Prairie Rose Possibilities - The Podcast

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.

In this episode of Prairie Rose Possibilities, we talk with school principal Jason Duchscherer about the innovative Learning from the Land project at Ralston School. Ralston is a unique JK-9 school with close to 50 % of the students coming from British military families who work at the nearby British Army Training Unit.

The conversation explores the integration of agricultural education, community engagement, and cultural traditions, particularly focusing on the involvement of British military families and their opportunities for Canadian prairie experiences. Jason shares exciting future plans for expanding the project to include a working farm, complete with cows, sheep and chickens, and emphasizes the importance of developing employability skills through hands-on agricultural experiences.

In this episode of Prairie Rose Possibilities, host Cammie Kannekens interviews Jamie Didychuk, a junior high math teacher and archery coach at Warren Peers School. They discuss the growth and impact of the school's archery program, which has been running for over a decade and has become increasingly competitive. Jamie shares insights on the confidence and skills developed in students through archery, the support from the community, and the program's achievements at national competitions. They also explore future aspirations for the program and its expansion into other schools.

Listen in as we check in with Wade Carrier, one of the Ralston teachers involved in Ralston School’s Learning from the Land project. Students are learning about plants - from a brand new greenhouse to a community garden to field trips to unique Southern Alberta locations. 

So much to learn for the Ralston students - most are new to the Prairies!

Teacher leader and coach,  Jaime Didychuk from Warren Peers School in Acadia Valley, tells about taking students to Archery Nationals for the first time and about how the skills necessary for competition also grow student archers in so many other ways.

Principal Jason Duchscherer updates us on projects and skills for students as part of the Quad-School project around Agriculture in the northern part of our district. Schools are located in and around Oyen, Alberta: Oyen Public School, South Central High School, and Warren Peers School from Acadia Valley and New Brigden School

 Listen in as Foremost principal Corey Steeves outlines successes, iterations and how the soon-to-arrive greenhouse kit will bring growth to the  Foremost FARM (Foremost Agriculture Resource Model) project. 

We catch up with Warren Peers School Maker Space teacher leader Kirsten McCurdy. We talk about how the maker mindset is impacting learning in other subjects and the quest to find meaningful projects.

Warren Peers is a district leader for participation in the Alberta Skills Challenge opportunities and Kirsten explains how other schools can get involved.

Teacher-leader Lynnette Copeland tells how the Outdoor Leadership program in Junior High at Seven Persons School has evolved over the seasons.  She explains how leadership skills gained in this course benefit the school community as students show informal leadership and take on leadership roles within the school and beyond into the community. 

Learn more about REIN - Rodeo and Equine in the North - one of our multi-school Prairie Rose Possibilities in the North with students from Warren Peers School, Oyen Public and South Central High School.

Third-year student Cade Wilson updates us on the variety of skills that students and their horses have learned over 3 years in the program.

Seven Persons is one of our larger K-9 schools in Prairie Rose Public School

Listen in as teachers in the Seven Persons Academy of the Fine Arts update us on this opportunity for grade 4-6 students to take a deep dive and explore the Visual and Performing Arts. Teachers Mrs. Drew (Drama) and Mrs. Molin (Music) review some of the great performance opportunities students have had this year, and how they have grown in their confidence and skill as performers.

Principal Scott Angle provides an update on the multiple growing spaces at both Bow Island Schools - Senator Gershaw and Bow Island Elementary. We discuss how to keep projects alive when the “champion” moves on.

Join principal Simon Moreton as we discuss how the PMAS (Prairie Mennonite Alternative School) Prairie Rose Possibility Project brings new cultural, trades and educational experiences to students from low-German-speaking Mennonite families.

Located near the Alberta -Saskatchewan border, Irvine is our K- to grade 9 Prairie Rose school with a farm on the edge of the playground. Listen in as the project co-ordinator Nichole Neubauer updates us on all of the exciting aspects of this farm. In the spring and summer, this site is alive with livestock, buzzing with bees, and growing all sorts of fruits and vegetables in the garden and greenhouse. During the fall and winter, students participate in agriculture industry option courses that occur at places like the John Deere dealership or the local feedlot. And beyond that, the ADC is involved in creating agriculture-based learning activities for students in near-by Medicine Hat and beyond to Southern Alberta.

Jenner School is located an hour north-west of Medicine Hat and is one of our smallest schools with 28 students from K-9.

Principal Kirby Stensrud gives an update about how the Prairie Rose Possibilities project benefits her Junior High students - all 6 of them- and tells us about the project that will be the ultimate community contribution and collaboration for 2024.

South Central High School Biology expert Sarah Hagens tells us about the popular "Know & Grow" option which is seeding important horticulture skills for students as part of the Quad-School project around Agriculture in the northern part of our district.

Agriculture in the North is a project that encourages collaboration in agricultural endeavours between our four north schools: Oyen Public School, South Central High School, Warren Peers School and New Brigden School.

Our ADC farm champion and spokesperson Nichole Neubauer tells us about exciting community partnerships and opportunities for students to build skills in leadership, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. The huge new vermicomposting system is now up and running and Nichole tells us how students from K-9 are able to contribute to this project.

Located along the Trans Canada highway, Irvine is a K-9 school with 325 students.

We chat with principal Kirby Stensrud as she updates us on the exciting options and trades courses that Junior High students are able to experience. Jenner School is a rural Alberta K-9 school with fewer than 30 students; their Prairie Rose Possibility includes providing diverse learning opportunities for “electives”.

The Senator Gersahw Greenhouse is one of our longest-running Prairie Rose Possibility projects. Spread between two neighbouring schools in Bow Island, Principal Scott Angle outlines many of the growing opportunities in the past and new pilot project opportunities into the future. 

Seven Persons School is offering a somewhat different version of Outdoor learning this year with an increased focus on Leadership for these grade 7 and 8 students. Listen in as lead teacher Lynnette Copeland gives us some of the highlights of their year - from camping to community gardens.

Located about 20 minutes west of Medicine Hat on Highway #3, Seven Persons is a K-9 school with about 260 students.

REIN (Rodeo & Equine in the North) has students from 4 Prairie Rose Schools: Warren Peers School, Oyen Public School, South Central High School and New Brigden School

Listen in as we check in with, Jocelyn Encinas, one of the Ralston teachers involved in Ralston School’s Learning from the Land project as she tells about all sorts of ways that Learning from the Land fits into curriculums and makes for memorable field trips.

Ralston is a K-9 School with 85 students. Most students are visiting Alberta and Canada for a few years as their parents serve at Canadian Forces Base Suffield or British Army Training Unit Suffield.

Is there a greenhouse on the way? Listen in as Foremost principal Corey Steeves outlines successes, iterations and future goals of the Foremost FARM (Foremost Agriculture Resource Model) project. 

Join principal Simon Moreton as we discuss how the PMAS (Prairie Mennonite Alternative School) Prairie Rose Possibility Project brings new cultural, trades and educational experiences to students from low-German-speaking Mennonite families. As a result of these opportunities, higher percentages of students are continuing on to high school.

Teacher leader and coach,  Jaime Didychuk, talks about archery as a growing sport, especially in Alberta schools with small populations. Listen in as she tells us how archery is growing in Southern Alberta and how students are fine-tuning their skills in this life-long activity.

Listen in as teachers in the Seven Persons Academy of the Fine Arts update us on this opportunity for grade 4-6 students to take a deep dive and explore the Visual and Performing Arts. Teachers Mrs. Drew (Drama) and Mrs. Molin (Music) review some of the great performance opportunities students have had this year, and how they have grown in their confidence and skill as performers.

Season 4 of Prairie Rose Possibilities starts with Warren Peers School Maker Space teacher leader Kirsten McCurdy. We talk about some of the achievements in the Maker Space realm this school year and how the maker mindset is impacting learning in other subjects.

Principal Scott Angle provides an update on the multiple growing spaces at both Bow Island Schools - Senator Gershaw and Bow Island Elementary -including the SGS Greenhouse which the envy of other “growing” programs!

Salsa. Watermelon. Hydroponics.

Listen in as Foremost principal Corey Steeves outlines successes, iterations and future goals of the Foremost FARM (Foremost Agriculture Resource Model) project. Foremost is our only K-12 school in Prairie Rose School District and is the furthest south geographically in our vast school district.

Teacher leader and coach,  Jaime Didychuk, talks about archery as a growing sport, especially in Alberta schools with small populations. Listen in as she tells us how archery is growing in Southern Alberta. 

Learn more about REIN - Rodeo and Equine in the North from school principal and rodeo alumni Lora Fletcher-Wilson as she updates us on one of three Prairie Rose Possibilities projects that involve horses.

This Prairie Rose Possibilities Project operates in conjunction with four schools: Warren Peers School from Acadia Valley,AB;  Oyen Public School and South Central High School from Oyen, AB; and New Brigden School.

Learn from project lead Nichole Neubauer about how the Irvine Agriculture Discovery Center is using the cold winter months to expand programming around agricultural career opportunities, farm safety, community connections and more accessible curriculum connections.

Irvine School is a K-9 school with approximately 360 students. Is is located just minutes from the Saskatchewan border along the Trans Canada Highway. 

Listen in as Foremost teacher and Rodeo Academy facilitator Michelle Cowie tells about the genesis of the Rodeo Academy and some of the exciting big next steps as it shifts from Club to Academy.

Foremost is the only K-12 school in Prairie Rose and has approximately 150 students.

Drones. Worms, Chicks. Greenhouses. Careers…

Listen in as principal Jason Duchscherer fills us in on exciting developments with the Quad-School project around Agriculture in the northern part of our district..

Schools that contribute to this project include Oyen Public School and South Central High School; New Brigden School; and Warren Peers School in Acadia Valley.

Program Lead, Linda Kraft, from Irvine School’s Equine Interaction program gives an update on a significant shift that has happened in the project for this school year.

Irvine School is a K-9 School located in a town along the Trans Canada Highway - about 15 minutes from the Saskatchewan border 

Listen in as we check in with, Lisa Dixon, one of the Ralston teachers involved in Ralston School’s Learning from the Land project as she tells about specific cross-curricular learning opportunities that she is connecting to Science “wetlands curriculum”... in the middle of the prairies!

Ralston School is a K-9 school located just off the Trans Canada Highway about 45 kilometres west of Medicine Hat. The majority of the students at this school are from military families who serve at the British Army Training base nearby.

We chat with Warren Peers School Maker Space teacher leader Kirsten McCurdy and discuss the importance of cultivating cognitive flexibility, as shown in the 4 goals of this Makerspace: flexibility, persistence, communication & craftsmanship. Lots of updates about how this program has grown since last year.

Warren Peers is a K-9 school located in Acadia Valley, Alberta with approximately 45 students in triple-graded classes.

Listen in as teachers in the Seven Persons Academy of the Fine Arts update us on this opportunity for grade 4-6 students to take a deep dive and explore the Visual and Performing Arts.  

Seven Persons is a K-9 School located in Southern Alberta along Highway #3. 

Join principal Simon Moreton as we discuss how the PMAS Prairie Rose Possibility Project brings new cultural, trades and educational experiences to students from low-German-speaking Mennonite families.

Prairie Mennonite Alternative School is the only Prairie Rose School located within Medicine Hat City Limits; its population is made up of students from low-German-speaking Mennonite families, many who are new to Canada.

We’re excited to kick off Season 3 by talking to principal Kirby Stensrud as she updates us on the exciting options and trade courses that Junior High students are able to experience. 

Jenner School is a rural Alberta K-9 school with fewer than 30 students; their Prairie Rose Possibility includes providing diverse learning opportunities for “electives”.