PWA POST #6 February 2014

***Parents, please phone the school if your child will be absent or late (780) 513-9504***

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, February 3 Early Dismissal – February Newsletter

Tuesday, February 4 Rugby Information Meeting @ 11:15 in Rm. 135

Tuesday, February 4 ActiParent Meeting 6:30 pm in the PWA Staff Room

Wednesday, February 5 Boys Rugby Meeting @ 12:15 pm in Rm. 135

Wednesday, February 5 School Council Meeting @ 7:00 pm in the Staff Room

Wednesday, February 5 Last day for Timetable Changes

Thursday, February 6 Girls Rugby Meeting @11:15 am in Rm. 135

Wednesday, February 12 Acti-Parent Valentine’s Dinner $5.00 for Spaghetti & Garlic Toast

Wednesday, February 12 PWA/Beaverlodge Football Parents Booster Meeting @ 7:00 pm in the PWA Cafeteria. Parents & Guardians of students wanting to play football in 2014 must attend.

Friday, February 14 No School – District PD Day

Monday, February 17 No School – Family Day

Friday, February 21 Grad Photo Retakes

Monday, March 3 Early out – PWA Staff Meeting

Tuesday, March 4 Acti-Parent Meeting 6:30 pm in the PWA Staff Room

Wednesday, March 5 High School Interim Reports

Thursday March 6 Friday, March 7

No school – Teachers’ Convention No school – Teachers’ Convention

Wednesday, March 12 Josten’s Ring Rep. in the conference Rm. from 12:09 – 12:50 pm

Wednesday, March 12 School Council Meeting @ 7:00 pm in the Staff Room

Thursday, March 13 PWA’s Got Talent @ 7:00 pm in the PWA gym

Friday, March 14 Deadline for Purchasing a 2012-2013 YEARBOOK $45

Tuesday, March 18 Grad Requirements Deadline

Thursday, March 20 Parent Teacher Interviews

Friday, March 28 No School – Day in lieu of PTI

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PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A

VOICE IN EDUCATION TODAY. ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO

ATTEND.

School Council meetings are held the first Wednesday after early dismissal Monday each month. Meetings start at 7:00 p.m. in the PWA Staffroom.

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Accountability Pillar Surveys

In February, all PWA parents will be receiving a survey in the mail from Alberta Education. The document is

titled “Accountability Pillar Survey”. Students and teachers receive a similar survey at the school. The survey

tools are designed to find out how satisfied parents, teachers and students are in the following areas:

i. Safe and Caring School Environment

ii. Access to a Broad Program of Studies

iii. Educational Quality

iv. Student Preparation for the World of Work

v. Building of Citizenship in Students

vi. Level of Parental Involvement in Child’s Education

vii. School Improvement Processes

The information we receive from parents, students and teachers is extremely important in the delivery of

education. The information assists in creating the education plan for the coming school year. I would

encourage all parents, students and teachers to participate.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The school uses the information as part of the data to build an ongoing improvement

plan for Peace Wapiti Academy. Each of the sub-categories in the survey contains information that helps us to

identify areas of concern, things that are working well, and ideas for what we need to expand upon or remove. It

is important that we get as much information as possible, so that the survey truly reflects the opinions of a broad

range of parents, staff, and students.

One of the wrinkles in the returned data is that “dissatisfied” and “don’t know” are both included in the

same category. If you are indeed dissatisfied with the topic, then please do say so on the survey. That is

the only way we can know what to work on. However, if you are unsure about the question, or feel you

don’t know enough about it, or just have questions, please call the school for further information. In terms

of being able to use the data accurately, it is better for you to leave a question blank than to answer “don’t

know”. Any question left blank shows up in a separate category, so we can tell if we are not doing a good job of

communicating with you about our programs.

Cosmetology Department Remember Valentine’s Day!! It's Valentine's Day in February! Treat your friend or sweetheart to a wonderful service of scalp treatment, manicure, facial, haircut & style, professional products, etc. all at great prices. Check out the options on our billboard. Book in soon as our apprentices are busy. Gift certificates are also available.

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you

THANK YOU to Peace Wapiti School Division and teachers Miss Nagtegaal (PWA), Mrs.

Lambert (BRHS), Mrs. Rief (PWA), Mrs. Lario (SRRA), Ms. Houlder (PWA), Miss

Sandboe(SRRA), Mr. Tanasichuk (PWA), Mr. Bowen (BRHS), Ms. Bednard (PWA), Ms.

Viken (SSHS), Mr. Hassanali (PWA), and Mrs. Lipon (SRRA), for helping to lower the

stress level for students writing diploma exams by offering the On Your Mark program.

Teachers spent a Saturday with students from high schools in PWSD, reviewing for the

Math 30-1, Math 30-2, Chemistry, Biology, Social Studies 30-1 and Social Studies 30-2

diploma exams. Sessions started at 9 AM at Peace Wapiti Academy on Saturdays in

January – very early for a weekend. That’s dedication!

A great big thank you to Ms. Houlder and PWA Acti-Parent for supplying the muffins,

and bottled water for the “Feed the Brain” campaign for January diploma and final

exams!

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you

2014 APEGGA Teacher Awards Program.

Every year APEGGA recognizes exceptional elementary, junior high and senior high school teachers through the Teacher Awards program. 20 awards of $2,000 are available throughout the province. Recipients are chosen for their superior teaching skills and ability to inspire learning in math and science. Each recipient will be recognized at a special event, awarded with a certificate and $2,000 for their school, to be used at the recipient’s discretion for professional development, school equipment, resource materials, website development, teaching aids, or other tools to improve teaching and student learning. Help recognize your teacher for an award and a $2,000 school prize by submitting a nomination form or letter. Judges are looking for a variety of nominators. Students, parents, school staff, other teachers, school principals and others can all nominate a teacher. Tell us how he or she “makes school cool”! Send us letters explaining why you think your teacher deserves this award. Nomination deadline: March 31, 2014 For more information, contact APEGGA Outreach at (780) 426-3990 (Edmonton) or 1-800-661-7020 (toll free) or jkeaschuk@apegga.org. Letters of nomination can be submitted by mail, or on-line by accessing the link found on the APEGGA website at: http://www.apegga.org/members/Awards/taward.html .

Congratulations to the PWA Titans Jr. A Boys for their 1st place finish in an exciting, overtime game against Hythe at the Sabres Slam!!!

Congratulations to the PWA Titans Jr. A Girls for their 2nd place finish in an excellent game against Bezanson at the Sabres Slam!

Checklist for Grads for February:

If any of the postsecondary institutions you are considering have an application deadline in

March, be sure you meet this.

Watch announcements, bulletin boards, and newspapers carefully for scholarships. Many local organizations and individuals award scholarships to students at each local high school.

Have you bought your 2013/2014 Yearbook? The time is running short….

Deadline for purchasing a yearbook is Friday, March 14th.

Each full color book is $45.00: pay at the office. Don’t be the one left out in September!

The BusStop program is designed to alert parents, students, teachers, etc.

of changes to the status of the busses on any given day. Notification will be

given on the PWSD website (http://www.pwsd76.ab.ca/) when there are

changes to the regular operating times of any of the busses in the system.

Please check this website for bus cancellations or delays. Busses not running due to

inclement weather will still be announced over the Grande Prairie radio stations.

Do you have a hidden talent that you would like to share?

Then participate in PWA’s Got Talent!

If you Sing, Dance, play an instrument, have a band, any talent that you

would like to showcase….

….if you are interested in participating sign up at the office.

Audition dates TBA.

If you have any questions come and see Mrs. Nielsen or Mrs. Edgington.

The show will be held on Thursday March 13th at 7pm in PWA’s gym.

Prizes will be awarded based on guest Judges.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Graduation ceremonies are quickly approaching and everybody is gearing up! Including The Finishing Touch Grad Society. We are now accepting donations of previously worn, yet currently styled, prom dresses and suits. The Finishing Touch Grad Society provides, free of charge, grad attire to students with financial need. The gown/suit drop off locations include; GP Composite High School, St Joseph Catholic High School, Peace Wapiti Academy , Norlan Chrysler, Ciao Bella Day Spa, and Lynn's Alteration. For any individual or family looking for an application they are available with the assistance of the school counselors, or grad advisors. They will then be forwarded to the society. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2014. If you wish any further information, are interested in becoming a member, or would like to make a financial contribution, please contact our society at finishingtouchgradsociety@hotmail.com or contact us through our facebook page.

The Students do the work; the society adds the Finishing Touch!

Spotlight

PWSD's eSpotlight is now up and running. This online version of our popular Spotlight publication will highlight events and programs from across the Division. You will be able to browse to eSpotlight from our PWSD website or through FaceBook. Short link for eSpotlight: http://tinyurl.com/PWSDSpotlight Short link for FaceBook: http://tinyurl.com/PWSD-FB

On Your Mark: Get Set

2014 - Northwest Regional High School, Trades & Technology Skills Canada Competition

Friday - May 2, 2014 with opening ceremonies and orientation for most events the eve of Thurs. May

1, 2014

Fairview: GPRC Fairview Campus, Fairview High and St. Thomas More School

16 Tentative Competitions plus an array of ideas for other exciting non-medal competitions and activities

Want to know more or want to add someone to my contact list, simply email or call.

My contact info is listed below.

Shirley Lyman Coordinator, NW AB Regional Skills Canada Box 122, Fairview, AB, T0H1L0

PH: 780.835.6726 Cell: 780.834.6251 Fax: 780.835.6698

Email SLyman@GPRC.ab.ca

2014 Regionalized Events: (Must qualify through Regional’s to compete in Provincial’s)

Other medal Competitions

Auto Service Baking (new for 2014)

Cabinet Making Carpentry

Culinary Arts Hairstyling - Junior

Hairstyling – Intermediate TV/Video Production (Team of 2)

Welding

Graphic Design

Fashion Technology IT Network Support

Outdoor Power and Recreation Photography

Robotics (Team of 4) Workplace Safety

GPRC Offers University Psychology Courses to Grade 12 Students

Take a University Course in Psychology While Completing High School!

Course: Introductory Psychology (PY1040) and Experimental Psychology 30 (SSN3171)

Description: Principles and development of perception, motivation, brain and

behavior relationships, learning and thinking and their significance to the psychological functioning of the individual will be explored.

Pre-requisite/Co-requisite: English 30-1 or English 30-2

GPRC Campus February 5th to May 14thnd Tuesdays 4:00 – 7:30 P.M.

Cost:

$344.10 (tuition) COVERED by PWSD upon enrollment in the course if you present your student ID card $93.71 (for the textbook – includes GST) REIMBURSED by PWSD once a

student successfully completes the course and submits a copy of the mark on their transcript to their high school principal. $70 (GPRC Application fee) REFUNDED BY GPRC upon completion of the

course (students will NOT need to pay this fee again if they attend GPRC in subsequent years.)

$19.98 (GPRC Students’ Union) $23.00 (GPRC Admin Fee/Wellness Fee) $ 5.94 (Student Life Fee)

Deadline to Register: February 12, 2014

How to Register: Go to Student Services on the ground floor at the college and fill out the forms between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Connie at 780-539-2032

Note: This is a dual credit program. Upon successful completion of the course,

students will receive 3 credits for the high school course Experimental Psychology 35 AND

will also receive post-secondary credit for Introductory Psychology