Learning Services

Empirical research over the last three decades has consistently indicated that the single most important environmental factor affecting student learning is the quality of teaching received, followed closely by the quality of instructional leadership in schools and across school systems. In line with these findings, the Peace River School Division has developed a strong focus on ensuring the delivery of quality educational services in the core foundational areas of literacy and numeracy as essential to fostering students' overall academic development across grade levels and curricular areas. The division has chosen the Collaborative Response philosophy and framework as the vehicle through which schools continue their efforts to create differentiated and inclusionary programs and services to help ensure academic success for all students.

Literacy

Alberta Education (2016) defines literacy as "the ability, confidence, and willingness to engage with language to acquire, construct, and communicate meaning in all aspects of daily living". In Peace River School Division, we know that literacy is much more than just reading and writing. We provide opportunities for students to build the skills necessary to make sense of the world around them by effectively responding to their literacy needs, with research-based and evidence-supported "best practices" in literacy instruction.

PRSD Literacy Framework

Alberta Education - Literacy

Numeracy

According to Alberta Education (2016), numeracy involves an ability, confidence, and willingness to engage with two main types of information: quantitative (that which can be measured and expressed as an amount), and spatial (describing the physical location and relationship between objects).

Numeracy instruction in the Peace River School Division places an emphasis on building conceptual understanding; more than memorization, quality numeracy education assists students in understanding how and why mathematical procedures work, as well as how to apply them in making informed decisions in daily life.

PRSD Numeracy Framework

Alberta Education - Numeracy

Indigenous Education

In addition to our divisional Indigenous Education program coordinator, each of our schools has a designated Indigenous Education lead who helps further our divisional priorities in Indigenous Education. At Peace River School Division, we are committed to:

Working Together

We build relationships. We connect with students, staff and teachers within our schools. We connect with other schools and we connect with our wider community.

Connecting with Culture

We connect students and staff with the history, culture and perspectives of (especially local) Indigenous people in a culturally appropriate way that honours protocol and inspires pride in our Indigenous students.

Increasing Engagement

We increase student and community engagement in our school system by demonstrating that school is now a safe place that provides all students with an education that will lead to increased opportunities without sacrificing culture. Our success will be measured by the increased attendance and academic achievement of our Indigenous students.

Celebrating Together

We support division-wide events that celebrate culture, further reconciliation and/or foster academic achievement. By showing how much we value Indigenous culture, we hope our Indigenous students will be inspired to self-declare.

Elder's Message

"Many people should bring their wisdom to the schools to help their children be successful with their learning."

- Helen Piper, Cree Elder

More Information on Indigenous Education

Kindergarten

Kindergarten in Peace River School Division (PRSD) schools is research and play-based, delivered by kind, caring, and highly qualified staff. Your child will interact, imagine, experiment, and explore to add to their knowledge, learn new skills and practice what they’ve learned. Every child is unique and we ensure that students are provided with specialized and targeted programming and supports to meet their individual needs.

We believe that it takes a community to raise a child, and in our schools, we take a team and family approach to teaching and learning. The involvement of, and communication with our families is very important to the success of a child. In PRSD schools, there are many ways for parents to be involved and for the school and families to interact.

More information on Kindergarten