1. District Good
News
April 2016
780.532.3013 | 9902-101 STREET, GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB T8V 2P4
VISIT US AT
www.gpcsd.ca
GPCSD Education Foundation’s 2nd Annual Floor Hockey Tournament
Success at Destination Imagination Tournament
“I am the resur-
rection and the
life. Anyone who
believes in me
will live, even af-
ter dying. Every-
one who lives in
me and believes
in me will never
ever die.”
John 11:25-26
Connect With Us!
The Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Educa-
tion Foundation will be hosting the 2nd Annual GPCSD
Athletic Development Floor Hockey Tournament for all
families on April 16, 22, and 23.
The tournament for Grades 1-3 will be hosted at Mother
Teresa Catholic School on April 16, while the tournament
for Peewee Bantam for Grades 4-8 will be hosted at
Mother Teresa Catholic School April 22-23.
The tournament will be a venue for members of the com-
munity to come together to promote healthy and active
lifestyles, while also creating strong mentor relationships
with students and young athletes. St. Joseph Catholic
High students, led by teachers Trevor Prichard and Collin
Dillon, will be volunteering their time to making the Tour-
nament a huge success for their fellow students in the
younger grades. Currently, there are over 430 players, 42
teams, 50 coaches, as well as many volunteers who are
set to make the tournament an unforgettable event for everyone involved. As well, there will be plenty
of fun activities, games and prizes for the whole family.
All proceeds from the Tournament will go towards the High School Celtic Academy, the Grande Prairie
Snack Program, and a $1000 Athletic Scholarship.
For More Information about this Event, Sponsorship, or Volunteer Opportunities, please contact the
Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Education Foundation at 780-532-3013, or at kariprichard@
gpcsd.ca
Be sure to also visit the Education Foundation at www.gpcsd.ca/Foundation.php.
/gpcatholic @GPCSD
On March 19, teams of students from our district, as well as other districts, participated in the Desti-
nation Imagination tournament, hosted at Charles Spencer High School. A team of students from St.
Mary’s Sexsmith, called Jimmy’s Gang, acquired the top score out of all teams competing, which ad-
vances them to compete with other winning teams in Vancouver.
The purpose of Destination Imagination is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation
of innovators and leaders. Our students have shown incredible skill in these departments, and we look
forward to seeing what else they will do in the future.
Welcome Back!
On behalf of everyone at
Grande Prairie &
District Catholic Schools,
we hope you and your
family enjoyed the week-
long Easter Break, and
we are excited to wel-
come you back as classes
resume. We wish you all
the best as we continue
through the spring season
and the remaining three
months of the 2015-2016
school year!

2. 780.532.3013 | 9902-101 STREET, GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB T8V 2P4
VISIT US AT
www.gpcsd.ca
Early Childhood Fair
St. Joseph Teacher Katelyn Porta nominated for Edwin Parr Teacher Award
School Boundary Changes: Update
Connect With Us!
/gpcatholic @GPCSD
We are pleased to announce that Grade 9 Math and Science teacher, Katelyn Porta, has been nominat-
ed for the Edwin Parr Teacher Award.
Every year, the Alberta School Board Association (ASBA) honors 6 exceptional first year teachers with
the Edwin Parr Teacher Award. Each school board may nominate any first year K to 12 teacher who has
taught in an Alberta school jurisdiction which is a member of the ASBA.
In her first year teaching at St. Joseph Catholic High, Katelyn has shown an understanding of how learn-
ing occurs in many ways, and that each student is unique in how they learn. By being in constant com-
munication with her class, she has built strong relationships with each of her students by catering to their
daily needs, tiering her lessons, and utilizing different learning styles so that each student is able to learn
at their own pace, in their own way. Additionally, Katelyn holds an open-door policy for her students, en-
couraging them to come to her whenever they need someone to talk to, or even just a safe space to be.
Katelyn’s goal is to ensure that her students feel excited about their learning, and are comfortable and
happy to be in the classroom.
In an interview regarding Katelyn’s nomination, St. Joseph Principal Roger Lauck stated: “One of the qualities you immediately
sense or observe when you watch Ms. Porta teach, as well as coach, is the leadership aspect. For a first year teacher, her class-
room management is impeccable, students have a high degree of respect for her, and
she shows a high degree of respect back to her students.”
Katelyn has also proven herself to be an exceptional coach, leading her Senior Girls
volleyball team to Provincials, where they won Silver, to which Principal Lauck attri-
butes to, “how well she is able to get her students and her athletes to commit to her
programs and her wisdom.”
The 6 winners of the Edwin Parr Teacher Award will be announced and presented
with their awards later this year.
The Early Childhood Fair was hosted on
March 10 at St. Clement, where families were
able to learn about all the excellent programs
and resources that are available in our com-
munity for families with young children.
Plenty of families stopped by and enjoyed the
fun-filled morning!
Recently, our District voted to modify the School
Boundaries to accommodate the opening of our new
school, St. Catherine School, in the Royal Oaks neigh-
bourhood. The changes to the boundary are:
• St. Catherine Catholic School’s boundary will
include all Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8 students
west of Highway 43, north of Highway 43 and east
of Range Road 91, and all Pre-Kindergarten to
Grade 8 students in the Scenic Ridge and Crystal
Ridge neighborhoods;
• The current boundaries will not be changed for
Mother Teresa Catholic School, allowing it to re-
main as a PreKindergarten to Grade 8 School;
• All Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8 students will be able to be grandfathered into
their existing school of choice, provided that families arrange for transportation at
no cost to the Board;
• A decision about grandfathering students in Grades 9-12 will be deferred to De-
cember 2016.
Families affected by the St. Catherine boundary changes have the choice to either re-
main at their current school, with students being “grandfathered”, or register to attend
St. Catherine for the upcoming school year.
Additionally, Grades 7, 8 and 9 students at Ecole St. Gerard will be transferred to St.
Catherine for the 2016/17 school year, as St. Gerard is currently over capacity. The
students will only be placed in St. Catherine for one year before they will be moved to
the Arbour Hills Junior-Senior High School once it opens.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the District Office at 780-532-
3013.