The GNWT has provided some information to help advise parents and students on what returning to school will look like once northern residents are allowed to return to their homes, and to school.
To start, there are a number of mental health resources available for students, staff, and families. The NWT Department of Health and Social Services has a list of what supports are available.
- NWT Help Line 1-800-661-0844
- Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
- Canada Suicide Prevention Service 1-833-456-4566
- First Nation and Inuit Hope for Wellness (Indigenous Support line) 1-855-242-3310
- Wellness Together Canada, click here
- PocketWell App, click here
Once the order is given to return home, schools in evacuated communities will give their staff at least one week to get everything back in order, as well as allow the students and their families to return and get settled back into their homes. Some maintenance may also need to be done in and around the schools to make sure everything is safe for students to attend class once again.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is working with education body superintendents and local Indigenous Governments and Indigenous Organizations to discuss this ongoing and fluid situation.
Each community’s situation is unique, so it will be up to each education body to decide when school will start. However, once it is safe to return, education bodies will give at least a week’s notice before the start of school.
At this time, it is not known if this time spent away will have any impact on the school calendar once the term resumes. Education superintendents and ECE are communicating between jurisdictions to determine how to proceed. Schools in communities that have not been evacuated will likely see no change to the start of the school year, though some may encounter small delays.
