Good News
The Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD)'s Good News is a collection of stories from schools throughout the division. Stories are published monthly, before the upcoming Board meeting. Please check back regularly for updates.
PWPSD News
JANUARY
PWPSD announces new Superintendent of Schools
During the January 16 Board meeting, trustees congratulated Mr. Shawn O'Shea on being named the Division's newest Superintendent of Schools, effective September 1, 2025.
PWPSD News
DECEMBER
Evelyn-Lou Wardley named PWPSD's 2024 Christmas Card Art Contest Winner
The PWPSD Board of Trustees would like to congratulate Evelyn-Lou Wardley, Grade 7 student at Harry Balfour School, for winning the 2024 PWPSD Christmas Card Art Contest! Evelyn-Lou has won herself a prize pack and a pizza party for her class.
NOVEMBER
PWPSD Teacher Bursary Program opens Dec. 2
The annual PWPSD Teacher Bursary Program opens next week! For more information, and to apply, click here.
OCTOBER
Harry Balfour School is officially open
On Friday, September 27, students, staff and the greater community gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new Harry Balfour School. The celebration, hosted by Grade 8 students Sanay Friesen and Kacey Hrehoruk, was a big success and a great way to begin Harry Balfour School's next chapter. PWPSD Superintendent Bob Stewart expressed his immense gratitiude to everyone involved in ensuring the new school was open and ready for the start of the school year, and encouraged students to become active members of what makes Harry Balfour School a great place to learn, play and grow.
Left to right: Trustees Piebiak, Kelm, McIntosh and Turner, Secretary Treasurer Ralph Paquin, and Assistant Superintendent Shawn O'Shea pose with Harry Balfour School's newest mascot.
SEPTEMBER
Welcome back!
Alternative Education
JANUARY
PWEC students enjoy PE Day
PWEC students have been making good use of the old Harry Balfour School gym! Students and staff are enjoying the newly available space, and spent a day playing badminton and volleyball.
Saying Goodbye to 2024
Spencer Wilson-McCullough and Heather Dunsworth sported their holiday sweaters during PWEC's Say Goodbye to 2024 celebration.
DECEMBER
PWEC spreads holiday joy
PWEC teachers Bradi Baker-Bowen and Melanie Golding
Students and staff have spent time spreading joy this holiday season by volunteering at the local toy drive.
Students tour Prairie Mall
Madison Mosenko and Peter London visit Perry the Polar Bear
PWEC students explored Prairie Mall in Grande Prairie, gaining insight into what job opportunities exist.
Peace Region Tourism
PWEC students Liara Cundy and Shay Davidsen visit Centre 2000 while participating in a tourism workshop.
NOVEMBER
Nature and Wellness
Brandon Mosenko enjoys his time outside.
PWEC students explored the benefits of relationships between plants, animals, and the environment as applied to the health and wellness of people.
Planning for the future
Allasten and Kailey Birkett visit the Philip J. Currie Museum
Students performed introductory investigations of employment opportunities in tourism at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in Wembley.
PWEC students welcomed a guest from Northwestern Polytechnic who spoke about the programs the post-secondary institute offers, including certificates, degrees, and trades training.
OCTOBER
Virtual Equine Academy
As part of PWEC's Virtual Equine Academy, student Sonya Salopree has been competing in barrel racing. The virtual program offers students the opportunity to earn high school credits while working on improving their horsemanship.
Body and Mind
PWEC students enjoyed the beautiful fall weather as they participated in a day-long Body and Mind workshop with Assistant Principal Rob Robinson and Guidance Counsellor Bradi Baker-Brown.
SEPTEMBER
Congratulations to the Grad Class of 2024!
Staff at Peace Wapiti Enterprise Centre were honoured to celebrate PWEC's 2024 grad class. Congratulations to all 23 students who completed their graduation pathway last school year!
PWEC students kick off PE 10
Assistant Principal Rob Robinson is joined by a group of students as they start the new school year enjoying some physical activity outside.
Beaverlodge Elementary School
JANUARY
BES receives community support
TC Energy continues to support and donate funds to the Beaverlodge Elementary School STEM project, offering students in Grades 4-6 a unique hands-on learning opportunity!
Thanks to Canadian Natural Resources Limited, students have been enjoying two new interactive TVs!
Leadership students spread holiday cheer
In December, the BES Grade 6 Leadership students handed out holiday cards to spread cheer throughout Beaverlodge.
Tri Trapper Days return to BES
Before the holiday season, BES students and staff gathered for the first Tri Trapper event of the year. Beaverlodge's South Peace Centennial Museum donated their time to cook and serve a wonderful lunch to students and staff, before the students participated in a round of Jeopardy within their teams.
OCTOBER
BES gets new Gaga Ball ring
Thanks to NuVista Energy Ltd. and the Riendeau/Jones crew, BES students have a new Gaga Ball ring to enjoy!
Students attend Miwaskin Connections Hide-Making Camp
The Grade 6 students had the opportunity to attend Miwaskin Connections Hide-Making Camp, where they gained hands-on experience with different stages of preparing a hide. Thank you Monique Hommy, the Elders and Helpers, and PWPSD Indigenous Education Services for providing such a wonderful experience to our students.
SEPTEMBER
BES participates in Beaverlodge Heritage Parade
The 2024-2025 BES Leadership Team began their school year by participating in the Beaverlodge Heritage Parade.
Beaverlodge Regional High School
NOVEMBER
Royals volleyball teams reflect on impressive seasons
Congratulations to the boys' volleyball team on a very successful season! The team won five tournaments, including a Zone title defense, which sent the Royals to Lloydminister to represent the Northwest Zone at Provincials! Congratulations Eric Funk, Trenton Ostaszewski, Matthew Pfau, Adam Ray, Elliott Rourke, Henry Schmidt, Owen Schmidt, Spencer Taylor, Ethan Villiger, and Raeden Villiger on your bronze finish!
The girls' volleyball team showed tremendous growth this season. Despite being a very young team, the girls really stepped up at the Zones tournament and came home with silver medals! Congratulations Sadie DeSchipper, Brynn Funk, Loann McAlister, Marcella MacAulay, Brynn Martin, Shae Martin, Emily Merriam, Tayte Nordhagen, Tyller Rude, Reese Sather!
Bezanson School
JANUARY
Students donate to food bank
Bezanson's Grade 3 students worked together to collect food donations for the food bank in Clairmont. The school was challenged with collecting as many donations as possible, and the class with the most items won a pizza party! Once donations were collected, the Grade 3 students went on a field trip to the food bank, where they were shown how to sort and label all of the donations they had brought in.
Where is Santa?
In December, Bezanson School hosted a play about finding the real Santa to help save Christmas. So much hard work was put into this play, and it was very well received. The students and teachers who worked together on the play did an amazing job!
NOVEMBER
Bezanson remembers
On November 7, students, staff, families, and community members gathered at Bezanson School for its annual Remembrance Day Ceremony.
Jr. Girls wrap up successful volleyball season
The Jr. Girls' volleyball team had a very successful season, earning two gold medals and a bronze finish! The team went on to host the 1J Zones tournament, where they went undefeated and brought home the gold medal and 2024-2025 banner. Congratulations to all players on your hard work and success!
OCTOBER
Girls volleyball off to a great start
Junior Girls AB volleyball team
The Jr. Girls A Volleyball team has had a strong start to the season with two golds; earning the top spot in both their home tournament and in Sexsmith. The AB team has shown great sportsmanship and has enjoyed all the cheering from their many fans. The girls also had the opportunity to participate in a team bonding sleepover where they spent the night in the school gymnasium!
September Trailblazers
Congratulations to our first Trailblazers of the year! Each Trailblazer received an award during a special recognition assembly.
Congratulations Moira and Axel!
Congratulations Moira and Axel (pictured) for being our top Terry Fox Fundraisers! Your hard work and contribution to the Terry Fox Foundation is inspiring!
SEPTEMBER
Meet the Teachers!
Bezanson School celebrated the first full week of school with a Meet the Teachers night. Students and parents were invited to the school, and had the opportunity to meet their teachers and explore the school. School Council members even helped organize and cook a BBQ dinner for everyone to enjoy.
Freaky Friday
Bezanson School enjoyed its first Spirit Day of the year with Freaky Friday! Teachers dressed as students, and students dressed as teachers for a fun day.
Bonanza School
JANUARY
You Are Awesome!
Making the most of the chilly season, students and staff share affirming messages in the frost.
A Peter Pan Christmas
On December 19, the Bonanza School students put on an amazing show for their annual Christmas banquet and concert. They performed a play called, A Peter Pan Christmas. After the show, Santa made an appearance with candy and books to congratulate the students on their excellent performance.
Winter fun with Savanna School
On December 12, students from Bonanza and Savanna joined for an enjoyable and magical day of skating, Christmas crafts, cooking decorating, and touring the Christmas in the Valley at Theresa Akeroyd's farm. A big thank you to Savanna's Grade 10 students for helping tie skates and guide the younger students on the ice.
DECEMBER
The future is bright
This month, Bonanza School has had the pleasure of welcoming our student teacher! Sierra Evans has been an excellent addition to our learning environment.
NOVEMBER
Bonanza Spirit
Bonanza School's got spirit! Students have been proving that learning can happen in fun and different ways, including in pajamas, camo, and multiples (Twin Day)!
Science is cool!
The Grade 5 and 6 students learned about hydraulics, and built their own hydraulic models to show their new knowledge!
During their science unit, the students learned about compressibility of liquids and created and launched their own bottle rockets! The whole school got in on the fun!
OCTOBER
Little Spot
The Grade 5-6 students have spent some time learning about Little Spot with PWPSD's Mental Health Capacity Building team. Little Spot is a program that teaches students about basic and complex feelings, and how to manage their emotions. The students have been thoroughly enjoying the program.
Dreamer's Lake Run
On September 19, students in Grades 3-8 participated in the Dreamer's Lake Run. They enjoyed a fun-filled day of cross-country running and relationship building. It was a great event!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 27, Bonanza School recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by learning about our Indigenous history and culture. Students and staff wore orange to show their support, and raised $82 for Shannen's Dream through a mini fundraiser.
SEPTEMBER
Tourmaline donates to Nutrition Program
On September 17, Tourmaline Oil Corp. donated over $4,000 to the Bonanza School Healthy Foods and Nutrition Program. The donation was made possible thanks to Tourmaline's annual charity golf tournament.
Students grateful for new playground
Bonanza students have been enjoying their new playground equipment, which was installed over the summer. Students and staff would like to thank the Bonanza Bring It Society, parents, community members and Saddle Hills County for their impressive fundraising efforts and dedication to the school.
Clairmont Community School
DECEMBER
CCS celebrates the holidays with annual 12 Days of Christmas
The holiday spirit is alive and thriving at Clairmont Community School! Students and staff have kicked off their much-anticipated 12 Days of Christmas celebration. This cherished tradition brings the school community together, spreading joy, laughter, and festive cheer throughout the season.
Students, staff, and families eagerly await the creative lineup of activities designed to bring everyone into the holiday spirit. This year's festivities began with Holiday Hair or Festive Hats, followed by a delightful Elf Day, where students and staff donned their best elf-inspired attire, transforming the halls into a merry workshop straight out of the North Pole.
The excitement continues with the adventurous Snowball Search, a school-wide scavenger hunt that challenges students to find hidden snowballs throughout the school. Each discovery adds a touch of surprise and magic to the day!
The 12 Days of Christmas brings Photos with Santa, where students have the chance to meet the big guy himself. Santa's warm presence will fill the halls as he poses for pictures, and shares the holiday spirit with CCS.
From themed dress-up days to surprise treats and activities, the 12 Days of Christmas embody the Kodiak Code of Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience. These moments not only celebrate the season, but also bring the community closer together, reminding everyone of the joy in giving, sharing, and connecting as we all countdown to winter break with fun, smiles, and holiday cheer!
OCTOBER
Students spread joy with Thanksgiving performance
The Grade 1 and 2 students brought smiles and warmth to the local senior centre with a special Thanksgiving performance! The students recited heartfelt poems, sang cheerful songs, and danced with enthusiam, spreading joy to the senior residents. This meaningful visit highlighted the spirit of community and gratitude that is at the heart of the holiday. We are proud of our students for embodying the Kodiak Code values of Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience during this memorable experience!
Eaglesham School
Check back for Good News from Eaglesham School.
Elmworth School
Check back for Good News from Elmworth School.
Harry Balfour School
JANUARY
Winter Carnival
Thank you Ms. Small for organizing the first Winter Carnival at our new school! Students rotated through an entire day of indoor and outdoor winter activities, such as tobogganing, snow painting, iceless curling, and holiday-themed art projects and activities. The PWPSD Capacity Building Team joined us and ran a station, which celebrated holiday traditions, read the new Slumberkins story, made holiday cards, and included a fun photo booth.
Giving Tree Donations
Every year, students and staff at Harry Balfour School work together to collect donations of food and other items to place under the Giving Tree in our school foyer. This year, we donated items to the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre. The County of Grande Prairie Professional Firefighters were gracious enough to stop by to collect and deliver our donations.
DECEMBER
HBS inclusive playground receives community support
Harry Balfour School has received additional funding for the new barrier-free inclusive playground, which we hope to break ground on in the spring. Thank you to Peace Hills General Insurance Company, Rotary Club of Grande Prairie, and the Harry Balfour Participarent group for their generous donations. Harry Balfour staff and students cannot wait to continue spending time outside for fresh air and play; the upcoming barrier-free inclusive playground will help us all achieve this!
Local author shares her literary journey
Grade 8 students have been diligently crafting their own children's stories and, to spark their creativity, invited local author Kirsten Clark for a virtual visit. As a locally published author, Kirsten shared her journey to becoming a writer, highlighting the importance of perseverance and resilience in the path to publication. She also discussed the challenges and rewards of writing.
Students were engaged and asked thoughtful questions about her creative process, finding inspiration, and what it takes to succeed as an author. This inspiring session encouraged students to persevere in their own writing journeys and view challenges as stepping stones to succes.
HBS teachers participate in professional development
HBS teachers recently gathered for a school-based professional development day. They spent the morning with Speech Language Pathologist Carolyn Hovey-Johnson, and Peace Collaborative Services Psychologist Heather Craigdallie, who spoke about the role executive functioning plays in the learning process, and the benefits of using declarative language with students.
In the afternoon, math teachers discussed the importance of fact fluency with PWPSD's Numeracy Coordinator Rhonda Giesbrecht, while a small group of teachers participated in professional discussions about assessment. We then gathered as a staff to learn about artificial intelligence in education. HBS teachers are grateful to have the opportunity to join together for these school-based learning activities.
Spreading Christmas cheer
Grade 8 students Kacey and Sanay emcee the Christmas concert
On December 3, the HBS community came together to kick off the Christmas season during its annual Christmas concert. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 4, and the Grade 3 choir, helped spread Christmas cheer through song. Thank you to all the staff volunteers for helping make this year's event a success. HBS is grateful for all the Bengal families who were able to join in the celebration.
NOVEMBER
The turtles are back!
Thanks to the Ballad group's WERC program and donations from Windsor Plywood, beloved turtles Stinker and Dozer have a brand new turtle sanctuary! The turtles are loving their new home in our Learning Commons, and have had a lot of excited student visitors.
Remembrance Day at HBS
Harry Balfour School took time to honour and remember those who served for our country during its annual Remembrance Day Ceremony. The day included student emcees, artwork, and poems. Families were asked to share their personal stories, and we acknowledged 39 Bengal family members who served in the military. We are grateful that so many HBS families shared their stories, and we honour their family members' commitment and sacrifice.
Fall Fair & School Family Teams
At HBS, each student belongs to a multi-grade team led by a teacher. Students stay with the same team throughout their time at school. When the groups get together, they move their bodies, work on collaborative art projects, share food, and new this year, participate in a community event! During their latest gathering, students toured the school, created self-portraits, enjoyed a veggie snack, and started filling the candy locker to donate to local shelters.
OCTOBER
Halloween dance and fundraiser
Join us on Friday, October 25 for our Halloween dance and fundraiser! We invite everyone to a night of family fun with prizes, a silent auction, and a chance to win two tickets to Taylor Swift in Vancouver! All proceeds from this exciting night will go toward our new playground!
Orange Shirt Day
Throughout the month of October, Harry Balfour School recognized Orange Shirt Day. Indigenous Education teacher Ms. April Price taught students the importance of acknowledging the truth behind residential schools, and move toward reconciliation. Students completed art projects rooted in remembrance and reconciliation. HBS is grateful to have Ms. Price share her knowledge and culture!
Gamemaster Groff encourages team bonding
To keep staff connected throughout the school year, Mr. Groff organizes fun staff challenges. The most recent challenge was Pop Darts, and the finale culminated in a rooftop drop. The five staff finalists competed while students cheered them on. During this challenge, the Grade 8 students practiced their leadership skills as they mentored the Grade 4 students, and all Bengals came together to cheer each other on in this positive game setting.
Bengals volleyball wraps up
Harry Balfour was fortunate to have two girls' and two boys' volleyball teams on the court this year! The Bengals worked hard, improved their skills, and had lots of fun. Thank you to the coaches for all their hard work in making this a memorable season.
New culture classes now being offered
This year, the junior high students have the option of choosing French or culture options. Ms. Webster's Personal and Ancient Culture class spent some time carving and painting hieroglyphic cartouches!
SEPTEMBER
Welcome to the new Harry Balfour School!
Staff were excited to welcome all new and returning Bengals to their new school. On September 13, students and staff gathered for their first assembly of the year. As Ms. Clevette welcomed everyone back to school, students were surprised with their new mascot, which they will have the opportunity to name in an upcoming naming contest!
Students test out their new gym
Ms. Small and Mr. Wright have kicked off their programming in their new space. They've designed a weekly schedule to keep students and staff active throughout the school year.
Movement Monday encourages students to focus on building their muscles through a variety of training forms, learning how to move effectively to stay active for life. Students will explore cardio workouts, strength training, mobility training, balance and stability training, plyometric training, and mind-body connections.
Teamwork Tuesday will give students the opportunity to dive into teamwork and strategy games. Recently, the PE team added a twist to a favourite recess game, Octoball, incorporating a team aspect to get more students involved.
Wilderness Wednesday will see students and staff heading outside to explore alternative environments and make the most of the new school grounds.
Thursday is dedicated to building skills used in sports, such as throwing, catching, receiving, batting, and more. Each month will be focused on a different sport and teach students the necessary skills to be successful.
Fun Friday will bring engaging games to help students develop their critical thinking and sportsmanship.
Helen E. Taylor School
OCTOBER
Cupcake Wars
This month, the Grade 9 students battled it out in Foods CTF at Beaverlodge Regional High School. Pictured above: First Place Winner
Second Place Winner
Third Place Winner
Hythe Regional School
NOVEMBER
HRS wraps up another volleyball season
To wrap up a fantastic volleyball season, our B Girls team won bronze at the St. Mary tournament in Beaverlodge. Great job everyone!
Triple Ball takes over HRS
To support young athletes, HRS hosted a super-successful Grade 5 and 6 triple ball tournament. It was an excellent way to build skills and experience competition in a very supportive environment.
Boo to you!
We wrapped up Halloween with an extraordinary school-wide pumpkin contest! A big shout out to Krystal Miller for providing over 100 pumpkins and some fantastic prizes donated by local businesses.
Thank you CNRL
We are very grateful, and would like to send a big thank you, to Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) for their extremely generous donation to our Christmas lunch.
We will remember them
On November 7, HRS honoured Canadian veterans during its annual Remembrance Day Ceremony.
Jr. High Options
Our latest round of junior high options have started, and students have enjoyed working on small engines and cooking in Cree!
Movember
Movember is a great way to support men's health and show school spirit! Polo, our therapy dog, even got involved!
OCTOBER
Golf team brings home silver
Congratulations to our Boys' Golf team for winning silver at Zones! We are extremely proud of you!
Volleyball success
The Boys' A volleyball team with their silver medals at the Bezanson tournament.
The Boys' A volleyball team with their bronze medals at the Grande Prairie Composite High School tournament.
Congratulations to the Girls' B team on an impressive showing at the Composite High School tournament! They performed well on the big, competitive stage, and won consolation.
A+ for Energy
As part of our successful application to A+ for Energy and Inside Education, we recently had an array of solar panels installed at the school. Students will be researching the impact of solar power on a small scale, and applying it to bigger scenarios. We are very excited for this project, and extremely grateful to A+ for Energy, Inside Education, and Last Call Electrical for their support.
Thank you to our community supporters!
We'd like to thank PGI for their extremely generous support of our hot lunch program, and Ovintiv for helping us get our STEAM program off the ground!
We are looking forward to doing more innovative programming surrounding Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics!
HRS honours Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day was a huge success and helped build everyone's understanding of Canada's past, and the legacy of residential schools. HRS held a school-wide parade around town in honour of truth and reconciliation.
Students welcome special guests
The junior high personal learning time blocks are off to a fantastic start. Students even had the opportunity to visit with some very special guests!
Just keep swimming
Some of our elementary classes have started their swimming lessons! Students are having a wonderful time learning some life-long skills.
Fire Safety Week
During Fire Safety Week, we welcomed the County Fire Department. Firefighters spent some time with our younger students, and shared some amazing hands-on skills.
La Glace School
DECEMBER
Spreading holiday cheer
To kick off the Christmas season, teachers have decorated their classrooms, creating beautiful holiday spaces for their students. The children have enjoyed wrapping up 2024 with the festive decorations and dress-up days.
Students create Roccasins
Thank you to Lindsy Coney from the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre for visiting La Glace School to teach students the importance of connection to the land. The students loved making their own Roccasins (a rock decorated as a moccasin).
NOVEMBER
Students host Remembrance Day service
On November 7, students participated in the La Glace School's annual Remembrance Day service. A variety of poems and songs were performed to remember those who served, and still serve, our country.
A special thank you to Stephen Chatenuf for performing during the service, your musical abilities are truly remarkable!
Congratulations Reata Conrad for earning first place in the junior colour poster category of the Legion's annual Remembrance Day contest!
Métis Week at La Glace School
Rock Your Mocs was a hit! Students rocked their mocs, extra hair pieces, and bracelets for Métis Week.
Mrs. Harris, Early Childhood Instructor, and her boys show their Métis pride by sporting their Métis Cup jerseys during Métis week.
Students create political cartoons
The La Glace Public Library invited students to participate in a political cartoon learning activity, they even had the chance to draw their own!
Junior high hot lunch
Junior high hot lunch has been a hit! Each Tuesday, Courtney Kinderwater and Kristin Strand organize and cook a homemade hot meal for our junior high students. Oh my, our hallways smell delicious!
OCTOBER
Volunteer Firefighting
Students enjoyed a number of fire safety presentations hosted by the County Fire Department. They had the opportunity to dress in full gear and complete different fire challenges, all while learning about what opportunities volunteer firefighting offers.
No Matter What
Congratulations to La Glace students for raising a whooping $6200 for the Terry Fox Foundation! Raylee Meejarrd was crowned our top fundraiser, raising $1425 for the cause!
Peace Wapiti Academy
JANUARY
Students participate in NWP Open House
In December, our students had an incredible opportunity to attend the Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) Science Open House, where they discovered the exciting pathways and possibilities that await them after high school. From hands-on activities to inspiring talks, it was a day full of exploration and inspiration! Thank you to NWP for opening its doors to the future and sparking curiosity in the next generation of innovators.
Grade 9s learn about Youth Criminal Justice Act
Our Grade 9 Social Studies class had the honour of hosting Corporal Ool and Constable Black, who shared their experience on the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Students gained a deeper understanding of this important federal law, and its impact on young people in Canada. A huge thank you to Corporal Ool and Constable Black (a proud former Titan!) for bringing real-world knowledge into our classroom and sparking insightful discussions!
Job Readiness students visit Whiskers Cat Café
Ms. Vogan's Job Readiness class took a special trip to locally-owned and operated Whiskers Cat Café to enjoy some tasty treats and cozy cat snuggles before Christmas break. What better way to unwind and spread some holiday cheer than with furry friends and warm drinks?
GLSP group visits Evergreen Park
The GLSP group had an amazing time at Evergreen Park, joining other community groups for a day filled with fun! Highlights included wagon rides, crafting activities, and of course, delicious s'mores by the fire.
JV Boys Basketball attends High Prairie tournament
On December 13 and 14, the JV Boys Basketball team had an incredible experience at the High Prairie tournament. While we narrowly missed bringing home a medal, the team gained valuable skills, knowledge, and teamwork throughout the competition. Way to grow and represent, boys!
DECEMBER
Foods students test their skills
Mrs. Fehr's Foods 9 class got creative in the kitchen, pairing their French toast with the cutest banana dolphins! Delicious and adorable, great work everyone!
Mr. Kalmbach, meet Mr. Kalmbach
This month's Grade 12 Spirit Day was Dress as your Teacher. Bree absolutely nailed her look as the one and only Mr. Kalmbach! A spot-on impersonation and so much fun!
Outdoor Ed students enjoy the snow
In late November, PWA's Outdoor Education students embraced the fresh snow by learning the art of cross-country skiing. Students enjoyed the beautiful winter scenery while mastering the classic outdoor skill.
The students also spent some time in Grande Cache, enjoying the breathtaking views while tackling winter hiking trails and cross-country skiing adventures. A perfect way to explore Alberta's winter wonderland, and make the most of the season!
GLSP students get creative
GLSP students have been putting their creativity and skills to work, designing and crafting their very own sublimation water tumblers! These unique projects showcare their talent and personal interests. Great job everyone!
NOVEMBER
Students get into the Halloween spirit
Students in Foods 20/30 decorated cakes and cupcakes to celebrate Halloween!
Boys volleyball celebrate another successful season
After a strong season, the Senior Boys volleyball team headed to Lloydminster for the 3A Boys Volleyball Provincials.
Cosmetology 30
Guest artist, Sarah Jane, joined our Cosmetology 30 class to demonstrate the art of eyebrow shaping and waxing.
Using science for fashion
Simeon created his own design and put it on a shirt using a sublimation technique in Ms. Knudtson's class.
Cake anyone?
Mrs. Kendall's Foods 20 students baked and decorated their own angel food cakes!
OCTOBER
PWA raises money for Terry Fox Foundation
Mr. Bowen and Mr. Camsell motivated PWA students to fundraise for the Terry Fox Foundation with a fun challenge, promising to shave their heads in creative ways if the students reached their goal. Thanks to their enthusiasm, students raised over $1000 for the cause. At a school assembly, students had the exciting opportunity to shave the assistant principals' heads as part of the celebration!
Miwasin Connections Camp
Dr. Vavrek's Outdoor Education classes participated in the Miwasin Connections Camp, hosted by Monique Hommy, where students learned the art of hide preparation using traditional methods. In addition to this hands-on experience, students explored a variety of land-based activities, deepening their connection to the natural world.
DELF success
Congratulations to the 48 Grade 9 and 10 students who succeeded in passing their French DELF A1 exam! Additionally, 16 Grade 10 students passed the A2 exam, and one Grade 12 student passed the B1 exam. As FSL students this is a huge accomplishment, as typically only students in French Immersion are this successful.
Students prepare MYLUVPAKs
PWA Leadership students were invited by former PWA teacher, Kim Houlder, to help organize and prepare materials to pack in backpacks for MYLUVPAK. MYLUVPAK is a local non-profit that provides backpacks filled with personal belongings to children who are entering the foster care system, living on the streets, or experiencing poverty. This is a partnership the PWA Leadership group hopes to continue as it was a fun and rewarding experience.
Cross-country provincials
Congratulations to the 20 PWA athletes who qualified to participate in the cross-country provincials in Grande Prairie this past weekend!
SEPTEMBER
Bull Riding Champion
Congratulations to PWA's very own Kayden Budde for earning the provincial title of Bull Riding Champion! Kayden participated in the Alberta High School Rodeo Association's competition back in May, but just finally received his well-deserved banner.
Co-op donates to PWA's Snack Program
Thank you to the Grande Prairie Co-op for generously donating to the PWA snack program! The program provides lunch and snacks to students in need to support their learning.
Volleyball off to a strong start
Congratulations to the Junior Varsity Ladies Volleyball team for finishing third overall in the Fairview tournament. They played against a mix of senior and junior varsity teams.
Penson School
JANUARY
Shell Canada donates $20,000 to Penson School
We extend our sincere gratitude to Shell Canada for their generous support in advancing our educational initiatives. Their contribution of $20,000 will enable us to replace several Smartboards and enhance the implementation of our new Science curriculum. This investment will have a significant impact on our students' learning experiences, and we deeply appreciate Shell Canada's commitment to education.
M.D. of Greenview contributes to Penson PE program
We sincerely thank the Grovedale South Wapiti Recreation Board of the M.D. of Greenview for their generous grant in support of our school. This funding will allow us to replace existing physical education equipment and acquire new resources to further enhance our PE program. Your commitment to supporting our students' health and well-being is deeply appreciated.
Congratulations Parker!
Congratulations to Grade 8 student Parker Bodin who represented Penson School at the Northwestern Polytechnic Junior Volleyball All-Star game! Parker was one of 28 players selected from the Peace Region.
NOVEMBER
Students welcome MLA Wiebe
The Grade 6 students welcomed MLA Ron Wiebe to speak about the provincial government. They enjoyed learning about what it's like to represent the people of Grande Prairie-Wapiti in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
OCTOBER
Penson hosts annual Terry Fox Run
On September 19, Penson School held its annual Terry Fox Run. Students raised $2935 for the Terry Fox Foundation and, because of their dedication and hard work, earned an extra recess and popsicles for the whole school! Congratulations to Scarlett Simpson for being the school's top fundraiser!
Panthers cheer on GP Storm
On October 4, the Grade 5 students attended the Grande Prairie Storm game. They had an amazing time, and one of our students even won the Chuck a Duck contest!
Volleyball season coming to an end
Penson School's mixed and boys' volleyball teams have recently participated in the Phoenix and Mavericks Invitationals. Their seasons will wrap up before Halloween with a tournament in Beaverlodge this weekend, and two league games against Harry Balfour School and Helen E. Taylor School.
Ridgevalley School
JANUARY
Ridgevalley Family Fun Night a success
On December 18, Ridgevalley School hosted its Family Fun Night, and it was a whirlwind of activity! Despite the frosty weather, students, families, and community members came together to enjoy the night. We had horse and wagon rides, the arena was open for skating, and the DeBolt Fire & Rescue brought hot chocolate and hot dogs to roast over the fire pits. Santa's Workshop was available for students to construct small crafts, bird feeders, and waffle cone houses, and each class was given a tree to decorate for our own Festival of Trees. The trees were voted on, and the group that decorated the winning tree won a pizza party in January! Whoville was set up for some photo opportunities with most of the village created by Ridgevalley students and staff. There were carnival style games for everyone to enjoy, and the evening was filled with laughter as we all gathered for a wonderful holiday celebration.
The night wrapped up with a bang, literally, when the Crooked Creek Rec Board gave us a dazzling fireworks display! A big thank you to all the community sponsors who helped bring our ideas to life: M.D. of Greenview, DeBolt Fire & Rescue, East Smoky Rec Board, Crooked Creek Rec Board, Ridgevalley School Society, Crooked Creek Store, Suncrest Signs, and SOS Graphics.
Robert W. Zahara School
NOVEMBER
RWZ goes skating
The winter weather means the start of skating season, and RWZ is fortunate to be right next door to the arena! Mr. Froehlick, the arena manager, kindly makes space in the schedule for local students to enjoy this sport. The community fully embraces the opportunity, and the students benefit from the help of so many parent and grandparent volunteers who donate skates and helmets, tie skate laces, and cheer loudly. The students are always excited for this extension of the gym program, and their skating improves tremendously each winter!
OCTOBER
RWZ honours Orange Shirt Day
Leading up to September 30, teachers and students took a look at a few of the 94 Calls to Action recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Each class chose one Call to Action to work on in their classroom this year. Discussions with teachers and classmates led to concrete action ideas that could be taken throughout the year to make these Calls to Action a reality at RWZ.
Each class took a turn sharing their plan at the school-wide Orange Shirt Day assembly, and the signed commitments are now posted in the hallways for everyone to see. We look forward to seeing how these ideas expand understanding and reconciliation throughout the rest of the year.
SEPTEMBER
Welcome Back BBQ
On September 9, students, staff and families gathered for the annual RWZ Back to School BBQ. Sponsored by Dynamic Energy Group Inc., families enjoyed dinner, met their new teachers and toured the school. Students were very excited to bring their parents and siblings to show off their new classrooms and learning spaces.
After dinner, everyone gathered in the gym for a formal introduction of the staff, and new principal Stacy Rorem welcomed returning and new families for another great year of fun and education at RWZ.
Rycroft School
Check back for Good News from Rycroft School.
Savanna School
Check back for Good News from Savanna School.
Sexsmith Secondary School
JANUARY
Wheelchair Basketball
Mr. Spence's PE 20/30 students had the opportunity to experience wheelchair basketball as one of their class activities.
Bands festive for the season
SSS Junior Band
SSS Senior Band
Congratulations to both SSS bands! The Junior and Senior Band students played for parents and students at the RWZ Christmas Concert, and they were both outstanding.
Science 24
To learn about velocity, our students put their paper and pencils away and spent some time seeing how fast the cars could go with fun hands-on activities.
Wrestlers visit Wetaskiwin
In December, our wrestling athletes had a great showing at the Wetaskiwin tournament. AJ Matlock (pictured above) placed second, Alex Printer placed third, and Jason Vandermaaten placed sixth. Well done, boys!
Christmas at SSS
Left to right: Cozy Cottage, Lactose Intolerant Santa
Rock Around the Tree
This year, we spread our festive cheer with candy grams, turkey dinner, and decorated doors! Congratulations to the winners of our door decorating contest: Mrs. Voth's Cozy Cottage (Sr. High Winner), Mrs. Hassall's Lactose Intolerant Santa (Jr. High winner), Mr. Stewart's Rock Around the Tree (Overall Winner).
DECEMBER
Pep rally brings students together
Twice a year, SSS hosts a pep rally to celebrate its student athletes. Football, volleyball, cross-country running, and golf athletes are introduced to the entire school, then take part in races against each other and a special group of volunteers. Thank you Mrs. Kotyk for introducing pep rallys to our school, and continuing to organize such fun and exciting events!
Breaking hearts
The Biology 20 students have been busy learning about, and dissecting, hearts.
NOVEMBER
Volleyball GOLD
Sabres Senior Men's volleyball team won their second gold medal at the Peace Classic tournament in Peace River.
Congratulations to the Senior Women's volleyball team for being named the 2A Girls Zone Champions! According to Coach Kotyk, "These young ladies are dedicated, talented, and the epitome of sportsmanlike athletes." The team earned their way to the provincial stage, where they earned the bronze medal.
Alumni and Seniors Night
SSS hosted an Alumni and Seniors Volleyball Night, where they hosted two amazing volleyball matches between current players and alumni. It was great to see some competition, light-hearted rivalries, and a chance for family and friends to get to spectate it all.
We have an amazing group of Grade 12 athletes, and it was very special to get to recognize and honour them on their home court one last time.
Exploring Cultures
Junior high students in our Exploring Cultures class have been busy creating their own Day of the Dead skulls, and studying Métis culture during Métis week.
OCTOBER
Teeing off
The PE 20/30 class has spent some time enjoying golf lessons out at Spruce Meadows Golf Club. Mr. Spence says their swings are definitely better than before!
Biology in real life
Local Aquatic Biologist, Morgan Ellis, presented to our Biology 20 students as part of their Ecology unit. It was a unique opportunity to see hands-on application of class content!
Water Bears
Water bear animation
Water bear under the microscope
The Grade 8 students have been working with microscopes and made a groundbreaking discovery! After watching a video about the tardigrade (water bear), students made it their goal to find one. They targeted the ideal water bear habitat (moss) and were actually able to find one! "In all honesty, this might be one of the most exciting moments of my teacher career," exclaims Science teacher Michelle Zarowny.
Outdoor Education
The weather wasn't great, but the hike was worth it! Members of our Outdoor Education class had a great time outside.
Building Construction
To honour truth and reconciliation, the high school construction class tried Inuit carvings in wood. It was a great experience!
SEPTEMBER
Senior Men's Golf takes silver at Zones
Congratulations to our Men's Golf team, Owen Siebert, Tim Siebert, Michael Fehr, and Cy Nelson, on competing in the 1A/2A Golf Zones in Fairview on September 16. It was a great day with some very strong golf being played.
Spirit River Regional Academy
DECEMBER
Festival of Trees
In early December, students decorated a tree for the Spirit River Festival of Trees. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 engaged in multi-age learning time by choosing an ornament they wanted to make for the tree, and spent time creating their ornament with students of different ages.
Pow Wow Dance series
In November, students in Grades 2-6 participated in a six week Pow Wow Dance learning series, sponsored by Peace Wapiti Public School Division's Indigenous Education Services team. The students learned about dance regalia traditions, and the different types of dances. On December 5, during the culminating Pow Wow performance, Pow Wow dancers from across Alberta visited SRRA to perform for our students, staff, and families.
SRRA hosts annual Remembrance Day Ceremony
In November, SRRA held its annual Remembrance Day assembly with special guests and student performances.
OCTOBER
SRRA raises over $10K for cancer research
This year, SRRA students raised a remarkable $10,398 for the Terry Fox Foundation! On October 7, the top ten fundraisers participated in a fun pie in the face activity during a school-wide assembly.
Congratulations to our top fundraisers!
- Tied for 10th place, raising a total of $900: Vince Thomi, Lilly Coldwell, and Levi Day
- 9th place, raising $315: Ava Hickman
- 7th & 8th place, raising $350 each: Harlynn Yanishewski and Anita Thomi
- 6th place, raising $385: Alex Aiton
- 5th place, raising $437.15: Lincoln and Clarity Curtis
- 4th place, raising $500: Camron Paradis
- 3rd place, raising $577: Eli, Emma, and Grace Stone
- 2nd place, raising $603: Kendall and Donovan Viel
- 1st place, raising an amazing $950.20: Jace Stanich
Emma Stone won the bonus draw, which gave her the opportunity to pie principal Mr. Daren Pullishy in the face.
SRRA would like to thank all the families and community members for supporting this worthwhile cause. In addition, thank you to the school staff who bravely faced the tossing, or smooshing, of the pies!
Teepee Creek School
OCTOBER
Terry Fox Run
Teepee Creek students participated in their annual Terry Fox Run, and raised over $2000 to support the fight against cancer. Students ran through Sorkenville and would like to thank community members Orval and Betty Sorken for the privilege of running through such a beautiful setting!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Our school's Kindness Club marked National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by bringing students together and making a sign to mark the importance of September 30. The Kindness Club was started by TCS Librarian Kim Green to help promote kindness within the school community. This was the first event of the new school year with many more to come!
Wembley Elementary School
JANUARY
Snowshoeing into 2025
The Grade 1 students started the new year by snowshoeing during their PE classes. Students enjoyed the opportunity to get outside and try new activities during the warmer winter weather.
WES enjoys a pancake breakfast
We want to thank our School Council for preparing a delicious pancake breakfast for the students to enjoy before the Christmas break.
WES donates more than 1,600 items to local food bank
The students at Wembley Elementary School competed to see who could donate the most food items for our annual food bank drive. The class with the highest number of donations would win a pizza party. Congratulations to Mr. Beauvais' Grade 3 class for bringing in the most items.
In total, our students gathered over 1,600 items! Although Mr. Beauvais' students won the pizza party, they requested that the entire school be rewarded, because everyone worked hard.
DECEMBER
Seniors & Friends Sleigh Bell Dinner
Mrs. Badger's Grade 2 students and their beautiful placemats
Students at Wembley Elementary School have been busy making placemats and Christmas cards for the Seniors & Friends Sleigh Bell Dinner.
Risky Play Parent Information Night
On Thursday, December 5, WES was thrilled to have Mrs. Lavallee, Junior Kindergarten Instructor from Harry Balfour School, visit the Wembley community to share the benefits of risky play. Mrs. Lavallee is incredibly knowledgeable, and we are very grateful to her for spending time with our school. Parents had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion after her presentation, and left with a wealth of new information. All participants were entered into a draw for front-row seats at the WES Christmas concert!
Thank you to the Early Explorers Child Development Centre in Wembley for providing childcare for the evening.
NOVEMBER
WES gets spooky
Wembley Elementary School's SPOOKTACULAR event was a great success! Students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 3 arrived in creative costumes, ranging from friendly monsters to fairytale characters. The day was filled with fun activities, including a potion station, a spooky entrance, and a dance floor.
We'd like to thank the WES School Council, parents, and other sponsors who made this event a success. SPOOKTACULAR was a fantastic way for the school community to come together and enjoy Halloween!
R0B0 Warriors
On November 15, the Grade 3 students had the opportunity to spend time with the R0B0 Warriors. They arrived with all sorts of Lego and coding activities for the students to try. Students analyzed different wheel sizes to determine which would work best for their car; examined different axles to ensure there wasn't too much friction; and some students were able to build their cars while others helped code the directions for the cars on a large map. There were many obstacles for the students to dodge and, needless to say, everyone had fun. The students are excited about their learning, and hope the R0B0 Warriors return in the new year.
Granny Dolls
Lindsy from the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre visited Ms. Waldron's Grade 1 class to share the wonderful story of Indigenous Granny Dolls. These special dolls are not just fun to play with, but also help the kids feel safe and loved, and teach us about caring for others and being responsible.
OCTOBER
Veggie Share
Thank you to all the families who contributed cut and washed vegetables to the annual Wembley Elementary Veggie Share! Students enjoyed fresh veggies as a healthy snack, while classes engaged in discussions about the importance of community and giving, all in the context of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Stone Soup
Students enjoyed their Stone Soup as they learned about the importance of working together. Stone Soup is a story of a traveler who uses a stone and water to make soup, getting villagers to add what little food they have. It teaches us that when we all contribute, we can create something much better than we could alone. Students participated in lessons and activities focused on the story.
Learning about colours
Grade 1 students have been having a blast with coloured water and droppers! They're exploring the exciting world of colours by mixing and experimenting, all while having fun, and learning together. These creative activities spark their curiosity and imagination!
SEPTEMBER
Welcome back!
Staff were so pleased to see everyone at the Wembley Elementary School Welcome Back BBQ! A huge thank you to Teresa and the County of Grande Prairie for supplying the BBQ, Dusty Rowland for barbequing for everyone, and Trustee Wendy Kelm and Martina Brewer for serving hot dogs, chips, and juice boxes. It was a great way to start the new school year.
Hula Hoop Circus
Amanda Panda of Hula Hoop Circus visited WES and amazed students and staff with her talent! The entire school attended a presentation and then participated in a workshop with Amanda to learn new skills and play fun games!
Whispering Ridge Community School
JANUARY
Grade 4s go swimming
The Grade 4 students started the new year by heading to the NuVista Energy Centre in Beaverlodge for their swimming lessons. We love having the opportunity to provide swimming lessons as part of the student programming here at Whispering Ridge Community School!
Grade 5s excited for 2025
Mrs. Kunz's Grade 5 students enjoyed an engaging activity on their first day back after the Christmas break!
Fresh air brings fresh smiles
Some Grade 2 students enjoy the warmer winter weather during their daily physical activity break.
Kindne$$ Counts
Congratulations to Moston, our December Kindne$$ Counts winner.
Ready, Set, Go!
Grade 7 students learn a new game during PE with Mrs. Herman and Mr. McKechnie.
DECEMBER
Student Council organizes food and toy drive
The WRCS Student Council organized a very successful food and toy drive for families in Grande Prairie and its surrounding areas. It is always heart-warming to see students give back to our community!
Students visit Max RC
The Grade 4 STEM students had the opportunity to go on a field trip to Max RC. It was an enriching learning opportunity for them to experience!
Al Crawford visits WRCS
Tara Papirnick (right), WRCS's Indigenous Education Service Provider, invited Al Crawford (left) to share his Indigenous drumming skills with the junior high students. Al is always very engaging, and our students love hearing him play, sing, and tell stories.
WRCS celebrates the holidays
Despite the crazy weather on December 4, WRCS hosted its annual Christmas concert, and it was a fantastic success! We are so thankful we were able to host this event. Thank you to all our families, friends, and community members for joining us for such a special evening.
NOVEMBER
Cosmetology students visit Sephora
The junior high cosmetology students enjoyed a trip to Sephora where they learned about skincare and make up for different skin types. Students even got to take home some free samples! A big thank you to the staff at Sephora for making this such a memorable experience for our students.
Welcome to STEM
The Grade 4 STEM students got some hands-on engineering experience when they designed and built their own bridges!
Rock Your Mocs
Students and staff came together to show their support of Indigenous culture on Rock Your Mocs day!
Triple ball comes to WRCS
Grade 5 and 6 students have been enjoying triple ball! A big thank you to Ms. Murphy and the junior high volleyball team for volunteering their time to coach after school.
WRCS hosts annual Remembrance Day Ceremony
The WRCS choir performed during the school's annual Remembrance Day Ceremony. Students, staff, and family members loved hearing their beautiful singing voices! Thank you Mrs. Tomke and Mrs. Breitkreuz for providing students with this wonderful opportunity.
OCTOBER
Students honour Orange Shirt Day
For Orange Shirt Day, students participated in a school-wide Orange Hands activity.
WRCS raises nearly $10,000 for cancer research
Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year's Terry Fox Run. Your hard work paid off as our school raised close to $10,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation!
School Bus Safety
Our Kindergarten students spent some time learning the importance of school bus safety!
Motivational Magic
Students in Grades 1-6 enjoyed a Motivational Magic show, centered around kindness and gratitude, presented by Steve Harmer.
Finch Robots
Grade 5 STEM students had the opportunity to spend some time with Mrs. Montes, one of PWPSD's Educational Technologists, who taught them about the Finch Robots!
SEPTEMBER
Teachers participate in professional development
WRCS staff participated in a professional development day before welcoming students back to their classrooms. Teachers were surprised with welcome back gifts of fresh flowers from the Gypsy Blooms Flower Truck.
PJ Day
Ms. Brown's Grade 1 class enjoyed their first PJ Day of the year!
Grade 8s bond over fun activities
The Grade 8 students enjoyed some bonding time, and experienced the exciting activities that Bear Lake Bible Camp has to offer. Students conquered some challenges, while supporting one another, setting the stage for a great school year.
Science Explorations and Inquiry
Mrs. Miller's Grade 6 students have been enjoying their Science Explorations and Inquiry options class.
Quickdraw Math
Mrs. Green started the school year by engaging her Grade 4 students with a Quickdraw Math lesson.
Upcoming Events
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Semester 2 Begins: Tuesday, January 28
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Professional Development Day - no school: Friday, January 31
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Valentine's Day: Friday, February 14
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Passionate Heart Awards Ceremony: Friday, February 14
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Family Day - no school, all PWPSD offices and shops closed: Monday, February 17
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PWPSD Board Meeting: Thursday, February 20
Recent Announcements
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Jan. 16, 2025 PWPSD announces new Superintendent of Schools
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Jan. 14, 2025 PowerSchool Cybersecurity Incident - FAQs
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Jan. 09, 2025 PowerSchool Cybersecurity Incident
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Dec. 17, 2024 Minister of Education's Holiday Letter
Recent Media Coverage
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Jan. 16, 2025 PWPSD announces new Superintendent, EverythingGP
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Jan. 09, 2025 SIN numbers included in data breach affecting Grande Prairie schools, MyGrandePrairieNow
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Jan. 09, 2025 Canada-wide school data breach affecting local divisions, EverythingGP
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