September has flown by and fall is in full swing! There has been a buzz of energy throughout the school as students and staff re-establish school norms and develop a new culture of learning. The transition back to full time in-person learning has been challenging in some ways but we know the past year-and-a-half has been very difficult and understand that it will take some time to get into a comfortable groove again. The students always look forward to getting involved in extra-curricular activities and it’s great to see sports teams and clubs underway again – a great forward step! Check out the school website for a list of our extra-curricular options.

MB Public Health Update

The province has announced new public health orders which affect schools directly. Effective immediately, all staff, students, and visitors are required to wear a mask at all times – even when physically distanced. Brief mask breaks are allowed when people are a minimum of 6 feet apart. 

Students will be encouraged to go outside for a quick breath of fresh air in between classes and teachers may also provide outdoor mask breaks during classes depending on the length of the period. Masks may be removed outside or when alone in a room.

Masks may be removed during lunch time only while eating and seated 6 feet apart from others. Assigned lunch rooms were reinstated today, like last year, and all students will need to be in a designated area for eating. Students are encouraged to eat outside while the weather remains nice or go home for lunch if possible.

Students will now need to wear a mask during gym class as well. Gym classes will take place outside whenever possible and indoor activities will be modified appropriately to allow students to participate comfortably while wearing a mask and avoid having to breathe heavily with their mask on. Masks are required during extra-curricular volleyball practices as well but do not have to be worn by players on the court during games.

Spectators at School Sporting Events

We are very excited that our students are able to play sports again but please be aware that at this point in time there are no spectators allowed at any indoor sporting events. A pause on spectators is in effect until the end of the month, at which time it will be reviewed by the superintendent. We are working on a live-streaming option so games can be viewed online in real time. More information will be sent out as this gets finalized.

Student Progress

I would like to remind parents that if you have any questions surrounding your student’s progress or school life in general, that you please reach out to his/her teachers. The teachers will be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have about what is happening in their learning environment on a daily basis. We value open communication and want to be accessible to our parents.  Teacher email addresses are available on the school website at nhs.hsd.ca. 

So, although we continue to be faced by various pandemic related challenges, I feel like we’ve had a positive start to the school year. We will continue to do our best to support our students and work hard to make things as “normal” as we can, all things considered. As always, please connect with me if you have any concerns and certainly feel free to drop a “happy” email my way – those are always appreciated too. Thanks for all your support!

 

Happy Thanksgiving,

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