Northland School Division Wildfire Update

Attention Parents and Guardians:

We have some updated information to share on how the wildfires are impacting Northland schools. In addition, we received some information from Alberta Education about enrolling displaced students, Provincial Achievements Tests and Diploma Exams.

How wildfires are impacting Northland schools

The following Northland schools will remain closed tomorrow (Friday, May 12, 2023):

Hillview School: The East Prairie Métis Settlement is still under a mandatory evacuation order. Northland School Division is developing a plan to resume student learning for Hillview students. We will provide more information when it becomes available.

Bishop Routhier School: The Peavine Métis Settlement is still under a 2-hour evacuation alert. The alert will be in effect until May 17, 2023.

Gift Lake School. The school has been closed this week due to a power outage. The power has been restored. Gift Lake School staff will return on Friday, May 12, 2023 to prepare for classes to resume on Monday, May 15, 2023.

For all of these closures, we will provide more information when it becomes available. For wildfire updates, please visit the NSD website to access information https://www.nsd61.ca/…/division-news/post/wildfire-update.

Information from Alberta Education

Enrolling Displaced Students

Some displaced students may need to finish the school year with a different school authority. Northland School Division extends an open invitation to students who are displaced by the wildfire. They are welcome to attend any Northland school to continue learning. Families can reach us at 780-624-2060.

Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs)

May 2023 PATs (written Part A) are scheduled for May 15 and 17, 2023. In the event of a school evacuation or disruption, the writing of exams can be deferred and school authorities can reschedule these PATs at a later date before the end of the school year. As the Superintendent of Schools/CEO, I will be making these decisions as necessary.

Exam Administration will continue to monitor the state of evacuations and disruptions as it relates to deferred Part A exams and the Part B exams in June.

Diploma Exams

Diploma exams are to be fully administered in June 2023. We will provide an update if anything changes.

For PATs and Diploma Exams, NSD will be keeping in close communication with Alberta Education if changes need to occur due to wildfires.

To those impacted by the wildfires, our thoughts are with you.