(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Goodbye Summer Vacation

Students across the Northeast officially back to school

Sep 2, 2022 | 3:53 PM

September 1, marked the end of summer vacation and the return of both students and teachers for another year of school.

Kids across the North East School Division entered the classroom, for what is hopefully, a more normal school year.

Director of Education Stacy Lair told northeastNOW it’s always a cheerful feeling to welcome everyone back into the schools.

“To be back to open our doors to families and folks in our building is very exciting for everyone and it feels a little bit more like our normal that we left.”

According to Lair this year is expected to be less restrictive than the past couple of years, having dealt with the pandemic.

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While it made things a little more difficult and forced teachers and students to be more creative and flexible in a learning environment, Lair explained the gratitude it gave everyone.

“We appreciate what we had to step away from for a short time,” she said. “I know schools are excited to re-engage with all those family activities that they were hosting in the past. We missed it lots and are excited to get back into the groove of that.”

The division was certain to not be naive or vulnerable when it came to COVID-19, however, as safety measures are still in place.

With less time spent on planning and dealing with restrictions, Lair explained how the educational piece was able to be brought back to the forefront.

“I think our folks felt very refreshed to do some planning around the supports more significantly around education. Over the last while our professional development and our planning had to get back to the areas that we really appreciate being and sticking into, which is that educational piece.”

And with a great education comes extracurricular activities, which are planned through the school, but not viewed as “classwork”.

Lair added things such as these have been some of the elements missed the most.

“We heard lots from students and from families and staff that that extracurricular piece was so important to them, gave them another way to connect with folks in the school and they really need that for their wellness and our staff did too,” said Lair.

“We are focused to have students in the classrooms and participating in all the good stuff that our teachers are working on planning.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8