Welcome back Kingfishers!

Hello Kingfisher Students and Families,
 

Welcome to a New School Year at Sackville High!

We are excited to welcome back our returning students and extend a warm greeting to all new students joining the Sackville High School community.  At SHS, we believe the success of our students is a shared responsibility.  Together, staff, families, and students all play an important role in supporting achievement and growth. 

Below, you will find our SHS Vision and Value Statement, School Matrix, and Student Handbook.  We encourage students and families to take some time to review these documents, as they provide valuable information to help guide a successful year ahead. 

Sackville High School Vision Values Statement 2026-27.pdf 

Sackville High School-Wide Expectations Matrix.pdf 

SHS Student Handbook 2026-2027.pdf 

My name is Trina Canavan, and I am proud to serve as the Principal of Sackville High School.  Our school community has grown over the past year and continues to expand, which is wonderful to see.  To ensure we are best supporting all our students, we have divided our student population into two groups by surname:

• A–K: Vice Principal Lee Matheson & School Counsellor Brian Welcher
• L–Z: Vice Principal Leah Chiasson & School Counsellor Chris Trenholm

We encourage students and families to reach out to their Vice Principal or School Counsellor at any time. Our entire administration and staff are here to support you and ensure a positive and successful school year.

Over the next two days we will be sending out additional information for families and students.  In the meantime, to prepare for opening, here are a few things we would like to share:

Important Dates

Sept. 3rd   - First Day of School

Sept. 7th – Labour Day (no classes)

Sept. 10th   – Nova Scotia’s Stand Up Against Bullying Day Wear Pink

Sept. 24th    – Curriculum Night 5:30-7pm

Sept. 25th – PD Day (no classes)

Sept. 29th - Orange Shirt Day wear Orange

Sept. 30th – National Day For Truth and Reconciliation (no classes)

First Day Procedures – Sept. 3rd

The school’s main doors will open at 8:40am and all students will proceed to the gymnasium for an opening address.  Students will then receive their schedule.  Students will follow their Day D (Thursday) schedule.  School photos will be taken on the first day of school.  Students will be called by their surname through the day to the gymnasium for their photos.  These photos will be available to order and will also be used for student ID. 

Bell Schedule, Student Arrival, Dismissal, and Supervision 

The safety and well-being of our students is always a priority, and we appreciate the support of students and families in following these times and expectations. 

Morning Arrival

Sackville High School opens to students at 8:40a.m.  Student supervision begins at this time.  Students should not arrive at or enter the school prior to 8:40am. 

The warning bell rings at 8:55a.m., providing students with time to make their way to class and prepare for the school day. 

Classes and instructional learning time begin promptly at 9:00a.m. We encourage all students to arrive with enough time to be in their classroom and ready to learn by 9:00a.m.

Sackville High Bell Schedule

Important Change to Dismissal Time

Please note that Sackville High School has a change to our bell schedule for the 2026–2027 school year. The school day now ends at 3:05 p.m.

Students are expected to exit Sackville High School by 3:25 p.m. unless they are participating in a supervised extracurricular activity, receiving extra help from a staff member, or involved in another school-supervised activity.

Regular student supervision ends at 3:25 p.m. For this reason, students are unable to remain in the school after this time to socialize, hang out, or wait for drives unless they are part of a supervised activity.

If students are being picked up after school, we ask families to please make arrangements that allow students to leave the building by 3:25 p.m.

We recognize that changes to routines can take some adjustment, and we appreciate the cooperation of our students and families. Having clear arrival and dismissal expectations helps us ensure that students are appropriately supervised and that Sackville High School remains a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Student Fees

Student fees for the 2026-27 school year will be $25.00 and can be paid online or in the main office with cash.  Through SchoolCash you will receive an email notification when your child is attached to an item.  It would be helpful to create an account at www.schoolcashonline.ca

All student fees go directly towards students and student activities.

https://hrce.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/48399/319/False/True

First Day Information
PowerSchool will open to parents and students on Wednesday, September 2nd after 3pm.  Students will be able to access their schedules by logging into PowerSchool.  Students can use the instructions below if they need to reset their password.  For students who do not have access to their PowerSchool, staff will be set up in the front lobby to support students with schedules. Students can request a PowerSchool login password reset from student services at anytime throughout the year.

resetting_your_student_portal_password_quick_reference_sheet.pdf 

Student Council students will be supporting staff in welcoming students on Thursday.  They will be helping orientate our Grade 9 students to the school culture and specifics of the building. 

The school’s doors will open at 8:40am and all students will proceed to the gymnasium, for an opening address. Students will then receive their schedule.  Students will follow their Day D (Thursday) schedule. 

Sackville High Bell Schedule

Friday rotates and the schedule is posted on the school calendar and avaliable through students/parents PowerSchool.

School Photos

School photos will be taken on the first day of school.  Students will be called from their classes throughout the day.  These photos will be available to order and will also be used for digital student ID.

Student Transportation

If you take the bus, Students and Parents/Guardians should review their bus stop times and loacation through Bus Planner’s Parent Portal.  The link to the portal is: https://hrcetransportation.mybusplanner.ca/Login?ReturnUrl=/Subscriptions/ChildTransportInfo

Student or parent questions pertaining to bussing please contact HRCE Transportation https://www.hrce.ca/families/student-transportation. Contact 902-431-4723 or transportation@hrce.ca

Regional Code of Conduct
Students, parents, teachers, support staff, principals, and Regional Centers share responsibility for creating a school-wide approach to maintaining a positive and inclusive school climate where all students are supported to develop healthy relationships, make good choices, and achieve success in their learning. All members of Nova Scotia’s school communities have a role to play in the awareness and prevention of unacceptable behaviour. The provincial school code of conduct policy applies to all public schools and Regional Centers in the Province of Nova Scotia. All students and school members in Nova Scotia are required to follow the Regional Code of Conduct,  which is governed by the Education Act.

https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/04/29/updated-code-conduct-prioritizes-school-safety

Student Fees

Student fees for the 2026-27 school year will be $25.00 and can be paid online or in the main office with cash.  Through SchoolCash you will receive an email notification when your child is attached to an item.  It would be helpful to create an account at www.schoolcashonline.ca

All student fees go directly towards students and student acitivities.

https://hrce.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/48399/319/False/True

Lockers

Student Council will be set up in the main lobby from Sept. 3rd - 9th   during lunch hour for students to receive a locker.  Locks will be provided.

Cell Phone Directive 2026 2027

The Provincial Directive on Cell Phones in Schools will continue to be followed at Sackville High School for the 2026–2027 school year.

As a reminder to students and families, instructional time includes all time when students are expected to be in class and engaged in learning. If a student leaves the classroom during instructional time for any reason, cell phones are to remain put away and are not to be used in the hallways.

In addition, for the privacy, safety, and comfort of all students and staff, cell phones are not to be out or in use in school washrooms at any time.

We appreciate the continued support and cooperation of our students and families in following these expectations. Limiting cell phone use during instructional time helps reduce distractions, supports student engagement and learning, and contributes to a safe and respectful school environment for everyone.

We encourage students and families to read the Cell Phone Directive for SHS.

Cell Phone Directive 2025-2026.docx 

Attendance
Students are expected to be in their classrooms during class time.  Attendance is taken at the start of class. Students who arrive late will have their arrival documented in PowerSchool by the end of the class. Attendance in class is vital to success at school. Students who are absent for 20% of a course may be removed from the course and face a loss of credit. (20% is 18 days missed from a regular credit course.)  We encourage students and families to read through the Provincial Attendance and Engagement Policy.  Below is a one-page document highlighting the key components, including the responsibilities of the school, students and families. 

provincialstudentattendanceengagementpolicy.pdf 

Parking Passes

All students planning on driving a vehicle to Sackville High are required to have a parking pass.  Students are asked to see Vice Principal, Mr. Matheson in the main office for a ‘parking application form’.  The form outlines the school rules, regulations and expectations regarding student conduct in the parking lot.  A parent/guardian signature is required. 

Stay connected with all the latest news and updates by visiting our school website:

https://svh.hrce.ca/

We’re always here to support our students and families, if you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  Together, we can make this a great year!

With kindness,

SHS Administration