Hello NHS Families!
We are back in action and our first two days went very well! The school is filled with life and energy and it’s so great to see all the smiling faces again. A huge thank you to our Parent Advisory Council and parent volunteers for organizing the Back to School BBQ Lunch for our grade 9’s – it was amazing! See the attached info for more details about PAC and how you can get involved.
Here are a few more things to take note of as we begin the school year ….
Staffing Update
We welcome Tyler Shields, Trinity Funk, Jenni Schellenberg, Giuseppe D’Amico to NHS as they join our excellent team of teachers. Nathan Dyck, Janelle Malech, Adrienne Happychuk, and Melissa Wiebe are currently on leave. We also have a few new EA’s and will be hiring a new head custodian shortly. Welcome and best wishes to all! Please note: Teacher emails are available on the school website if you would like to connect with anyone.
Meet the Teacher
Meet the Teacher will take place on Thursday, September 14 from 5:30 – 7:30. This is an opportunity for a quick “meet and greet” conversation with teachers in-person so we invite you to stop in to say “hello”. All teachers will be in the gym. No appointment required.
Automated Attendance Calls
In an effort to accurately track student attendance we use automated attendance phone calls and emails. Daily phone calls and emails are sent to parents each day around 6:00 pm in cases where students have been absent from a class and were not parent excused.
Please note that students who are not in class when attendance is taken will be marked absent. If a student is late for class they need to sign in at the office and get a late slip – this is the only way the “absent” gets changed to a “late”.
Parents can excuse absences directly on the parent portal or by calling or emailing the school.
Cell Phone Guidelines & Expectations
It is important that we provide a safe and productive learning environment for our students and responsible use of technology is an imperative piece to achieving this goal. In an effort to minimize distractions and maximize learning, it is our expectation that students keep their cell phones stored away during class time in a locker or backpack. They may only be used in the classroom/learning environment when given permission by the teacher. If parents need to get a hold of students during class time (ie. messages, pick-ups, emergencies) we ask that you call the school and we will relay the message. The NHS Responsibility Use of Technology document is attached for your review.
Vaping
In an effort to start the year off on the right foot, it is important to note that smoking and vaping is not allowed in school, on school grounds, or at school sanctioned events (this includes the sidewalk in front of the school and the parking lot). Students who need to smoke or vape during the school day need to do so at the designated spot across the street during a class break. Students vaping anywhere on school property are violating HSD policy and will be suspended from school for a minimum of 2 days. Students gathering in bathroom stalls or single use washrooms will also be subject to suspension. All students are encouraged to report incidents of vaping to a teacher or principal immediately so we can address the situation right away.
Extra-curricular Sports and Clubs
A variety of activities will be starting up over the next few weeks so we encourage students to keep their eye on the daily announcements for opportunities to participate in school life. Announcements are posted daily in period 1 classes and also can be viewed throughout the day in the hub, learning commons, and on the NHS website.
HSD Parent Portal – Stay Connected and Informed!
The HSD Parent Portal is a communications tool designed to enhance and increase parent involvement in the education of their children. The portal provides parents with secure online access to our Student Information System. Parents can access the following information for each of their children attending an HSD school: Student Timetables, Report Cards, Attendance, School Fees, Permission and Consent Forms, Change of Contact Form and Grad/Credit Summary.
Parent Portal Account – For those that have not accessed the portal, HSD emailed the access ID’s to set up your account. Please contact the school if you have any questions.
Please login to the Portal to confirm that the information on the Registration Verification Form is correct. Please go through this form to confirm that all information, especially contact information, is up to date. We use this information to contact you for attendance, school news updates, report cards etc. If there are any changes, please contact the office.
Please login in to the Portal to check the Walking Field Trip Permission Form. This needs to be done every year.
We are excited to be back and are looking forward to a great school year. Please contact the school at 204-388-9761 or nhs@hsd.ca with any inquiries you may have throughout the year.
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