Dear Niton Central School Community,

Welcome Back! The School Council meeting originally scheduled for Monday morning has been rescheduled to Monday, January 17 at 10 a.m. The link to the meeting will be included in next week's Niton Central News.

We are excited to be able to greet our students in person tomorrow morning! Parent/guardians were sent a return-to-classes notice on Friday. It is important to note that masks are required in grades 4 - 12 and recommended in grades k - 3 as they were before the break. We have medical grade (3-ply) masks and we will be receiving more as well as at-home Rapid Tests. If you would like a rapid test sent home when they become available, please call the office. No student will be given a Rapid Test at school. This will be a parent responsibility if your family chooses to utilize the Rapid Test Kits.

The staff at NCS has been busy preparing for students' return. This past week we have been working on planning for all types of learning including lessons, cross-curricular units, curricular-extensions such as skating, and school sports such as basketball. In addition, we start our new timetable tomorrow so many teachers as well as myself have been preparing for new classes. Students affected were given copies of their new timetables in December. Parent copies were sent through messenger. We have posted timetables on the JH bulletin board as a reference for them and I will see 5/6 first thing tomorrow!

JH basketball practices commence next Monday, January 17 and games previous to this date are in the process of being rescheduled.

On a final note, the weather forecast is in our favour and we are predicting a full week of outside recess for all students K - 6. Students in these grades go outside until the temperature is -20C including windchill. Please ensure that students are equipped with their winter gear and an extra set of gloves/socks in case these items get wet.

Sincerely,

Ms. Jan Wiens, Principal

Niton Central School

780-795-3782

mailto:janwien@gypsd.ca

Please click on the attachment to get to know Ms. Burdock as she is our new FSLC.

Girls practices commence Mondays and Wednesdays starting January 17. Boys practice Tuesdays and Thursdays starting January 18.

On October 15, the Alberta Government updated the Parent Guide to Covid-19 management in schools. Please see the following link for more information including when a school would pivot to online learning. Thank you for your continued support of the Niton Central School community and for completing the Alberta Health Daily Checklist before sending your student to school. Please call the school if you have any questions and I will be happy to discuss this with you.

1. Please call the school to report any confirmed COVID tests and to inform us of any absences.

2. If you are coming to the front door or inside the building please wear a mask and sanitize your hands at the front door.

3. If children are sick please keep them at home. We will continue to call parents if a child starts to display symptoms while at school.

1. Please ensure your student is dressed for the outside weather. Some students may need an extra pair of socks and mitts in case they become wet. Grades K - 6 students go outside three times per day until the temperature (including windchill) reaches -20 C. We always include the windchill when we are gauging the temperature.

2. Last week, our K - 6 students enjoyed playing in the snow. It was great to be outside with them! Many of our younger students made use of their extra set of dry clothing. Please ensure your child has an extra set of clothing as well as a pair of socks to leave at school.

To arrange to meet your student's teacher or if you have questions concerning the classroom, please email the teacher directly or call the school at 780-795-3782 and leave a message with our secretary who will have the teacher call you back.

preK/K Mrs. Jenna Robinson mailto:jennrobi@gypsd.ca

Grade 1/2 Ms. Shania Miller mailto:shanmill@gypsd.ca

Grade 3/4 Mr. Thomas Meier mailto:thommeie@gypsd.ca

Grade 5/6 Ms. Jan Wiens/Mrs. Leanne Deleeuw janwien@gypsd.ca leandele@gypsd.ca

Grade 7 Mrs. Jacey Maskell mailto:jacemask@gypsd.ca

Grade 8 Mr. Aaron Fern mailto:aarofern@gypsd.ca

Grade 9 Mr. Alan Stoyles mailto:alanstoy@gypsd.ca

Please continue to phone the school or email Mrs. Benson at branbens@gypsd.ca or your student's homeroom teacher if your child will be absent. Sign-out your student through the office if they will be picked up early and please notify their bus driver.

January

4th - First day back after Christmas break

17th - Virtual School Council - 10 a.m.