Upcoming Dates!

Treaty Day is an opportunity to learn, reflect and deepen our understanding of the historic and ongoing relationships between Mi’kmaq and non-Mi’kmaq people in Nova Scotia.

Treaties are not simply part of our past. They are living agreements that continue to shape our shared responsibilities today. In schools, Treaty Day provides an important opportunity to help students understand Mi’kmaq history, culture, rights and perspectives, while exploring what it means to live together in a spirit of respect, partnership and reciprocity.

By continuing to learn about the Treaties and our responsibilities within them, we help build stronger relationships and contribute to the ongoing work of reconciliation.


 

October is a chance to celebrate the important role libraries play in our schools — and the Library Support Specialists who bring those spaces to life.

Every day, our school libraries help students discover new interests, build literacy skills, find reliable information and, sometimes, simply find a welcoming place to spend some time. Our Library Support Specialists are an important part of making that happen.

Canadian Library Workers Day is recognized on the third Friday of October, followed by Canadian School Library Day on the fourth Monday. These are great opportunities to recognize the people who help make our libraries engaging, inclusive and supportive spaces for students.

Please join us in thanking our Library Support Specialists for all they do to support students, staff and school communities.

Consider adding a personal note about your LSS and the difference they make in your school.

As we move into the winter months, we want to share how decisions are made when a school experiences a power outage.

Our priority is always to keep schools open safely when possible. A power outage does not automatically mean classes are cancelled – even if it happens during the school day. The decision depends on when power is expected to be restored.

Here’s what happens

When a school loses power, HRCE's Operations Team contacts Nova Scotia Power to gather available details on the cause and an estimated restoration time.

Once we have this information, we consider:

• Before school starts: Have buses begun their routes? If so, we wait until students arrive before making a decision. If classes are cancelled, elementary families will be contacted before dismissal.
• During the school day: How close is dismissal? What is the temperature in the building? Does the school rely on power for water or septic systems? These factors, among others, help us decide whether to stay open or close. Often, power returns faster than we could safely send students home.

If classes are cancelled:

• HRCE will notify families by email and text.
• Families of elementary students will also receive a phone call before dismissal.
• Deciding to close schools during a power outage is never simple, but safety is always our top priority. We understand that cancellations can be inconvenient, and our goal is to keep students learning in class whenever possible.

More information about school cancellations for any reason can be found here.

Did you know that there’s a protocol in place to help families contact schools or the HRCE office when you have concerns about your student’s education or well-being?

• All concerns should first be shared with your child’s teacher.
• If your concern is not resolved, you should then contact the principal.
• If your concern remains unresolved, you can reach out to HRCE’s Family Navigators who can provide information about a wide range of supports and resources.
• If your matter continues to be unresolved, you can then initiate a formal review process in which the matter will be investigated by the appropriate HRCE Directors.
• The final step is for your concern to be passed on to the Regional Executive Director.

Click here to learn more.