BTPS Newsletter

March is a time to celebrate literacy and numeracy, the building blocks of learning.

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” – Chinese Proverb

Our mission is to maximize student learning in safe and caring environments. Whether you’re supporting students in reading and math directly or creating the conditions for learning by maintaining safe schools, driving buses, or supporting our offices, you make this work possible.

Our vision is to grow students who are curious, confident, and prepared for their futures. Our values of opportunity and choice remind us that every student deserves the chance to master these essential skills.

Thank you for your role in supporting learning success for every student.

Be well,
Michelle

Buffalo Trail Public Schools is launching a new storytelling campaign called Where Are They Now? BTPS Alumni.

Every year, BTPS students graduate and begin new chapters in their lives. Some continue their education, some enter the workforce, some stay close to home, and others move to new communities. Each journey is unique, and each one begins with the experiences students have in our schools.

As Education Week approaches from April 13 to 17, 2026, it feels like the perfect time to celebrate BTPS graduates and the many different paths that begin in our schools.

Throughout Education Week, we will be sharing alumni highlights that reflect the lasting impact of public education and the many journeys that grow from the learning, relationships, and experiences students have while attending BTPS schools.

If you know a former BTPS student we should highlight, or if you are a BTPS graduate yourself, we would love to hear from you.

Check out the Board Highlights from the February 2026 meeting.

Buffalo Trail Public Schools was honoured to participate in the Rural Alberta Education Symposium this week.

We had the privilege of speaking on a panel focused on three important and timely topics in rural education: Dual Credit programming, Classroom Complexity, and Truth and Reconciliation.

As a rural public school division, these conversations matter deeply to us. We shared how dual credit opportunities are helping students access trades training and post-secondary pathways while remaining in their home communities. We spoke about the realities of classroom complexity in rural schools, and the innovative, collaborative approaches our staff use to support diverse student needs. We also reflected on our ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, ensuring that learning environments honour Indigenous perspectives, relationships, and responsibilities.

We are proud to represent rural public education and to contribute to meaningful dialogue about the future of learning in Alberta.

Thank you to the organizers for creating space for rural voices and to the many educators across the province who continue to champion students every day.

Buffalo Trail Public Schools Board of Trustees was pleased to host our Celebration and Retirement Event in honour of the 2024–2025 school year.

This special evening recognized and celebrated employees across the division for their years of service, acknowledged the Outstanding Support Staff Award recipient, and honoured 26 retirees whose dedication has made a meaningful and lasting impact on students, schools, and communities.

We also extend our recognition to those recipients who were unable to attend and whose contributions continue to make a meaningful difference across our division.

The Board of Trustees extends their sincere appreciation to all recipients and retirees. This celebration reflects the gratitude we hold for the dedication, care, and commitment demonstrated by staff across Buffalo Trail Public Schools each and every day.

Wainwright High School is more than a place to learn — it’s a community where students and staff work together every day to grow, achieve, and make a difference. The positive energy in our halls comes from the dedication of our staff and the enthusiasm of our students. From classrooms and gyms to workshops and school events, there are countless ways for students to get involved and take pride in being part of the Commando community.

Our staff go above and beyond to support students academically and personally. From engaging lessons and hands-on learning to coaching teams and mentoring students, they are committed to helping every student succeed.

Students continue to make us proud through their hard work, leadership, and involvement. This winter, our junior girls and boys basketball teams showed teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship on the court, while our curling participants demonstrated focus, determination, and strong teamwork on the ice. In both sports, students represented Wainwright High School with pride.

Students at WHS also have many option classes to explore their interests. Two current examples are woodworking and band. In woodworking, students develop skills and creativity through hands-on projects, while our band students showcase dedication, teamwork, and musical talent through rehearsals and upcoming performances. These programs highlight the many ways students can discover their strengths and passions.

This past month, we also celebrated Kindness Day with our “Cupcakes for Kindness” event. Students and staff shared treats and messages promoting kindness and positivity, reminding everyone that small acts can make a big impact when we “sprinkle kindness”.

Wainwright High School is a place where students can explore, create, and connect. Through the support of our staff and the involvement of our students, we continue Inspiring Success…Every Way, Every Day.

Go Commandos!

The Story and Spirit of Kitscoty Junior/Senior High School

Our rural school is remarkable because we, as staff, get to be a part of our student's lives from their shy junior high years to their senior high years where they begin to develop their own sense of self. Being part of that journey allows us to truly know our students, not just as learners, but also as individuals. We have the opportunity to see them grow and develop, and get to cheer them on not only in school, but also outside of the school walls in other extracurricular activities. Having the opportunity to witness this growth firsthand brings a sense of pride to teaching in a rural school.

KHS staff work together to create enriching opportunities for students to learn, develop, thrive, and become caring citizens of their school community and their larger community. We strive to embody qualities of belonging, community, curiosity, creativity, and story-sharing; these values are defining legacies of our school. We are also grateful for our community’s support and involvement.

Student Learning: In EcoTech, students completed a project based on the work of Jill Pelto. Students explored a variety of graphs that presented real-world data and then chose one that sparked their interest. From there, they traced their selected graph onto paper and transformed it into a visual representation connected to data the graph presented. Students also wrote a statement explaining what the graph shows and why it is important or relevant. This project allowed students to blend their creativity with scientific thinking, while helping to strengthen their graph-analysis skills and express their understanding in an imaginative way.

This International Women’s Day, Buffalo Trail Public Schools celebrates the incredible women who inspire, lead, and make a difference in our schools and communities every day.

From educators and support staff to students and leaders, women across BTPS play an important role in shaping strong schools and bright futures.

The 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” reminds us that when we support and uplift one another, everyone benefits.

March 9–13, 2026

Buffalo Trail Public Schools is proud to recognize and celebrate our amazing substitute teachers!

Whether stepping in for a day or supporting classrooms for longer periods, substitute teachers play an important role in keeping learning moving forward. Your flexibility, professionalism, and willingness to jump in wherever needed make a meaningful difference for students and staff across our schools.

Your support helps ensure our classrooms remain welcoming, positive, and focused on student success.

Thank you for the care, energy, and commitment you bring to BTPS schools. We appreciate you and are grateful to have you as part of our team.

This year, Buffalo Trail Public Schools launched the Why We Love BTPS: Come Learn and Work With Us campaign, an initiative designed to celebrate what makes our schools such meaningful places to learn and work.

Since the start of the school year, staff and schools across the division have been sharing their reflections in a variety of ways. At our BTPS Learning Day, staff filled out “Why We Love BTPS” cards, and throughout the year schools have contributed school features and staff story submissions in our newsletters.

Together, these reflections highlight the relationships, traditions, and sense of community that make rural public education so special. From small-school connections to strong community partnerships, the stories we’ve received continue to show the heart of BTPS.

❤️ “Everyone is friendly and looks out for each other.”
❤️ “Being able to watch students grow from Kindergarten all the way to graduation.”
❤️ “Our school feels like a family.”
❤️ “The strong connection between our school and our community.”

As we continue celebrating the people and stories that make our division special, we invite staff to share their own “Why We Love BTPS” reflection. Submissions may be featured in future newsletters, on our website, and on BTPS social media as we continue to promote rural public education and the great work happening across our schools.

One school or department will be randomly selected in each newsletter to receive a staff treat!

ASEBP has shared several updates and wellness resources for staff, including benefit plan changes, mental health apps, and children and teen supports available through the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

Recent updates include expanded mental health coverage with Registered Social Workers now eligible providers, new retiree plan insurance options, and resources to help staff find mental health apps and counselling supports for children and teens.

Check out our Kindergarten registration video for the 2026–2027 school year below and see our classrooms in action!