BTPS Buzz

At Buffalo Trail Public Schools, our commitment to student success is deeply rooted in continuous professional learning. We understand that families may wonder about the value of school days when students stay home, and teachers remain at work. We want to reassure you that these days are not only purposeful—they are essential to strengthening the learning experience for your child. In March, our teachers used two such Fridays; one was a division-wide day where teachers from across BTPS gathered to collaborate and learn together; the other was a school-based day focused on work specific to each school’s goals and student needs.

These days were filled with meaningful learning. Teachers collaborated with colleagues, participated in targeted sessions to improve literacy and numeracy instruction, and worked on school-specific goals that directly align with the BTPS Education Plan. Every activity was centred on one core purpose: enhancing student learning. When teachers have time to grow and plan together, it leads to more effective teaching and improved outcomes for all students.

We also know that student success is closely tied to wellbeing—for both students and staff. As part of these professional learning days, our educators also explored strategies to support wellness and create safe, caring school environments. We are so proud of the commitment our teachers bring to their work, and we thank you for your support and partnership as we continue to invest in your child’s education.

Be well,

Michelle Webb

Superintendent

The BTPS Board of Trustees plays an active role in advocating for the needs of our students, staff, and school communities. Their efforts focus on key priorities such as hiring and retention, aging facilities, and wellness.🌟 Check out the Board Advocacy page to learn more about how the Board is working to support public education in our division.

Want to stay informed with the BTPS Board of Trustees? The March 2025 Board Highlights are now posted!

All highlights from previous meetings are also available on our website, making it easy to stay informed and engaged in what’s happening in BTPS.

Distributive Learning (DL) has played a key role in BTPS for over 20 years. The DL timetable supports our senior high schools by offering synchronous learning for the core subjects. It fills a niche for those schools with a limited number of students in these courses. By having a centralized timetable and funding, we can use our staff, limited budget, and resources as efficiently as possible. As an in-person teacher is optimal, DL offers an opportunity for all schools to have “live” synchronous offerings that otherwise would be taught through traditional asynchronous offerings from the Learning Hub.

Buffalo Trail Public Schools is proud to lead the way in providing Distributed Learning courses across our small rural schools. This innovative approach allows expert teachers to deliver the full spectrum of high school courses, ensuring our rural students have access to the same opportunities as any student in the province. By embracing Distributed Learning, we celebrate the unique advantages of our rural communities while providing a full offering of robust high school courses. In 2024/25 we have 27 offerings through the DL timetable. These 27 teachers send a course to 76 classrooms. In total DL reaches 103 classrooms across BTPS.

Buffalo Trail Public Schools remains dedicated to communicating with parents how Distributed Learning provides students with access to a comprehensive selection of courses, delivered by knowledgeable and skilled teachers across all our schools.

Feedback from our Semester 1 students…

“Our teacher did a great job making DL learning more efficient for me. I loved how there were always lots of resources for extra help and how the notes were posted if we missed a day of class. The teacher was also great at responding to emails and helping with any questions.”

“...this DL class was really good and I found that you included all the schools very well and I really thought I was gonna struggle this year but I'm really glad I didn't…”

“... I was a little skeptical of taking a class through DL but I actually liked the way it worked”

Recently, BTPS announced Morgan Jarvie, a teacher at Edgerton Public School, as the nominee for the 2025 Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) Edwin Parr Award, recognizing excellence in teaching. Additionally, the division celebrated Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week from March 10-14, 2025, highlighting the invaluable contributions of our substitute teachers.

For more details on these stories and to stay up-to-date with ongoing updates, visit our BTPS website.​