The Pacer Pulse

Well, that beautiful Spring weather we had been hoping for took a break this past week and, as I was reminded by many students coming through the door on Thursday morning, we are embracing our "19th" winter!

This week at Parkland was jam-packed with Pacers playing their first Rugby games of the season, our Archery team competing at Nationals, our final First Aid course of the year, and a day full of Professional Development for our PCHS team!

We are so excited to share that as of April 24th, students in Grades 9-12 will be able to access Gemini AI and NotebookLM with their GYPSD credentials. This is an exciting development as it provides students the opportunity to develop understanding of the platforms and the ethical considerations to ensure preparedness for the ever-changing technological world. As our Technology department develops resources and reference materials, we will be sure to share them.

A special thank you to Mr. Sommerfeld and Mrs. Smith for providing training for our team on Friday on different applications for these platforms in our classrooms.

Reminder, tomorrow is the last day that Student Council will be selling "Tattoo" rights to Tattoo A Teacher on Tuesday, April 28th, with the largest donor being granted the opportunity to tattoo the Principal at lunch that day! All proceeds will be donated to CEAT - Community Engagement Action Team in Edson. Be sure to buy your tattoo!

This past Wednesday, principals and lead teachers from across GYPSD came together in Hinton to engage in Professional Development on "Making Thinking Visible" in our classrooms. Mr. Visser joined me for this session, and we were fortunate to run into Mr. Stoyles, Principal of Wildwood School. Fun fact - did you know that the three of us started our teaching careers together in 2016? It is incredible to think that it has been almost 10 years in the profession and still supporting eachother!

If you do not already follow our school's Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/pchspacers), please consider doing so as we update it regularly. Send any questions our way at (780) 723-6035 or pop by anytime - we always welcome a visit!

Kristin Basaraba

Principal

Parkland Composite High School

11:30 Study Hall

• Day A | Mr. Andersen - room 139
• Day B | Mrs. Bencz - room 141

11:30 Envirothon Club

• Tuesdays | Mrs. Vick - room 102

11:40 Student Council | Office

• May: Wed 13th & Wed 27th

In honour of Education Week, CAREERS Next Generation selected five winners of this year’s Award of Excellence. This award recognizes outstanding mentors and promising student interns.

We are so excited to share that Parkland's very own - Mrs. Carmen Leggett - was the fifth and final recipient of this year’s CAREERS Award of Excellence! 🏅

Mrs. Leggett is known for her strong connections with both students and industry. She goes above and beyond to create opportunities, support students, and help them take the next step with confidence.

Her commitment to student success and her ability to connect employers and students has made a lasting impact in her community.

Congratulations Mrs. Leggett, and thank you for everything you do for our Pacers!!!

As we have introduced all of our department heads, I am so excited to share with you the rest of our awesome team here at Parkland. This week, meet Mr. Dylan Gullason!

"I grew up in Edson and still haven't managed to move away. That being said, I'm happy to be two hours away from Jasper rock climbing and paddle boarding and two hours away from Edmonton recreation and watching the Oilers. I have two children that are growing faster than I would like. However, they keep me humble, busy, and very entertained. I fill my time outside the classroom and construction shop with outdoor adventures and frequent game nights. After graduation I earned a Journeyman ticket in Carpentry from NAIT and proceeded to work construction. However after nearly a decade in the trade, my knees decided to call it quits and forced me back to school. I earned my Education degree from the University of Alberta and began at PCHS in 2020, where I continue to teach Math and Construction. I believe the best educational experiences come from authentic and dedicated instruction. I am grateful to share my life experiences and passions with students in effort to build their knowledge, skills, and confidence for their future."

We are so fortunate to have you be a part of our team,

This past Thursday, our Grade 9 students had the incredible opportunity to participate in Take Our Kids to Work Day 2025 (rescheduled from November 2025). Take Our Kids to Work Day is a Canadian program dedicated to inspiring the next generation of leaders. Students shadowed their parents/guardians in various different careers for the day at many different businesses in Edson and Yellowhead County. A huge thank you to all of our families and businesses for accommodating our students and I look forward to hearing all about our Pacers experiences this week!

See the flyer below shared by our Wellness Navigator, Ms. Brianne Benson. The underlined links in the picture are clickable buttons, posted below the flyer.