(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Back to School

Communcation is key for NESD 2019/2020 school year

Aug 26, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Tuesday, Sept. 3 marks the start of the 2019/2020 school year, and the Northeast School Division (NESD) is ready.

According to Director of Education Don Rempel, the division is working this year toward more communication around student success. That includes an early student led conference in October, and teachers engaging in some professional learning and development.

“Whenever you look at strategic planning, communication is always a goal,” Rempel told northeastNOW. “We want to have a strong level of communication and understanding at all levels. So between our teachers and our students, administration and parents, and home and school as well.”

Last year, the division also did some investigating into their smaller schools and what should be the next steps with them. The consultation took place with the smallest four kindergarten to Grade 12 schools as well as Gronlid School which is kindergarten to Grade 9.

“We’ve got a plan on how to sustain effective programming in our smaller schools,” Rempel said. “And there will be some steps put in place to support the teachers and students in those schools this upcoming year.”

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Meanwhile, for students, some big things to know are that the division is continuing to work hard on their success including grade level achievement in reading, writing, and math.

Rempel said on-time graduation rates are also top of mind as the new school year begins.

“If students aren’t being successful in high school and obtaining the credits necessary,” he said. “We have interventions in place to try and make sure they graduate as close to on time as possible.”

As for enrolment numbers, Rempel said they won’t know for sure the exact numbers until after school begins.

“Early signs are that we are starting to have stable enrolment across the division,” Rempel said. “Some changes between school sites, but overall, our student levels are pretty much the same year to year.”

Rempel added 16 new staff members are joining the division, and four schools have new principals.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6