Northland School Division

Tansi, Edlánat’e, Hello students, parents, guardians, staff, and community members,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, welcome to a new school year. We hope you had a safe and enjoyable summer. To the families and staff joining the Northland School Division for the first time, we are pleased to welcome you.

In my year-end message, I discussed Northland School Division’s 2025–2028 Education Plan. Over the past two years, we have hosted community engagements to hear directly from families, students, and education partners. The feedback collected during these conversations helped shape the Education Plan and reflects the priorities voiced by the communities we serve. You can review the full Education Plan here: https://www.nsd61.ca/download/512929. 

I also shared that we received a provincial award from the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta for advancing one of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission https://www.nsd61.ca/about-us/division-news/post/northland-receives-psbaa-award-for-advancing-reconciliation-in-education. This recognition is a meaningful reflection of the important work happening across Northland, and we are proud to continue building on this progress.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the families and staff of Chipewyan Lake School. As shared in letters to families on July 31st and August 29th, classes for Chipewyan Lake School students will begin at Career Pathways School in Wabasca-Desmarais. To support families, school bus transportation has been arranged for students staying in Wabasca-Desmarais. Weekly learning packages will also be provided for families returning to Chipewyan Lake, with staff delivering and collecting them during scheduled home visits. Families choosing to enroll their children at Mistassiniy School or St. Theresa School will also receive support to make the transition as smooth as possible. Our thoughts continue to be with the families during this challenging time.

I also want to briefly mention the potential teachers strike. This matter is between the Alberta Teachers Association and the provincial government. While it is outside of Northland’s control, the Board is closely monitoring the situation and will keep families informed of any updates.

Before I conclude, I want to encourage parents and community members to consider running as a School Board Trustee and, most importantly, to vote in the upcoming school board elections. Nomination Day is September 22nd and Election Day is October 20th. Visit the NSD website for more information: https://www.nsd61.ca/governance/elections. Another way to get involved in education is by becoming a School Council or Principal Advisory Committee member. Schools will be establishing School Councils or Principal Advisory Committees in September. You can contact your local school for details.

Hai Hai, Mahsi Cho, Thank you for choosing and supporting the Northland School Division. 

We look forward to connecting with communities and education partners throughout the school year.


Sincerely,


Tanya Fayant
Board Chair
Northland School Division