Literacy Growth Displayed at Exhibitions of Learning

Superintendent Reagan Weeks Impressed by Literacy Growth Displayed at Exhibitions of Learning Across Division.

By Samantha Johnson
Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Solidifying the Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) strategic plan with intentional practice has been one of the primary goals for the executive team this year. Last year was about implementation and refining the plan and next year, the third and final year for the current strategic plan, will be when the finishing touches are added, and everything is taken across the finish line.

Superintendent of Prairie Rose Public Schools Reagan Weeks talking to a student who has been reading to her. SUBMITTED PHOTO

“One of the things I’m particularly proud of is the work our primary teaches have done around structured literacy and focusing on developing mastery with our students in the various components of reading. That work is always ongoing for teachers but launched last year with the division-wide approach using UFLI, a structured literacy program to improve reading,” stated Weeks.

Since UFLI was implemented, steady gains and growth in reading have been shown by students across the division. Weeks discussed the importance of the work for young students at the age where automaticity develops. Automaticity allows students, as they get older, to take on more complex dynamic work because the cognitive load shifts from sounding out letters, or even letter formation with printing, to more complex ideas and thoughts.

“Prairie Rose has historically had phenomenal teaching staff who really dig in to do this work and this hasn’t been an exception. Probably one of the most fulfilling days this year was attending the Exhibition of Learning at Schuler School where I was able to move throughout the grades and each one had a focus around literacy,” explained Weeks. “I was with some Kindergarten and Grade 1 students who explained to me details about diphthongs and how they were mastering that work to help them read. I couldn’t believe the level of skill and fluency they were demonstrating at such a young age. As someone who taught primary for a long time, I was very impressed.”

To supplement UFLI, PRPS introduced Writing Revolution and evidence, primarily displayed at Exhibitions of Learning, of growth in writing is evident through that focus. “Many enthusiastic teachers tackled that approach, helping us come out of that time during the pandemic where the gaps were really evident. This group of phenomenal teachers and educational assistants are closing that gap quickly and doing excellent work in this area,” said Weeks.

Another exciting event for PRPS is the addition of international students into schools and programming. This year, 31 individuals from various countries joined the division, bringing an opportunity for students and staff to learn about and interact with other cultures. “We look forward to that program continuing to thrive next year,” said Weeks. “I think we will continue to enrich the program and look for ways to really learn from those visiting cultures.”

As inflation has escalated, transportation has become a challenge for PRPS. The division was faced with cost increases exceeding 50%, which would have made it financially difficult to maintain current staffing levels and keep the budget balanced. “Immeasurable amounts of creativity and hard work, including collaboration with various government entities, ensued and we were fortunate to receive the support we needed to begin operating a fleet in our most rural routes,” explained Weeks. “We learned throughout the process that many rural divisions in the province internally operate transportation because they found some savings from that approach. The financial projections indicate we will be able to follow suit.”

Operating a fleet of buses for the most rural routes in PRPS will allow the division to sustain current staffing levels. “The most important thing for us as a division is ensuring we have the people because that is the difference maker in Prairie Rose, the people who work here and we certainly didn’t want to lose any of them,” stated Weeks.

Some compromises within transportation were required for the division to find additional savings. The acquisition of buses for 39 of the 81 PRPS routes will result in projected savings of just under $700,000. This year there were 87 routes and those additional route adjustments allowed the division to reach the $1.1 million savings required. “We have consulted, or are scheduled to consult with, all the regions we serve and collaborate with them on how to optimally serve that area,” said Weeks. “They often know the roads, the maintenance of them and where the pickup spots are better than us. Through that collaboration we found as many efficiencies as we could. It is our hope we will be able to add some routes back as our costs stabilize.”

For school-based staff to do their best work, they require a supportive, engaged, and intentional administrative team at the school. In turn, the admin team performs optimally when they have a supportive, engaged and intentional executive team at the division office. Additionally, an engaged, intentional and supportive Board of Trustees will provide the foundation required for the executive team to effectively meet division goals. “We are fortunate in PRPS to have that line well established,” concluded Weeks. “It allows us to do some really creative things and find solutions that are innovative even when they also come with a bit of risk, which is only possible when you have high levels of trust.”