Did you know that the more parents are involved in their child’s education, the better chance that child will have at succeeding in life?

 All parents, community members and dancers are invited to attend the St. Paul Education Regional Division Number No. 1 School Division Pow Wow on June 4, starting at 10 a.m. on the recreation grounds in the Goodfish Lake community.

All members of School Councils (Parent Advisory Councils) from across the division are invited to attend a special event on Wednesday, April 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Racette School cafeteria. The working supper will include an overview of the division’s goals by Superintendent Glen Brodziak and a brief explanation of the division’s budgeting process by Secretary-Treasurer Jean Champagne.

We are asked this question at least once every winter season so we thought we would address it now before the chilly weather begins. We have administration procedures regarding inclement weather that guide us as to when buses do not run or when schools are closed.

Even though the Alberta government clawed back $600,000 of our reserves earmarked for the construction of a new administration office for St. Paul Education, the Board of Trustees remains committed to the project. Our project tenders closed on the same day as the Minister of Education called to advise that our reserves would be reduced as part of the effort to lessen the provincial deficit. Our Board, as well as our neighbouring Boards, continue to express concerns over the inequity of this clawback.

Contrary to what some may believe, the school district does not have attendance areas. Parents are free to enroll their children in the school of their choice. However, the district does have transportation areas.

School boards are one of the earliest forms of government within the province of Alberta. Our long and proud history of providing for the public education of children started with the creation of the first school board in Edmonton in 1884.

St. Paul Education values healthy living and has created a committee, involving community partners, to assist schools and ensure students have the best chance of living a healthy lifestyle.

The Family School Liaison Worker (FSLW) is available to enhance the development of a student’s educational, social and emotional experiences.

It may seem as though students in our district have a lot of days off from school, but our instructional days, as determined by the government, are actually higher than what is required.

Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) and Diploma Exams (DIPs) are a form of standardized testing used in schools across the province. These exams are formulated and generated by Alberta Education to be used in all provincial schools.

School Councils, formerly known as Parent Advisory Councils, are a vehicle for parents to be involved in public education in an advisory capacity. As a School Board, we need parent input to guide us in our decision-making.

The yellow school buses you see delivering students to and from our local schools must meet many local, provincial and national standards.