Northland School Division

Tansi, Edlánat’e, Hello students, parents, guardians, staff, and community members,

Welcome back to another school year! I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable summer.

To our new families and staff, welcome to Northland School Division (NSD). It’s an honor to serve you as the Superintendent of Schools/CEO.

As we embark on this new school year, we are excited to introduce a new three-year education plan. This plan reflects the priorities set by the Board and Administration in response to the feedback received from communities during the 2023-2024 school year:

Priority 1 - Connections Supporting Reconciliation: Each year, Northland School Division will work to increase and strengthen visible connections to the land, Indigenous languages, school communities, and collaborative partnerships. This is part of our commitment to reconciliation and building a stronger community.

Priority 2 - Holistic Learning: Our goal is for every child enrolled in a Northland School Division school to excel in literacy and numeracy and to have a solid foundation in social-emotional skills. This priority ensures a well-rounded education that supports both academic and personal growth.

Priority 3 - Excellent People Supporting Students: To ensure our students receive the best possible education, we aim to attract and retain dedicated staff and empowered leaders by providing access to lifelong learning opportunities, high-quality resources, excellent teacher lodging, and comprehensive remuneration and benefits.

Priority 4 - Responsible Resourcing: We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of equitable access to timely supports and school site infrastructure while operating within a fiscally responsible framework.

To support these priorities, these strategies will be in action this year to support student success:

• We have expanded our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education team by introducing two new roles: a Supervisor of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education and an Indigenous Cultural Land-Based Learning Coach. All three will support schools and work with Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
• A new Learning Coach for Physical Literacy and Athletics has been hired to enhance physical education programming and provide more opportunities for students to participate in team sports.
• The Collaborative Response Model from Jigsaw Learning is being implemented to enhance student success. This model involves regular team meetings with teachers, support staff, and administrators, focusing on data-informed decision-making and targeted interventions.
• We are introducing a Common Timetable for elementary and high school students, which will offer more learning options for all Northland students.
• Additional Educational Assistants have been hired across the division to better support student learning.

To help families see how these priorities are positively impacting student learning, please watch for updates from schools on Facebook and in newsletters.

Welcome back, everyone! Let’s continue working together to help Northland students achieve their goals and dreams. I look forward to connecting with communities throughout the school year!


Sincerely,


Cal Johnson
Superintendent of Schools/CEO
Northland School Division