Ward F Newsletter
AWARD RECIPIENTS!
Updates from the MAY 24 & 28 Board Meetings
At Tuesday’s meeting, we honoured some incredible students!
At Tuesday’s Board meeting we had the honour of recognizing 19 exceptional students and announcing the three Michael A. Strembitsky Award of Excellence recipients. The award recognizes students who exemplify personal, social and academic excellence, have leadership skills, want to seek meaningful change, and demonstrate confidence and initiative.
A huge congratulations to Jules Ng, Chelsea Kwon, Athena Annika Reyes and to all of this year’s nominees. The future looks bright.
Board Meeting – Quick Notes
2024-2025 Budget Approved
The Board of Trustees approved the budget for 2024-2025 at our special meeting on May 24. Provincial funding, while the highest we’ve ever received at $1.34 billion, continues to fall short of cost increases related to inflation, fixed costs, and growing student enrolment. To balance the budget, the Board approved use of up to $16 million from operational reserves. This will leave about 1.5% of our total budget in reserves (the province requires school divisions to have between 1-6% in reserves). We cannot afford to spend this much from reserves again next year to cover budget shortfalls and will continue conversations with government to work towards more sustainable solutions. Find budget quick facts here.
Strategic Plan Update: Priority 1
Are you keen to hear how Edmonton Public Schools is working to support outstanding learning opportunities for students? Then THIS is the report for you. Key highlights include Career Pathways (various ways students can get exposure to career opportunities) and data-driven literacy/numeracy initiatives that are showing promising results.
School Year Calendar Policy
This policy has been in the works since the beginning of our term in 2021. It is with celebration that I share a new school year calendar policy. This policy sets out that the school year calendar for the following year will be set by December 15. It also clarifies the Board’s priority in prioritizing days of significance whenever possible. Many thanks to the many families and community members who have advocated and contributed to the development of this policy. Want to learn more about how the calendar is put together? Check out this short video.
Advocacy – Update to Standards for Special Education
The Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to send a letter to Minister Nicolaides requesting an update on when the Standards for Special Education will be updated, including how and when key stakeholders will be consulted.
Want to dig in a bit further? Watch the recordings or view the full agenda for the May 24 and 28 meetings here.
Student Senate
The Student Senate provided their final report to the Board of Trustees. They did a LOT of great work! I invite you to check out their projects:
podcast on mental health and body image
networking club summit
tech tools brochure
student engagement conversations workshop
Mark your Calendar
June 3-7 – Pride Week at EPSB
June 18 – Next Board Meeting
June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day (no school)
June 26 – Last day of classes
Huge congratulations to Kate Jolicoeur (pictured above, alongside Principal David Sloan) for winning the Edwin Parr award for first year teachers. This provincial award is an oustanding achievement. We’re proud of you, Kate, and so thankful for your work at EPSB to support incredible learning for kids everyday. Learn more about the award.
Thanks to Richard Secord School for having me out to Culture Days. It was fun to do some Ukrainian and Serbian dance with grade 6 students and to watch many games, including “run and scream,” a traditional Cree game to build stamina.
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It was awesome to get to learn more about Indigenous culture and heritage with students at McKee School. Parents and grandparents of students shared their knowledge of beading, the Métis sash and elders were honoured as they shared teachings in the tipi, smudging and Inuit traditions. |
Congratulations to the Strathcona Grad Class of 2024!
I wish you well in the last few weeks of your grade 12 year and hope that as you take the next steps beyond the halls of Scona that you are always reminded of how your two hands together are a little bit like COMMUNITY – one hand to receive support and one hand to give your time and talents to serve the greater good. Also that CURIOSITY can build understanding, acting as a powerful antidote to navigating what can sometimes be polarizing and divisive times.
Proud of you and looking forward to seeing the many ways you will continue to live out the Scona Lords legacy of “one who serves.”
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