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Superintendent Message & Newsletter

District Office

Happy February! The first month of 2023 has already flown by and we are in store for a busy February too. I hope that students and staff settled in well over the holidays, and that high school students enjoyed a successful exam period. I would like to acknowledge that February is Black History Month as well as Indigenous Languages Month. It is important to acknowledge Black history today and every day, and to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. At YK1, we also believe that Indigenous language revitalization is an integral act of Reconciliation in our country. Keep an eye on our websites for monthly language challenges, where we ask you to speak Wiiliideh instead of English for some common phrases.

YK1 continues to work collaboratively with First Transit, YCS, and CSFTNO to identify immediate and long-term solutions to current busing challenges in the city. Workforce challenges have forced First Transit to cancel two of its student transportation routes – 10 and 12 – until further notice. Route 9 was also cancelled in mid-January but service resumed on January 23, 2023. We recognize that these disruptions are impacting many of our families, and we will continue to work until a solution is found. We will communicate any potential solutions as soon as possible. In the meantime, please contact First Transit if you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a school bus driver.

February will be a busy month for our school’s athletes. I would like to wish YK1, Yellowknife, and Territorial athletes the best of luck during the Arctic Winter Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta this week. Those games – the first since 2018 – will be followed by the junior and senior Cager basketball tournaments on back-to-back weekends towards the end of the month, and the Canada Winter Games on Prince Edward Island from February 18 to March 5, 2023. Good luck to all, and have fun!

District and school staff continue to work on school calendars, budgets, and staff recruitment for the 2023-2024 school year. We have also been treated to visits from some of our educational consultants recently. YK1’s consultants – many of whom are renowned and respected experts in their field – continually help us improve educational experiences for students and staff alike. Also included in this newsletter is information related to the territory’s impending change to British Columbia’s curriculum. This is an exciting time for our schools as we get ready to start implementing the new adapted curriculum. Teachers will start introducing the draft curriculum over the next several years, giving everyone time to get familiar with the changes. As we implement the draft curriculum, we ask that students and families provide feedback to NWTCurriculum_renewal@gov.nt.ca. You can also learn more on the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment's website, and by reading the bulletin and frequently asked questions attached to this newsletter.

If you are interested in registering a student with a YK1 school next year, you are encouraged to attend any of our upcoming open houses between February 23 and March 1, 2023. These events provide great opportunities for families to meet YK1 staff, tour our schools, and learn more about our programs. I also encourage parents and guardians to attend monthly Board meetings and Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meetings at our schools. YK1’s District Office can be reached at (867) 766-5050 if you ever have any questions. Have a great month!

ACCESS THE FULL NEWSLETTER FOR FEBRUARY (23 PAGES)

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