Northland School Division

Calling Lake School teachers organizing snack boxes for students!

Northland School Division (NSD) is pleased to share that the remaining School Food Services funding has been given to various organizations in NSD school communities to support families during this challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. School Food Services manages lunch programs in NSD schools. 

The grant funding, provided by Alberta Education is dedicated to support wellness by ensuring students are provided with healthy food while in school. With the cancellation of in-school classes and students no longer being at the school, Alberta Education encouraged school divisions to find ways to share the remaining funds with communities to help families in need.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for families in our communities,” said Robin Guild, Board Chair. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank individuals and organizations for their support and coordination to ensure the funds help community members in this time of need.”

“I am pleased we are able to help children and their families during this challenging time, “said Dr. Nancy Spencer-Poitras, Superintendent of Schools. “While students continue to learn at-home, we want to support families in providing food to their children. It’s important for all of us to take care of ourselves and each other; especially during a pandemic. Thank you to individuals and organizations for helping to take care of families and for supporting continued student learning.”

NSD worked with the following organizations to provide food for the children and families in their community: 

• Anzac Grocery (Anzac School & Bill Woodward School, Anzac)
• Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort Chipewyan Métis Local #125 (Athabasca Delta Community School, Fort Chipewyan)
• Peavine Métis Settlement (Bishop Routhier School)
• Conklin Community Association (Conklin Community School)
• Elizabeth Métis Settlement (Elizabeth School)
• Chipewyan Prairie First Nation Health Services (Father R. Perin School, Janvier)
• Fort McKay First Nation (Fort McKay School)
• Gift Lake Métis Settlement (Gift Lake School)
• East Prairie Métis Settlement (Hillview School)
• Fishing Lake Métis Settlement (J.F. Dion School)
• Municipal District of Opportunity and Bigstone Cree Nation Food Bank (Wabasca)
• Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement (Paddle Prairie School)

In some NSD school communities, groceries were purchased and organized into snack boxes or hampers. In Calling Lake, Angela Lightning, along with members of Calling Lake Recreation, have been involved with emergency food distribution in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. With support from the remaining funds from School Food Services, the recreation team also helped to prepare and deliver snack boxes for Calling Lake School students. 

“We were able to purchase and deliver food items that were easy to prepare and snack friendly as well for kids,” said Lightning. “The snack boxes had vegetables, fresh fruit, cereal, milk, crackers, Kraft Dinner, the things kids love. When the kids saw the snacks, they were pretty excited. I think the kids were really pleased to be reached out to. Northland School Division made this decision with intent and it worked. The funding was a nice amount where we were able to give families food items to get them through a longer period of time instead of just getting them through a day. It was nice to be able to organize items that were valuable to kids. A big shout out to Northland.”