BTPS Buzz

As we move into October and Thanksgiving approaches, I have been thinking about how much we have to be grateful for across BTPS.

Over the past month, I have had the chance to spend time in many of our schools. I have watched our staff interact with students, joined in at muffin mornings and welcome-back barbecues, and had lots of opportunities to visit with students, staff and families. These are some of my favourite parts of my job.

There is something pretty special about our rural schools. Our students are known, our families are part of our schools, and people genuinely care about one another. I see it in the little things: a staff member stopping to check in with a student, families gathering at a school event, or someone taking a few extra minutes to make sure another person feels welcome.

And at the same time, our students have some pretty amazing opportunities to learn, try new things, get involved and discover what they are capable of.

As we head into October, I hope we continue to notice and celebrate those moments. Take time to enjoy the people around you, cheer on our kids and appreciate the many good things happening in our schools and communities every day.

That is Big Opportunities. Small Community Feel.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be well,

Michelle Webb

Superintendent

Each month, BTPS students join our Board meetings to share their experiences, perspectives and ideas. These conversations give Trustees an opportunity to hear directly from students about what is happening in their schools and what matters most to them.

At the September Board Meeting, students from Vermilion Elementary School, Provost Public School and Dr. Folkins Community School joined Trustees for a conversation about “Coming Together: Excitement, Connection & Start Up.”

Students shared what they were looking forward to as they started a new school year, from seeing friends and teachers again to sports, field trips, special activities, graduation plans and hands-on learning opportunities. They also talked about the things that help them feel connected at school, including assemblies, family events, mentorship, multi-age activities and spirit days.

Thank you to our students for sharing their perspectives and giving Trustees the opportunity to learn more about what connection and belonging look like in their schools.

Each year, we are thankful to the students, parents, and staff who provide feedback through the Alberta Education Measures Report. These measures are closely aligned with our Board priorities and help us understand where we are making progress.

Priority One: Supporting Learning Success for All Students

Elementary teachers across BTPS have maintained a strong focus on teaching and learning, implementing over 30 new curricula to support quality instruction. In addition, teachers administer over 30,000 individual literacy and numeracy screening assessments annually to identify student needs, guide instruction, and support student success.

Did you know you can quickly check your bus status? Download the Bus Status App from the App Store or Google Play, then:

1. Select BTPS

2. Favourite your child’s bus route(s)

3. Receive instant notifications for delays or cancellations

The status of bus routes will also be displayed on our website.