NWT Montessori Society

All students who attended our Casa Program between April 26th - April 30th and all employees of the NWT Montessori Society who worked at our NJ Macpherson location during these dates are required to get tested for Covid-19. Testing will take place at NJ Macpherson School on Wednesday, May 5th between 4:30pm - 5:20pm. Please read the details below: DEDICATED COVID-19 TESTING SITE... The NWT COVID-19 Rapid Response Team is setting up a COVID-19 testing location at NJ MacPherson school for the staff and students. When: This will operate on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 4 & 5, 2021) in the school gym. The school will notify you of the time to show up for testing for your class. It is important to come at your assigned time as we can only test a limited number of people per hour. Follow staff directions on arrival for access to the gym. We are only testing students and staff of NJ MacPherson School at this location. We are unable to offer testing to other individuals or family members at the school. Do I Need to Get Tested Again? We are asking all staff and students to be tested again unless you were already tested on Monday of this week (May 3) or later, or if you have already been tested twice related to this outbreak. If you have already tested positive, you do not need repeat testing. Please do not come to the school in this case. Who Should Come With the Student? Only 1 family member will be allowed into the school to escort the student. Please do not bring any other family members or children who do not attend NJ MacPherson School. Family members who have symptoms should not come to the school with their child but should arrange for testing at the COVID-19 Testing Centre. Please bring your child’s NWT Healthcare Card with you if possible. What about Masks? Everyone will be provided with a medical mask before entering the school. Please keep at least 2 metres away from other families. Keep your mask on at all times, and do not eat or drink while inside the school. If You Have More than 1 Student If you have more than one student who attends NJ MacPherson in your home, please bring them all together at the same time to the first appointment time. If You Already Booked an Appointment If you have already booked an appointment at the COVID-19 testing centre you no longer need, please cancel it to open a spot for someone else who needs it. If you booked online you can cancel appointments by finding your original confirmation email and clicking the cancellation link, and then clicking the confirm button after you are redirected to the website. We would like to thank the staff of NJ MacPherson School and YK School District #1 for their support in arranging this testing location, and to all of the students and families for their cooperation in this effort. See more

NJ Families - please read! https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca//update-covid-19-outbreak-invest

For all of our NJ families, please read carefully.

ALL MONTESSORI SOCIETY PROGRAMS ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED. Due to the Covid-19 Outbreak in Yellowknife and the number of our families and staff who are currently isolating, the NWT Montessori Society has temporarily closed programs at NJ Macpherson School as well as the Yellowknife Montessori School. We are working to re-open to essential workers at our downtown location. If your child is currently registered in our Casa program and you require care as an essential worker, please email [email protected] as soon as possible.

SCHOOLS CLOSED, NEW ORDERS AND ADDED POTENTIAL EXPOSURE RISKS **IMPORTANT CHANGE** The OCPHO has issued new direction for persons isolating as a result of N.J. ...Macpherson school cluster outbreak: All students, staff and volunteers attending during the exposure week of April 26-30 are now considered CLOSE CONTACTS. There have been multiple exposures at each grade level in the school. NEW CASES The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is advising the public that six people with COVID-19 in Yellowknife from the outbreak at N.J. Macpherson School have been confirmed and 10 probable cases are awaiting lab confirmation. In an effort to manage the current situation, the CPHO has ordered the temporary closure of all Yellowknife schools, including Dettah and Ndilo, and the implementation of mandatory indoor masking in the City of Yellowknife effective 8 am on May 3, 2021. PUBLIC EXPOSURE RISKS ** see attached table for details regarding dates, times and details of exposure at the end of this post ** - Multiplex DND gym - School bus exposure (Route 2) - School bus exposure (Route 12) - Sushi North - Walmart INVESTIGATION The OCPHO is not declaring a community outbreak (i.e. community transmission) in Yellowknife at present. A community outbreak occurs when there are one or more cases of COVID-19 in a community with no exposure chains clearly identified. The six new confirmed cases over the weekend are connected and considered a cluster. To be clear, all of the new cases are linked by time, location and common exposures. SCHOOL CLOSURES However, as a result of this large number of cases and contacts involving schools, the CPHO is introducing temporary public health measures in Yellowknife, Ndilo, and Dettah. The following measures and advice apply to all Yellowknife, Ndilo, and Dettah residents, and reflect a verbal order made by the Chief Public Health Officer pursuant to s.29 of the Public Health Act. All Yellowknife, Ndilo, and Dettah schools shall close until further notice with remote learning options being made available. Please get in touch with your child’s school for more information. OTHER CHANGES Daycare and day homes may remain open All organized extracurricular activities, clubs and sports for those under 18 shall be cancelled (including those unrelated to schools) Wearing masks in indoor public spaces is now mandatory (in accordance with the face mask order) RECOMMENDATIONS Non-essential travel in and out of Yellowknife, Ndilo, and Dettah should be suspended/deferred until further notice. Please continue to attend all necessary medical appointments. Remote work is highly encouraged for any employees who are able at this time. TESTING Please be aware that the demand for testing is very high as a result of contact tracing. YK public health is asking residents not directly contacted and who do not have symptoms to not come forward for testing unless symptoms develop