Prairie Rose Possibilities - The Podcast

Seven Persons is one of our K-9 schools and it has 275 students. The Academy of Fine Arts serves students from grades 4 to 6 and specializes in Music, Drama and Visual Art. Academy teachers Mrs. Molin and Mrs. Drew share their experiences and future plans for the academy, emphasizing the ongoing passion for the arts among students.As this program finishes up its third year, registration for next year confirms that students return year after year, showing sustained interest in the arts.This episode focuses on the unique teaching approaches, collaboration among teachers, and the impact of the program on student confidence and skills. The discussion highlights the importance of community connections, and the development of employability skills through the arts. 

In this episode of the Prairie Rose Possibilities podcast, Kirby Stensrud, the principal of Jenner, School, talks about the innovative options available to Junior High students at this K-9 school with only 30 students. Kirby shares highlights from the past year, including partnerships with local professionals to offer hands-on learning in trades, arts, and technology. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community support in education, especially in small rural schools, and the development of future-ready skills for students. A highlight includes students being able to create and prepare menus that were served at a new restaurant in Medicine Hat.

Join us for an update on the Timeless Tales project, an intergenerational storytelling initiative that pairs grade nine and ten students with seniors in care facilities. Led by Kelli-Ann Nixdorf, the project utilizes a creative engagement method around intriguing photographs, allowing students to interview seniors and publish their stories. This project takes places in several of our Prairie Rose communities: Foremost, Oyen, Bow Island and Dunmore. The discussion highlights the project's impact on students' skills, including public speaking, writing, empathy, digital organization and creativity, as well as the positive feedback from participants.

In this episode we meet Principal Scott Raible, the new principal of Burdett School ... and his 🐓chickens! The project aims to engage the K-9 students, who come from a low German Mennonite background, in hands-on learning experiences. Having 🐓 chickens on site is proving to build responsibility, leadership, and curriculum connections. The conversation also explores future plans for expanding the animal program to include 🐝 bees and possibly 🐐 goats, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and real-world skills in education.

In this conversation, Kirsten McCurdy, a makerspace teacher at Warren Peers School, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of teaching Makerspace in a small, multi-grade environment. She shares insights on project-based learning, the importance of teaching organization and cleanup skills, and how Makerspace activities build problem-solving abilities and perseverance among students. Warren Peers School is a K-9 School located near the Alberta -Saskatchewan border in the village of Acadia Valley. With 45 students, it is a triple-graded environment.Listen to previous WPS Makerspace updates at episodes ⁠1.13 and  2.01⁠ and ⁠3.04 and 4.01 and 5.11