WESTLOCK – Students and staff at St. Mary School were eager to welcome the start of the new school year, which began with a staggered entry Aug. 29 and 30.
“The start went very smoothly. It’s always wonderful to see the kids come back with enthusiasm and they’re very excited to be back to see their friends and teachers so it’s a very happy time of the year for us,” said school principal Vance Nakonechny.
About 260 students from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 will be attending classes, along with about 30 staff members, including teachers — with five new faces this year, office staff, custodial staff, and educational assistants. They are also welcoming back assistant principal Dean Fagnan, who is in his second year in the role, and the school’s new athletic director Ty Snell, who is a high school teacher and coach.
With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Nakonechny said the division will continue with its strict cleaning protocols and will have sanitizers available, much like other schools across the province.
“Our cleaning regiment will be the same as what it was during COVID-19 times — surfaces and door handles will still be cleaned with a heightened regularity,” he said. “We’ll still have sanitizer available for students (and staff) should they want to use it, but it won’t be mandatory as it was in the past, just like masks are optional.”
The first, full in-person school year in two years is being welcomed by both students and staff, he noted, which will introduce the new curriculum to younger grades starting this month.
“We’re implementing that for Grades K-3 for math, language arts and phys. ed and then K-6 for the new phys. ed and wellness program,” explained Nakonechny. “They’re doing Grades 4-6 next year for the core classes but the phys. ed program is the only K-6 (change) for this year.”
He also noted that they too will not be piloting any of the new curriculum (for older grades, expected to be implemented next year) and will give adequate time for teachers to look over the material before then.
Previously pre-Kindergarten students were included with the Kindergarten classes but will now take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings as a standalone class this year, starting this week.
“We could look at adding an afternoon session, but we just thought it gives them a little bit more TLC,” said Nakonechny, noting some things that he is looking forward to this school year.
“We’re very excited for our new staff. A lot of them are younger teachers, the first impressions have been excellent and they’re off to a fantastic start,” he said. “Returning to those opportunities where we can have cross grade interactions … we also have had a lot of opportunities where some of our older students will act as mentors to our younger students — it benefits both ages and it’s so welcomed to be able to do that again.”
Nakonechny said he’s received some positive feedback from students in the first couple of days of the new school year and noted the welcomed return for teacher-student interactions, student socializing as well as a return to normal school routine for staff, students, and parents alike.
“For everybody there’s just a sense of relief — they’re definitely looking forward to this school year,” he said. “I think sometimes when you lose something it helps you appreciate it a little bit more when you get it back. That’s the sense that I get through the hallways from our students and from our parent community.”
