(Nicole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Nicole Reis

VIRTUAL SPIRIT WEEK

Virtual Spirit Week at MSFN School engaging kids from a distance

Apr 6, 2020 | 4:57 PM

Keeping kids engaged is top of mind for parents and school staff while young people have been out of school for over two weeks as a precaution against COVID-19.

Tarra Olson, the vice principal at Makwa Shagaiehcan First Nation (MSFN) School, told meadowlakeNOW she and fellow staff members developed Virtual Spirit Week to engage kids with the outside world while self-isolating at home. This came after education staff were performing delivery services for the community and noticed small faces pressed against their windows excited to see familiar school staff.

“I noticed other towns doing initiatives with hearts, rainbows and even a parade,” Olson said. “I wanted to do something for our kids to let them know we care.”

The virtual week of celebration will focus on a daily theme to uplift youth from a distance. Virtual Spirit Week is running from April 6 to 9.

Spirit Week is a common celebration at the school leading up to a traditional holiday. With Easter approaching, school staff have a number of activities planned including a parade of decorated staff vehicles which will do a loop around Loon Lake beginning at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

Dec 12, 2025

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

(submitted photo/Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation School Facebook)/

Olson is reminded of the difficulty students faced over the past year with a state of crisis declared in the community in late 2019 and expressed concern for the mental wellbeing of students.

“We want the kids to know that we’re thinking of them, we miss them and we care about them,” she said.

In addition to this, MSFN students are receiving homework packages while away from school and Olson said teachers are strategizing regularly to tailor classes around an unknown situation.

There are prizes awarded for each day of Virtual Spirit Week if families upload images of themselves participating in themes to the school’s Facebook Page.

—

nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722