PembinaPembina PipelinePipeline

September 2004

“Our Mission, together with our community, is to provide students with the means and opportunity to gain the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to become life long learners and responsible citizens in a changing society.” SSuupperierinntendent’stendent’s MMessageessage

elcome to the 2004/05 school year. For a change, we started this year with good news for kids. WAlberta Learning’s announcement of additional funding to reduce class size was welcome. Although not all schools may be able to add additional staff this year, we should be able to add approximately ten teachers to our schools. By the third year of the funding initiative, all schools will have received additional staff or, if they are at the required class sizes, schools will receive funds that can be used to benefi t students in other ways.

Based on feedback received last year, we will not be sending paper copies of newsletters to all employees this year. Instead employees will be sent an email message with a link to our website where the entire newsletter will be available. All schools and departments will receive several paper copies for their staff room. This format will be evaluated after two or three months to see if the level of readership stays high.

We also want to wish a special welcome to our new employees this year:

Phoebe Arcilla - Teacher Colleen Bauer - Teacher Fred Jack - Teacher – Alberta Distacnce Learning Centre – Dunstable – Swan Hills Cheryl Frose - Teacher Jean Gault - Program Assistant Amber Monteath - Teacher – Alberta Distacnce Learning Centre – Dunstable – Swan Hills Debra Jenson - Administrative Assistant Heather Senger - Teacher Jamie Seiyama - Teacher – Alberta Distacnce Learning Centre – Dunstable – Swan Hills Chelsea Vowel - Teacher Lawrence Schowalter - Teacher Fred Setterington - Teacher – Alberta Distacnce Learning Centre – Eleanor Hall – Swan Hills Steven Kaplan - Teacher Michelle Rau - Teacher Doris Gorgichuk - Teacher – Barrhead Composit High – Jarvie – Vimy Katherine Kennedy - Teacher Rod Manson - Principal Amy Swan - Teacher – Barrhead Composit High – Meadowview – W. R. Frose Christie Kimble - Teacher Juanita Brouwer - Teacher Margaret Benham - Teacher – Barrhead Composit High – Neerlandia – Westlock Elementary Barbara Sabiston - Teacher Mary DeJong - Program Assistant Colleen Jadischke - Program Assistant – Barrhead Composit High – Neerlandia – Westlock Elementary – Barrhead Outreach Sandra Lea - Teacher Stephanie Schultz - Program Assistant Dawn Marie Branden - Program Assistant – Neerlandia – Westlock Elementary – Barrhead Elementary Sandra Olthuis - Librarian Lynelle Seskus - Program Assistant Val Clark - Teacher – Neerlandia – Westlock Elementary – Barrhead Elementary Dagmar Visser - Librarian Joanne Starman - Teacher Kim Dyck - Progam Assistant – Neerlandia – Westlock Transportation – Barrhead Elementary Nadine Blyth - Teacher Sarah Sterling - Program Assistant Lisa Magera - Teacher – R. F. Staples Secondary – Westlock Elementary – Barrhead Elementary Dan Coles - Teacher Diane Edwards - Bus Driver Tanya Kaliel - Teacher – R. F. Staples Secondary – Westlock Transportation – Busby Greg Ferguson - Teacher Deanna Kibler - Bus Driver Valerie Pachal - Administrative Assistant – Swan Hills – Westlock Transportation – Busby Kelly Ferguson - Teacher David Lent - Bus Driver Stephen Hoffart - Teacher – Swan Hills – Westlock Transportation – Dapp Robert Gallagher - Principal Marguerite Riopel - Bus Driver Gail Stange - Program Assistant – Swan Hills – Westlock Transportation – Dapp “What we really need to do is teach our kids skills and habits. Overwhelming response Michelle Borba Choose one little skill or habit each month and focus on that and Nurtures Good Behaviour teach it to them for one minute each day. Repetition is the key point. to bus program… New behaviours only take about 21 days of repetition. Don’t think of changing too much at one time. Aim for one behaviour at a time.” She’s travelled the globe and spoken to more than 750,000 people Those same practical solutions can be used to improve behaviour from Canada to Finland, and the United States to Malaysia. She’s in classrooms and schools. Michelle is currently working with a been featured on countless television programs, like the Today number of school districts, including the Northern Lights Regional Show and Canada AM, and she’s been interviewed by some of the Division in St. Paul, and the results have been remarkable. Schools most prestigious magazines in the world. implementing her strategies have witnessed an almost immediate Education consultant and author Michelle Borba can barely keep up improvement in aggression and verbal abuse. with the demands on her time as more people seek out her expertise “You can make a difference on nurturing the moral intelligence of children, and combating the and every bit of research seeming increase in violence, vandalism, stealing, cheating and is on our side for that. other bad behaviours. Solutions are very easy “Educators and parents in every nation I have visited recognize and doable. The last thing there’s a problem that needs to be addressed,” says Michelle, a teachers need is more former teacher who worked with special needs children. “I don’t things on their plate. They see any difference in any of the countries I have visited. I was in want best practises that Malaysia last year and the biggest concern they had was selfi sh are simple and doable, children. I could have swore I was working with American teachers. that they can integrate No matter where you go, everyone has similar concerns.” into the classroom,” says Michelle. Pembina Hills invited Michelle to speak to parents and teachers (Aug. 25 and 26) where Michelle outlined some of the practical “It needs to be a home strategies they can use to strengthen their children’s behaviour and grown program. Running improve their self esteem and nurture their moral development. off a package of worksheets doesn’t work. It has to be based on what the school district, schools “The majority of parents spend more time planning their summer and teachers feel are necessary for them.” vacation than how they raise their children. You can make a difference if you are intentional and you really know what you For more information about Michelle Borba and her strategies stand for,” Michelle explained to a large audience at the Cultural for strengthening children’s behaviour, visit her website at www. Arts Theatre in Westlock on the evening of Aug. 25. moralintelligence.com.

SUMMER SIZZLES With EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Heather Tansem and Wendy Johnson quickly nicest weather this summer to attend the presentations. Evaluations completed by captured the hearts of parents and teaching event speaks volumes about the value of the those attending the sessions will assist in staff who attended the homework seminar at conference, which was held at the Barrhead planning future stakeholder inservice. this year’s Summer Education Conference. Composite High School from Aug. 18 to 20. The upbeat Edmonton authors had their audience doing jumping jacks, playing word “Bringing teaching staff and parents together games and having fun as they fi lled the to share the same information is really the afternoon with funny anecdotes and positive strength of this conference. That’s what parenting tips to help children with the makes this so unique,” says Kathy. “It’s challenge of completing their homework. been seven years since we began hosting the conference and people are still amazed “The workshop was very successful. There that we do something like this. We have also were about 20 people registered. They had a received interest from Alberta Learning this wonderful afternoon learning some practical year, which chose to highlight our conference ways to not only encourage their children in its provincial newsletter in June.” to do homework, but enjoy it as well,” says Kathy Hickey, director of student services This year’s conference featured six in- for Pembina Hills. depth workshops loaded with valuable information for both parents and educators. The positive response is par for the course Topics included information on proper when it comes to the Summer Education nutrition, reading disabilities, homework Conference. That so many parents and help, attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder staff were willing to forego some of the and helping kids with computer generated They lined up with their parents, eyes bright there would be so many parents and children OOverwhelmingverwhelming responseresponse with excitement, and patiently waiting to take interested in it.” their fi rst ride on a school bus. Although the orientation program was created ttoo busbus program…program… More than 280 people, many of them to help ease the fears of new students, it was kindergarten students taking their fi rst also designed to teach parents about school tentative steps into the school system, spent buses and what they can expect when their the Aug. 24 afternoon taking a trial run on a children head off to school for the fi rst time. school bus before classes started a few days “We had a team of excellent drivers who later. volunteered their time. Each driver went The parking lot at the Barrhead Agrena was through a short program, which covered jammed with parents and children eager to preparing for your day, dressing properly, participate in the school district’s fi rst ever packing your backpack, where to stand for Meet the Bus program. It was originally slated the bus, when to wait for the bus, and how Young students ride bus for fi rst time to take place at the Pembina Hills bus shop to board the bus using handrails. We also in Barrhead, but organizers quickly realized taught them about the lights, showed them they needed much more room. the danger zones and the proper way to cross “We’ve always had a few parents bring their the road,” says Patti. kids early to show them about the school “The kids enjoyed it, the parents enjoyed it bus so we thought this program might be and they walked away understanding a lot something that was needed,” says Patti Van more about buses. It was especially benefi cial Aert from the transportation department. for families whose fi rst child is entering the “We were overwhelmed with the turnout. We school system. They need to know what thought we would try this program because Pembina Hills is all about.” some kids are afraid when they take the With such an overwhelming response, there’s bus for the fi rst time, but we never dreamed no doubt the Meet the Bus program will become a staple for years to come as students and families prepare for their fi rst year of Lou’s Passion for Sports education. till urns right Lou Rondeau retired from teaching four years ago, but he couldn’t s b b tear himself away from coaching the senior boys volleyball team at Barrhead Composite High School. Gayle should know. She arrived at BCHS with Lou in 1982 and they For nearly 20 years, Lou devoted countless evenings and weekends worked long hours establishing many of the school’s sports programs. to building up the high school sports program in Barrhead. His “Lou has always had the ability to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. leadership helped establish the school as a powerhouse in badminton He could take some guys that weren’t necessarily the most talented and volleyball. When he retired in 2000, he simply couldn’t turn his players and in a short time he would produce some pretty gifted back on the volleyball program. athletes,” says Gayle.

“I’ve kept saying for four years now that this is going to be my last Many of those athletes are still playing volleyball 20 years later. Gayle year coaching and last fall I was pretty determined that it was, but I and Lou keep in touch with former players by hosting the annual think I would miss being involved in volleyball more than I would alumni volleyball tournament. The event is still going strong after two miss teaching,” says Lou, who still subs at the school on a regular decades and more than 20 teams competed in this year’s tournament basis. over the Labour Day long weekend.

That commitment to athletics has earned “There’s hardly a male player at this tournament Lou the admiration of many people in the that I haven’t coached over the years. It’s community . It has fuelled his passion for always fun to see the players again and see teaching young athletes not only the skills how they’re doing. It’s like a mini reunion. On needed to play the game, but the intangibles Friday, we all have a lot of fun, but by Saturday needed to be successful. you wouldn’t believe how competitive it gets,” says Lou. “Lou pioneered a whole bunch of our sports programs here,” says Gayle Lamothe, coach The tournament also gives the coaches a chance of the junior varsity girls volleyball team. “He to evaluate their players before the upcoming has a passion for sports, for volleyball and season. “We’re so lucky to have him come badminton and baseball as well. The students back to coach this year. Every year he says it’s here have always talked very highly of him his last and every year they manage to squeeze and he’s been such a mentor to the kids.” another season out him. We can only hope he returns again next year,” says Gayle. trustees focussed on students

When trustee Laurie Hodge fi rst joined Pembina Hills three years ago, she was quick to discover the primary role of a school trustee – protecting the interest of all students, regardless of what school they attend and where they live. As a new trustee in 2001, Laurie found the learning curve steep, but her previous governance experience helped make the transition a smooth one. “I was the one new person on the board and you have to jump in right away. You have to catch up. One term only gets you in the know. It’s the second term when you really feel comfortable and confi dent,” says Laurie. One of the fi rst lessons she learned was that trustees must avoid getting caught focussing on a single issue and always keep their eye on the big picture. “The trustee has to look toward the future and think about the next group of kids. It’s a balancing act, but you have to do what’s best for everyone.” Although school trustees are charged with a wide range of roles and responsibilities, there are some core duties that every trustee must consider. These include: • Setting the overall direction of the school system. • Allocating resources for schools and programs through the annual budget. • Approving bylaws, school closures and tax requisitions. • Holding the school system accountable for achieving results established through the planning process. • Selecting a school superintendent, delegating administrative responsibility to the superintendent and evaluating the superintendent’s performance annually. • Designing a process that enables the school board to hear concerns from its constituents. • Serving as advocates for students.

The list is long, but Pembina Hills trustees have concentrated on their roles as student advocates and setting the overall direction for the school district. They have consciously empowered administrators to take responsibility for day-to-day operations.

“You have to trust the administration. We say what we want done and leave it to them to get it done. We have excellent administrative people who will fi gure out how we’re going to get there,” says board chair Clayton Jespersen.

“That doesn’t mean to say that administration just does what it wants. They’ll give us a plan and ask for our input. As elected people, we should have the pulse of the community. Even though the plan might look good, if we’re not going to get buy in from the community, it’s better to make some changes before you start.”

Although his role on the school board has changed over the years, Clayton still cherishes those moments when he can help parents and students work through their problems. “It’s so satisfying when you pick up the phone and someone is really upset on the other end and then you guide them through the process and often they’ll be very satisfi ed in the end.”