Wolf Creek School Division Update - March 19th, 2025

PONOKA COUNTY -- The Wolf Creek School Division has released information relating to ongoing operational updates, their recent Board of Trustees meeting, and the status of ongoing facility upgrades at a number of local schools.

Ongoing Facility Upgrades:

The Division says the design stage for the boiler replacement at Rimbey High is now complete. In addition, design work has now been finished at Ponoka Elementary for the currently planned AC addition. Vape detectors have been installed in four washrooms at Lacombe Composite High School, while the replacement of the stage floor at Lacombe Upper Elementary has also now been completed. The Division says they're currently drafting modernization ideas for the office at Rimbey Elementary. Elsewhere the WCSD says their boiler replacement project at Clive Elementary is now in its final stages.

Deeper Implementation of New Curriculum:

At the recent Board of Trustees meeting, the Board received a report on continued curriculum support for teachers as they work with the new K-6 Language Arts curriculum. Based on teacher feedback, Education Services Coordinator Kaylene Reddekopp is leading a process this spring to help educators better understand grade-to-grade alignment and key student learning outcomes. Teachers will collaborate to develop guiding documents to support instruction. The Division says this approach will be reviewed and expanded to other curriculum areas in the future.

2025-2029 Education Plan:

The Wolf Creek School Division has laid the ground work for its 2025-2029 Education Plan. According to the Division, the draft plan will be shaped in conjunction with feedback from the recent Stakeholders' Summit. Other data to be considered will include PAT and diploma results, provincial surveys, and the WCSD's April 2025 survey. Once the funding manual is received, a draft will then be presented to the Board of Trustees in alignment with the budget process. It's mandated that the finalized education plan must be submitted by May 31st to Alberta Education.

New School Resource Officer for Ponoka:

The Board has received a report on the new School Resource Officer (SRO) for Ponoka schools. Constable Allison Enright from the Ponoka RCMP has joined as the full-time SRO and has already begun connecting with students and staff at all three Ponoka schools: Ponoka Elementary School, Ponoka Secondary Campus, and the BRICK Learning Centre. With her addition, the SRO program is now fully staffed.