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By Erika Rolling
Education

Two additional Programs of Choice coming in next academic year at GPPSD schools

May 5, 2022 | 6:00 AM

STEM Learning and a Music Program will be the new Programs of Choice in a select number of Grande Prairie Public School Division schools next year.

STEM learning has three designated sites. They are Crystal Park School, Derek Taylor Public School and Hillside Community School. Programming will be integrated into the K-8 curriculums and optional courses will be offered for Grade 7 and 8 students like robotics and coding.

The Music Program will be at five schools; Aspen Grove School, Derek Taylor Public School, Ecole Montrose, I.V. Macklin Public School, and Roy Bickell Public School for Grades 5-8 students.

Deputy Superintendant James Robinson says the division is excited.

“Programs of Choice allows students an opportunity to really focus on areas that are of great interest to them. So for example in the Music Program for Grades 5 to 8 there will be increased opportunities for classroom music and really specific learning experiences, then in (Grades) 7 and 8.. increased options,” says Robinson

“Running alongside this opportunity (Music Program) is the ability at our K-6 schools to have our teachers who are providing some of our music education to spend time doing what we call a residency to establish a strong foundation in music and allow students to become interested in it and look towards what they are going to do in Grades 5 through 8.”

“A school that has a STEM focus provides all of the traditional learning that any other school would learn, but wherever there’s a choice to be made about instruction, projects and practices they choose Science, Technology, Engineering and Math as the vehicle to do that teaching,” adds Robinson.

Registration has opened for new and current students in the GPPSD to enroll in Music Program and STEM Learning.

by Erika Rolling