Superintendent's Memo
With the first month of school behind us and students actively engaged in learning, the countdown to our second annual BTPS Student Day to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is one day away! For those of you who are new to BTPS, the day enables students to access speakers, sessions, resources and workshops to learn about residential schools, Indigenous peoples, and how we all need to be part of reconciliation.
I encourage you to grow your understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing by engaging with the College of Alberta School Superintendent’s (CASS) newly updated “Guide to Relationships and Learning with the Indigenous Peoples of Alberta,” and Alberta’s “Empowering the Spirit: Orange Shirt Day and Beyond.”
CASS’ interactive guide is organized into eight sections and focuses on relationships, identity, teachings, language, learning from the land, treaties and agreements, laws and policies, and reconciliation. After reading an introduction and learning from Elder videos, visitors can interact with a wide number of resources curated from Indigenous collections across Alberta and Canada. Alberta’s Empowering the Spirit site was specifically designed for the September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation offering information on upcoming events, programming supports for schools, professional learning playlists, and teacher tools. It also offers sections on foundational knowledge, leading for learning, and classroom supports.
A highlight for me this month was learning alongside our administrative assistants. We had 38 people in the room for learning, laughs and networking a couple weeks ago.
I want to congratulate the new Chair of our Board, Kara Jackson and our new Vice Chair, Barry Livingston. The BTPS Board welcomed our newest trustee, Arthur Block from the Kitscoty/Paradise Valley area at their September 21st meeting.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t extend a huge thank you to our staff for organizing such wonderful back-to-school activities. Between all the back-to-school messages, pancake breakfasts, muffin mornings and extra-curricular activities, our staff has ensured that BTPS students and families are welcomed, supported, and will continue to thrive in our learning environments!
I hope you all enjoy the long weekend. We come back on October 3rd, to a four day week with our Support Staff conference and School Based Professional Learning Day on October 7th!
I hope that Thanksgiving is filled with joy, happiness, and all the things that you are grateful for. I am thankful to have such an amazing staff in BTPS who focus on the success of all students. Happy Thanksgiving.
Take care,
Rhae-Ann
#btpstogether
BTPS Pink Shirt Day Official Shirts for 2023
Orders can be placed online at www.12thirtyfour.ca/campaigns - Pink Shirt Day. All T-Shirts are $20.00. Payment options are Credit Card or E-Transfer. Youth and Adult Sizing available!
All orders will be sent to 12 Thirty Four Marketing in Wainwright, AB. The shirts will then be sent to the necessary school via the van run. BTPS family orders will then be sent home via students. Community members who order will need to make arrangements to pick up their orders at 12 Thirty Four Marketing in Wainwright.
In the Order Notes section, please make sure to indicate your school.
PINK SHIRT DAY 2023 is Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Buffalo Trail Public Schools
