<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 28, 2023.</i></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools welcomed five Japanese students – Rena Katayama, Hikara Kawano, Kanon Miyake, Natsuka Nishida and Mao Yamanaka – into Eagle Butte classes this month. The students arrived in Canada in early October and have one more week left before flying back home next weekend.</p><p>The students attend Shoin Junior and Senior High School in Kobe, Japan, which was founded in 1892 to educate girls.</p><p>“In today’s globalized world, language skills, such as English, and cultural understanding are crucial,” head teacher Mr. Shinohara wrote in an email. “The study abroad program to Canada is part of the student’s Global program with an aim of deepening their understanding of global reality.”</p><p>The trip allows the students to practise their English skills and learn about different educational systems, which will help them prepare for their future.</p><p>“Japan is known for its homogenous society with Japanese as the primary language, which lags behind countries like Canada and the United States in terms of diversity,” added Shinohara. “Therefore, we aspire to provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in Canada’s diverse culture and truly experience the concept of diversity.”</p><p>Principal of Eagle Butte Rocheal Howes said Eagle Butte is excited to have the exchange students at the school.</p><p>“It’s so good for us to have students coming from other cultures and showing us their ways and their food and the way they write.”</p><p>Hikara Kawano liked taking classes, particularly information processing, at Eagle Butte. Two enjoyed music classes the most, another said foods was her favourite and Mao Yamanaka liked cosmetology, which isn’t available at her school in Japan.</p><p>“I feel freedom, especially at school,” stated Kawano. “School in Japan, there are lots of school rules, which is really strict for us. When I am in Eagle Butte, I feel really free so it’s lots of fun.”</p><p>Not having to wear a uniform and being able to wear accessories, such as earrings, were two aspects they liked. The young women weren’t as enthusiastic about the early spell of cold weather and snow, although one made a snowman with her homestay family. Poutine was hands down the favourite Canadian food for all of them.</p><p>Each one has done different activities with their respective host families. The two that stood out for Kawano were playing pickleball and taking a trip to Elkwater.</p><p>Katayama celebrated her sixteenth birthday while she was here and said the day was an unforgettable memory.</p><p>Nishida’s homestay family lives on a farm, which she has never experienced before, and she enjoyed spending time with the animals, including sheep, goats and a llama. The night they arrived it was clear and Nishida said the night sky with all the stars was memorable.</p><p>Yamanaka made T-shirts with her homestay family and she appreciated having a handmade keepsake to take back to Japan.</p><p>Miyake’s host family likes to hike and took her out to Elkwater where they walked one of the trails. She liked the nature and took lots of pictures.</p><p>“The lake waters are so clean,” said Miyake, “I was surprised, there are no plastics.”</p><p>On their return, each must write a report and give a presentation on their Canadian experience, including the differences from Japan and adding in some history of Canada.</p><p>Andrea Pillman is the international homestay coordinator for PRPS and works closely with the school, homestay families and international partner. It is her job to pair up each exchange student with a homestay family and to ensure each international student is successful, safe and comfortable.</p><p>Pillman took the group to Medalta this past Wednesday evening where they had a guided tour of the museum and were going to work with clay. If the roads were good, they are scheduled to travel to Drumheller this weekend.</p><p>The program needs homestay families for Colombian students due to arrive in November and Brazilian students coming in 2024. Contact Pillman directly at 403-502-6244 if you are interested or would like more information.</p>

Halloween Costume Parade and Contest 2023! Everybody looked so great! It was very hard to choose the winners!! Thank you to everyone who came out for the parade. Have a safe and happy Halloween Night! 🎃 👻 🍭 #schoolcommunity #foremostschool #myprps

Congratulations to our Senior Girls Falcons volleyball team! They are bringing home the Bronze from the Crowsnest Pass tournament!! 💜🏐💛 #foremostschool #weareallfalcons #myprps #gofalcons #foremostathletics #falconpride

Senior Nights! Congratulations to our graduating players who played their last home volleyball games as Foremost Falcons! Vaera King, Daina Dixson, Claire Lengyel & Connor Harty 💜🏐💛 #falconpride #schoolcommunity #foremostfalcons #foremostathletics

“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” This team of grades 4/5/6 girls played in league, exhibition and tournaments holding their own against grade 6/7 teams all season! It was a great final game of the season taking second to Gershaw in a hard fought 3-2 set loss in league finals. 🏐💜🙌🏻 They have learned so much and grown as individuals and as a team. We are excited to watch these girls in the years to come! #foremostschool #weareallfalcons #gofalcons #falconpride

CONGRATULATIONS to our Junior Girls Volleyball team who defeated Gershaw for the County Championship! 🥇🏆 This also secured them a spot in Zones next weekend, held in Warner! Good luck! 🍀 #foremostschool #weareallfalcons #myprps #gofalcons #foremostschool

Halloween Costume Parade! 12:30 pm in the Big Gym Everyone welcome! #schoolcommunity #foremostschool #myprps #kindlehearts

Grades 8 & 9 members of Junior Students’ Union attended the Student Leaders Wellness Conference at Medicine Hat College on Tuesday. Here, they learned some traditional games and had breakout sessions on connecting with nature and digital awareness. This day also allowed them to have conversations about activities and events they would like to plan for this school year. Stay tuned! Fun things to come! #foremostschool #igniteminds #weareallfalcons #forgefutures #myprps #kindlehearts #schoolcommunity #wellness #studentleaders

<p>At an event on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees presented the <i>2023 Community Champion for Education</i> awards. The award recipients were nominated by both community and PRPS staff and chosen by the PRPS Board of Trustees Advocacy Committee.&nbsp;</p><p>Criteria for the award was a community member, organization, or business that has made a significant and sustained contribution to education in Prairie Rose. Submissions included a short write up about the nominee along with how they made a contribution to forwarding the school division's Education Plan which includes:</p><p><strong>IGNITE MINDS:</strong> The nominee supports a culture of learning and academic excellence through their contribution to the school community.</p><p><strong>FORGE FUTURES:</strong> The nominee cultivates curiosity, wonder and possibility in the minds of students through their contribution to the school community.</p><p><strong>KINDLE HEARTS:</strong> The nominee supports wellbeing and connection to service through the contribution to the school community.</p><p>Congratulations and thank you to this year's award winners!</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Super T Aviation</strong></td><td><p>Under the guidance of Teri Super, Les Little, Doug Little and Sheri Little, the incredible partnership between Super T Aviation and Prairie Rose Public Schools with the DR South Alberta Flight Academy (SAFA) has not only provided students with the unique opportunity to earn a private pilot license while still in high school but has also given them so much more – a community, a sense of belonging, and a tribe they can call their own.</p><p>Thanks to Super T Aviation, students have soared high in the skies and self-esteem, walking a little taller and beaming with the pride of achieving something meaningful. In a world where loneliness and isolation can be all too common, programs like the South Alberta Flight Academy are vital. They remind us that the best antidote is finding 'our people.'</p><p>Beyond just flight skills, SAFA students have learned life lessons and built lifelong friendships. It's no small feat to design a high school program, but Super T Aviation did it seamlessly, enriching the lives of our students.</p><p>Thank you, Super T, for giving our students wings and being an outstanding community partner!</p></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Nichole Neubauer</strong></td><td><p>From igniting the minds of our students with the creation of the Agricultural Discovery Center (ADC) to providing immersive agricultural programming aligned with their curriculum, Nichole's unparalleled dedication has made a monumental impact at Irvine School and Prairie Rose Public Schools.</p><p>Nichole's vision for a student-led ADC and her exceptional organizational skills and unyielding passion has given our students an invaluable hands-on learning experience. Her direct involvement – from working side-by-side with students, teaching them vital skills, to imparting straightforward curriculum concepts – embodies what it truly means to be a Community Champion.</p><p>Thank you, Nichole Neubauer, for sharing your passion, experience, leadership and knowledge with our students!&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Willie Desjardins</strong></td><td><p>Willie's commitment to empowering student-athletes, enhancing their strengths and igniting a passion for hockey through the South Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA) is inspirational. His generosity in supporting the reduction or elimination of fees for SAHA academy students who need it most and contributing to various Prairie Rose initiatives speaks volumes about his dedication to community.</p><p>Despite the challenges of bringing top-notch coaching to rural areas, Willie's many hockey connections mean that every student has an equal opportunity to shine and receive high-quality training. The positive feedback we've received about the Academy's impact on student relationships, athletic development and community service is a testament to his vision and hard work.</p><p>Willie, thank you for your leadership and vision around creating exceptional opportunities for student-athletes, no matter where they live. We couldn't be prouder to recognize you as a PRPS Community Champion!&nbsp;</p></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Paulette Heller</strong></td><td><p>Paulette Heller was a long-serving member of our Prairie Rose Board of Trustees and, despite stepping away from board duties many years ago, she continues to "Kindle Hearts" across Prairie Rose as one of our biggest advocates. You will often see Paulette volunteering and soliciting interest and donations for the annual Kaleidoscope of the Arts event, where all PRPS students can showcase their talents in the fine arts. Additionally, Paulette continues to follow and support the ever-evolving growth of our local schools and attends multiple fundraising events each year. These events provide funds to support field trips, school purchases and other student-focused opportunities.</p><p>Thank you, Paulette, for being such a strong supporter, advocate and volunteer with Prairie Rose Public Schools. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to our programs and students!&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Read the write up in the Medicine Hat News: <a href="https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2023/10/26/prps-board-honours-community-champions-for-education/">https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2023/10/26/prps-board-honours-community-champions-for-education/</a></p>

Parent Teacher Conferences for Grades 9 - 12 Book online, by phone 403-867-3843 or in person at the school. Use QR Code or link in comments #foremostschool #forgefutures #myprps

Volleyball action at Foremost School this week! Come cheer on our teams! Don't miss Girl's Senior Night on Wednesday to celebrate our graduating players on their final home volleyball game as a Foremost Falcon! 💜💛 #foremostathletics #foremostfalcons #schoolcommunity #falconpride

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 19, 2023.</i></p><p>Between the September and October meetings of the board for Prairie Rose Public Schools, two staff members received awards, including director of communications Angela Baron.</p><p>The award will be presented to her during the national conference of the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education, which takes place near the end of October.</p><p>“She (Baron) has received a BRAVO! Award for the work on revamping all the school’s logos and marketing pieces. That was a massive undertaking in a very short amount of time,” superintendent Reagan Weeks told the board at the Oct. 12 meeting.</p><p>Baron explained that each year the association puts out a call for award applications. Those who have completed communication projects that they believe could be deserving of an award are encouraged to apply.</p><p>“This year, in the summer, we did this really cool project with all the schools,” said Baron. “We rebranded all the schools. I took that project and did a write-up on all the things we did, why we did it, what were some of the results we saw with the changes. That goes to a number of judges, and they evaluate it. I got an email saying our project won and I will find out at the end of October what category of award it is.”</p><p>The project was around providing consistency in the overall brand of PRPS. Prior to undertaking this project, many of the schools were using different fonts and formats.</p><p>“Your first impression, if you are a parent, is where is the consistency when you have things going all over the place. It doesn’t set the stage with what you want to represent yourself as when you are attracting new students. Eagle Butte was the last one we got done at the end of June and it took us about 18 months to get through them all.”</p><p>PRPS contracted with the design company Flag Five, which worked with all the schools to complete the graphic design aspects of the project.</p><p>“I feel good,” stated Baron. “I haven’t submitted anything for years. It’s always so busy and it’s work to make a submission. You have to outline the criteria and show how you evaluated it. There are lots of pieces of evaluation, so it’s not something you do lightly.”</p><p>Jocelyn Encinas, a teacher at Ralston school, is the second award winner within PRPS. She is one of the 2023 recipients of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Only 50 teachers across Canada receive this award each year. Look for an interview with Encinas in an upcoming edition of the News.</p>

The 3rd Annual Pumpkin Smash Junior Girls Volleyball Tournament was a big hit! Congratulations to our Falcons on their 2nd place finish. Teams participated in a pumpkin decorating contest and then got to smash their pumpkins! So fun! Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen! 🎃🏐 #foremostschool #weareallfalcons #myprps #foremostathletics #foremostfalcons

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 18, 2023.</i></p><p>On Monday, rural power provider EQUS CEO Andy Metzger, along with staff members, gathered at the EQUS Medicine Hat facility to present a $25,000 cheque to the Agriculture Discovery Centre at Irvine School. The cheque was received by Irvine principal Trent Rayner, vice principal Kerry Watson and ADC co-ordinator Nichole Neubauer.</p><p>The funds were raised over the past year as part of EQUS Community Connection, an employee-driven initiative that raises funds in support of the rural communities EQUS serves.</p><p>The ADC will use the funding to develop a set of agri-food toolkits. The aim of the kits is to bring a hands-on agriculture learning experience, such as the one ADC students receive, into schools and rural communities across the province that are served by EQUS.</p><p>“The Agri-Food Toolkits will be curriculum-linked and filled to the brim with hands-on materials and interactive activities that will get students excited about the amazing Canadian Food System,” said Neubauer. “The toolkits will form the ADC’s agriculture resource lending library. Educators will be able to borrow and then return the toolkits at no charge.</p><p>“We are thrilled to partner with EQUS to help bring agriculture into classrooms in communities throughout Alberta.”</p>

<p><i>Medicine Hat News - BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER ON OCTOBER 17, 2023.</i></p><p>Prairie Rose Public Schools’ Badlands Baseball Academy has been running for about a dozen years and continues to attract players from across the country. This year’s team is comprised of five players in Grade 10, six in Grade 11 and eight in Grade 12, arriving at the academy from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.</p><p>From September through to the middle of October, the team plays about 35 games before spending the winter practising five days a week at an indoor facility in Oyen. In the spring they are back outside and normally play between 45 and 55 games to conclude the year. The team travels around Alberta and B.C. and play multiple tournaments in the U.S. each year.</p><p>Head coach Nolan Rattai moved over to Badlands Baseball after previously managing the Medicine Hat Mavericks.</p><p>“The aim (at Badlands) is to prepare them to be able to go succeed in college down south,” stated Rattai. He added that nearly all players from the academy manage to secure scholarships in the States.</p><p>Badlands Baseball Academy employs a full-time massage therapist and works with a strength trainer and nutritionist. Players choose to come to the academy because there is “better competition, better coaching, more resources,” said Rattai. “Just a better environment to prepare yourself for college and play better teams.”</p><p>All players on the team attend South Central High School in Oyen. The players’ final block of each school day is scheduled for baseball.</p><p>“In season we go six times a week and in the off season, five times a week,” said Rattai. “It’s at least two hours each time we go. In season, you’re looking at least 15 hours a week, and out of season, 10-12 hours.”</p><p>There are several ways for players to find their way to Oyen. Both Rattai and pitching coach Zach Zinc travel the country each year watching baseball, and if they see a player they like, they will approach them to discuss coming to Badlands. Other players interested in the academy will send in a video and if Rattai likes what he sees, he will go watch them play. Alternatively, a player can also travel to Oyen for a tryout.</p><p>Dryden Pidlisny is in Grade 12 and this is his third year with Badlands. He is originally from Burstall, Sask. and has played ball since a young age.</p><p>“I was looking for somewhere to play more baseball all year and I found out about Oyen,” Pidlisny said.</p><p>During his time at the academy, Pidlisny says his game has immensely improved. He plays second base and explained, “It gets lots of action on the diamond and you have to pay attention to lots of different things.”</p><p>Pidlisny doesn’t have any concrete post-secondary ambitions yet, but definitely has his eyes on playing ball at a college down south.</p>

Senior High Volleyball Action this week in the Falcon's Nest starting tonight! Come cheer them on, booth is open! 🏐 #foremostschool #weareallfalcons #myprps #gofalcons

Hot lunch this Wednesday! Thank you Kindergarten parents for hosting this month! #hotlunch #schoolcommunity #foremostschool

PICTURE DAY THIS MONDAY!! October 16 Bring your best smiles!

Junior Girls Pumpkin Smash Volleyball Tournament! Friday, October 13 & Saturday, October 14 Falcons Game Times: Friday 4:00 pm & 7:00 pm Saturday 11:00 am & 2:00 pm Championship Games to follow! Stay after the 2:00 pm game Saturday to judge the Team Pumpkin Decorating Contest and watch the Smashing of the Pumpkins! Concession open all weekend! #foremostathletics #foremostfalcons #schoolcommunity #falconpride #weareallfalcons