit here. Deadline for submissions is March 24, 2023. The event will be held in the training center at JR Robson School on Tuesday, April 4!

March 13-17, 2023 is Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week!

Toree from Wainwright High School has a special message for our Substitute Teachers here: https://youtube.com/shorts/j6Y3UxAO974?feature=share

During this Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to take a moment to recognize all that our Substitutes do for our schools and our students. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being an integral part of our team and for all the amazing work that you do. #YouMakeADifference

Buffalo Trail Public Schools is excited to announce the appointment of Camille Quinton as the new Assistant Superintendent starting August 8, 2023.

Media Releases

Design Funding Approved for Wainwright Elementary School

BTPS Hosts Women in Leadership Community Event

BTPS Hosts Staff Learning Day

You can view all of our news releases on our website here.

Radio Ads

Ebony from Wainwright High School - Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week

You can listen to all of our Radio Ads on our website here.

2FA FEBRUARY WINNERS

Congratulations to the following winners of a BTPS Swag Bag filled with BTPS Goodies.

• Kristi Barnes - JR Robson
• Roxy Reinhart - Provost Public
• Dallas Foxwell - Central Services

NOTE: 2FA will be mandatory for all staff accounts in BTPS before September 2023. Please turn on 2FA for your account as soon as possible.

Ed Tech Tips with Stacy!

If you have never heard of Classroomscreen, I suggest you check it out! Classroomscreen is an online tool that includes 19 widgets to create clear expectations for your students, support your time management, collect feedback and much more! There’s a widget for creating groups, one for alarms or setting a timer, and even a widget that tracks the noise level in your classroom. You can even embed videos or presentations - super duper handy for wanting to keep all your resources at your fingertips! To learn more (and about other awesome tech stuff), check out our BTPS resource site. Here’s a what your screen could look like:

Caregiver Education Team:

Download the latest monthly newsletter: March 2023

Alberta Health Services is proud to offer FREE online programming for parents and caregivers who support children and youth, as well as sessions for adults looking to support their own wellness. Sessions are live and interactive. Our aim is to increase awareness and reduce the stigma around addiction and mental health challenges, provide participants with evidence-based information, and offer strategies that promote health and resilience. Click to learn more.

Where can I reach out to as a youth in the M.D. of Wainwright?

The TRC Reading Challenge

Join Us. Take The Pledge To Read The Truth And Reconciliation Commission Report. There's No Deadline. It's Not A Race. It's A Commitment.

https://trcreadingchallenge.com/reader/

Language Teacher Bursary Program

The application period is now open for the 2022/23 Language Teacher Bursary Program.

The program is administered by Alberta Education and funded by Advanced Education. It was established to support teachers of languages other than English in improving their fluency, pedagogical skills and knowledge, and to help Alberta school jurisdictions enhance their language teaching capacity.

The program offers two bursaries:

• The International Language Teacher Bursary provides up to 10 bursaries of up to $5,000 each for Alberta certificated teachers of international languages to take a summer course at a recognized post-secondary institution outside of Canada. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2023.
• The Indigenous Languages Teacher Bursary provides up to two bursaries of up to $2,500 each for Indigenous language teachers, Elders or instructors to take post-secondary studies. The deadline to apply is May 20, 2023.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Alberta Education at EDC.LanguageBursary@gov.ab.ca.

Deadline is now April 1st for the Rural Registered Nursing Degree Program

The University of Calgary has extended the application deadline for their programs to April 1st so there is still time to register for the Rural Registered Nursing Degree Program taking place in Wainwright. Applications for the September 2023 intake of the Registered Nursing Degree Program – Rural Community Route must be submitted before April 1, 2023.

Apply HERE. If you have any questions about the program or the application process please email bnosinfo@ucalgary.ca.

Alberta School Councils Connect 2023

The 2023 event will bring school councils in Alberta back together again (not since 2019), to CONNECT, in person!

Registration deadline is April 1, 2023 at 5 pm.

All information here

Provost Public School

On Friday, February 24th, eight grade 6 students from PPS participated in the WISEST Choices Conference promoted by the University of Alberta Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology program. This annual event connects 600 grade 6 girls and gender-diverse students with university students who seek to promote an interest in non-traditional fields of sciences for their gender. During this session, students investigated science through a chemistry demo, created their own prosthetic hand, and were challenged to create an insulated cooler using basic items such as plastic containers, cotton balls, straws, foam, and tape.

BTPS International Women's Day Event

Buffalo Trail Public Schools hosted a Women in Leadership event with keynote speaker Darci Lang, aimed at promoting and supporting women in leadership positions and building awareness and support for equity. The event took place March 9th at the Communiplex and was well attended by educators, community members, and female leaders.

BTPS March Learning Day

BTPS hosted a learning day with teachers and support staff on March 10, 2023, with keynote speakers Darci Lang and Dr. Dianne McConnell. This day of learning aimed to provide teachers, administrators, and support staff with opportunities to enhance their knowledge while being able to network with colleagues.

Freedom to Read Day at Amisk school

Freedom to Read Day was organized by Jeanene Dewald at Amisk School. The kids and community had so much fun!

Email: central_office@btps.ca
Website: www.BTPS.ca
Location: 1041 10A Street, Wainwright, AB, Canada
Phone: 7808426144
Twitter: @BTPS28