Enjoy your long weekend!!! The countdown to summer is on!!!

Upcoming Events

• May 21-24 - Victoria Day Long Weekend (No School)

Special Days 

• May 24 - Victoria Day

Awareness 

• Asian Heritage Month
• Physical Fitness Month
• May 30 - World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day 

Cold Lake Configuration Transition Plan 
For 2021-2022 there will be only one change made to the configuration of schools in Cold Lake. Students who are currently in Grade 3 at North Star Elementary School will remain at the school next year. North Star will become a K to 4 school for 2021-2022 and Cold Lake Middle School will become a grades 5 to 8 school. All other schools will retain their current configuration.

Changes will occur at all schools except Art Smith Aviation Academy in 2022-2023. Cold Lake High School will become a grades 10 to 12 school, with all Grade 9 students attending Cold Lake Middle School, which will be a grades 6 to 9 school that year. North Star will become a K to 5 school. Cold Lake Elementary School will become a K to 3 school and Grade 4 students in the north will attend Nelson Heights, which will become a 4 to 7 school.

The final configuration changes will be made in 2023-2024. Cold Lake Middle School will become a grades 7 to 9 school, with North Star becoming a K to 6 school. Nelson Heights will become a grades 4 to 6 school.

For the full Transition Plan visit https://www.nlpsab.ca/our-division/cold-lake-configuration/post/configuration-transition-plan

Statement on Draft Curriculum 
Northern Lights Public Schools will not be participating in piloting the new draft Kindergarten to Grade 6 provincial curriculum during the 2021-2022 school year. 

“The last two school years have been very challenging for our students and staff and we need to focus on addressing the academic and mental health impacts of the pandemic and try to restore a sense of normalcy for our students,” explained Board Chair Arlene Hrynyk. “We support Administrations’ decision not to proceed at this time, as this will only add to the stress and anxiety our students and staff are already experiencing.”

Alberta Education is currently seeking feedback on the new draft K-6 curriculum through a survey: Draft K-6 Curriculum Survey. The full Draft K-6 Curriculum is available on learnalberta.ca. The division will also be looking at ways to engage parents in discussions about the draft curriculum and collect feedback. Further details will be shared once they have been finalized.

For the full statement visit https://www.nlpsab.ca/our-division/news/post/statement-on-draft-curriculum 

Covid-19 Safety Section
Please use the most up-to-date Daily Checklist before sending your child to school. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call the school. 
Our school has always been committed to keeping students, staff, and families safe. Our COVID-19 safety measures are outlined in the NLPS Re-Entry Plan, which can be accessed at nlspab.ca. Here are some highlights:

• We have increased sanitization in our school, especially in high touch areas
• All staff and students in grades 4-12 are required to wear masks
• Hand sanitizer is available at all entrances and in all classrooms
• Staff and students are encouraged to practice physical distancing at all times
• Staff and students use the Covid-19 Daily Checklist before coming to school

Safe Arrival/Students Absent from School
Parents are asked to call the school, 780-594-5623, prior to the morning registration at 8:35 am if your child will be absent. If your child is ill, please call the school. Parents must register their child to ride the bus. Please contact the transportation department 1-877-826-6038

School Cash Online
Please go to https://nlsd.schoolcashonline.com to pay for various school activity fees, to order hot lunch, or to purchase concession cards.

CLMS Clothing Order
Get your Spirit Wear Now at https://clmsspiritwear.itemorder.com/ Items can be purchased online all year long and picked up at K3 Promotions. We have so many items to choose from! Masks, tees, long-sleeves, jackets, toques, ball caps, and more! Get your CLMS Spirit Wear today and rep the best middle school ever!

CLMS School Education Plan

1. Supporting Student Mental Health and Wellness; increase positive mental health and wellness and reduce anxiety.
2. Increasing student achievement and competencies in numeracy 

STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORTING CHILDREN DURING COVID-19

ACKNOWLEDGE FEARS & BE REAL
• Be honest and give age-appropriate information
• Occasionally be open about your own emotions
• Help children see it is okay to have feelings AND show them that you can manage them

HELP MANAGE NEWS INTAKE
• Children look to the adults around them to learn how frightened they should be
• It’s helpful if adults take in the news and then convey it to children, rather than children viewing
news on their own
• Discuss news in the context of a supportive relationship and in manageable bits
• Help children learn about credible news sources

BE CURIOUS WITH THEM
• Ask about what they are hearing and thinking
• Respond to their questions with facts
• Use developmentally appropriate language and relatable examples
• Follow their lead of where their thoughts are going, and help them limit the amount of time spent focusing on them.

YOUR PRESENCE AND ATTENTION ARE KEY
• Be available for questions or expressions of emotion
• It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers; your presence can help them tolerate not knowing
• Find simple activities to keep busy and shift attention when they’re ready

ROUTINE!
• Participate in regular activities as much as possible
• Eat, sleep, bathe, and play at regular times that children are used to
• Help children know what they can do – this builds self-efficacy (this may include chores around the house, creating new things, continuing to play, etc.)

*Strategies provided by the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute (2021)

Fun Fact: The # symbol is not officially called hashtag or pound. Its technical name is octothorpe. "Octo-”, meaning “eight”, refers to its points, though reports disagree on where “-thorpe” came from. Some claim it was named after Olympian Jim Thorpe, while others argue it was just a nonsense suffix.