École Sir John Franklin School. (Photo by NorthNowstaff )
News
1 min.read

NWT Schools Closed For First Week of January

Connor Pitre
By Connor Pitre

All schools across the NWT have had their winter break extended by one week, due to concerns of increased COVID transmissions.

This year’s holiday season saw many NWT residents either travel to their families, or welcome them to the territories for a brief winter vacation. As a result, COVID cases have jumped up a considerable amount in the region, which includes cases of the new Omicron variant.

In an attempt to help curb the spread of the virus, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) has recommended that schools remain closed for the first week of January. This suggestion was then supported by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and every NWT education body has agreed to it.

All NWT schools will now be closed from January 4th to the 7th, with no online classes being offered in that time. Schools will officially re-open on Monday, January 10th. This extension will allow those who have travelled outside of the Territories for the holidays to meet the required 72-hours of self isolation, and help keep their communities safe from the potential spread of COVID-19.

NWT schools have also provided at-home self-testing kits, and are encouraged to use one before returning to the classroom.

Connor Pitre
Connor Pitre
Born and raised in Central Alberta, Connor Pitre attended the Western Academy Broadcasting College in Saskatchewan, before making his way to the NWT in November of 2021. Since then, he has become a regular staple of the True North FM crew in the News department, and occasionally filling in on the afternoon show.

Continue Reading

You may also like



cjcd Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Tuktoyaktuk RCMP lay charges in bootleg liquor investigation

RCMP
Tuktoyaktuk RCMP are laying charges following an investigation into liquor bootlegging earlier this week.

Youth engage with Tłı̨chǫ language in unconventional immersive spaces

Northwest Territories
While in-person On the Land learning continues to be central to Tłı̨chǫ language revitalization, the Tłı̨chǫ language division is looking at ways to engage with youth through new immersive platforms, like virtual spaces, that honour history and traditions. Danielle Dacanay with the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s Language Division emphasized that virtual resources are supplements to learning the language in the traditional way, they are not a replacement for it.

New microgrant stream wants youth to plant language seeds outside school

Northwest Territories
“100 youth projects wanted in French,” a new microgrant program wants youth to plant language learning seeds outside school. A network of action-research teams in Canada, other parts of North America, Africa and Europe is launching a youth grant stream to support French language engagement outside of conventional spaces. Youth across the country aged 14 to 30 are eligible for 100 microgrants in support of grassroots initiatives as part of this program run by the Dialogue Network.

Water testing at another Yellowknife school confirms elevated lead and copper

Northwest Territories
Testing at another school site in the city of Yellowknife showed elevated levels of lead and copper in water present in some of its drinking taps. Earlier this month, testing showed four other school buildings in Yellowknife and a school in Behchokǫ̀ had elevated levels of both copper and lead in water. Since comprehensive testing of schools across the territory began this fall, 28 school sites out of 34 announced to date have tested positive for elevated levels of lead.

Testing at more NWT buildings confirms lead in water

Northwest Territories
Fort Smith officials said water testing at municipal buildings has confirmed the presence of lead. According to the announcement, water samples at the Town Hall, the Fire Hall, and the Municipal Services Building continue to show elevated levels of lead.