South Slave Divisional Education Council

Students, is there an educator who has made a difference in your life? Submit your favourite educator's name (or names!) to the NWTTA's Thank You For Making A Difference campaign.

SSDEC staff were asked for one word to best describe their focus for the 2020-2021 school year. The resulting word cloud provides inspiration that will guide us through the year.

Congratulations to PWK's Carolyn Matthews! She is a recipient of the 2020 Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.

YELLOWKNIFE (June 4, 2020) Northwest Territories (NWT) Education Leaders met via teleconference with Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister R.J. Simpson and the NWT Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) on June 3, 2020 to discuss priorities and planning for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Planning for re-entry into schools in the fall is ongoing, with ECE and education bodies actively working together on a coordinated, system-wide approach for the upcoming school year...Continue reading

NWT Education Leaders agree to keep schools closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year Communiqué Yellowknife May 14, 2020 Education Leaders from across the Northwest Territories (NWT) met via teleconference with Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister R.J. Simpson and the NWT Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) on May 13, 2020 to discuss the recent recommendation that NWT schools are safe to reopen for the remainder of the school year as part of Phase 1 of Emer...Continue reading

The online resource centre we posted a few weeks ago has grown and expanded thanks to a joint effort between multiple DECs and DEAs in the NWT. It now has a new website address. The new NWT Education Resource Centre supports educators and parents across the entire territory.

The SSDEC is extending the deadline for Excellence in Education Award nominations until May 31, 2020. Do you know a teacher, education assistant, parent, student or community volunteer who has contributed to school improvement or student success? Nominations can be submitted at: https://www.ssdec.net/excellence-in-education

Got a budding writer in your household? The NWT Literacy Council announced its Northern Writes Writing Contest. For more information, follow the link below.

INSTANT AND FREE ACCESS ~ you don't have your library card handy? No problem! Check out these cool e-resources available to NWT residents. All you need is a...ccess to the internet, a device or computer and a child who would like to read, maintain their math skills and have fun while learning. There is even something for our adult readers. Please feel free to use these at your own leisure. Bookmark the sites and return to them as often as you desire. Courtesy of NWT Public Library Services. TumbleBooks’ databases are easy to use, and feature unlimited access from home! Your patrons can read as many books as they want, when they want, and on any device. There are no check-outs, holds, or bulky downloads. Books are available instantly. TumbleBookLibrary - K-6 children's ebook database Direct Link: https://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/auto_login.aspx Username: tumble735 Password: books BiblioEnfants same as TumbleBookLibrary but in French Direct Link: https://www.biblioenfants.com/auto_login.aspx Username: tumble735 Password: books TumbleMath - K-6 math ebook database Direct Link: https://www.tumblemath.com/autologin.aspx Username: tumble2020 Password: A3b5c6 TeenBookCloud - gr 7-12 ebook database Direct Link: https://www.teenbookcloud.com/autologin.aspx Username: tumble2020 Password: A3b5c6 AudioBookCloud - all ages audio book database Direct Link: https://www.audiobookcloud.com/autologin.aspx Username: tumble2020 Password: A3b5c6 RomanceBookCloud - a huge collection of steamy Romance novels for the older crowd! Direct Link: https://www.romancebookcloud.com/autologin.aspx Username: tumble2020 Password: A3b5c6 If you need an extra hand in accessing these sites, please feel free to email [email protected] or [email protected] and we will respond to assist where we can. Thank you. Happy Tumble Trails!

Many online learning resources have dropped their fees amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. One example that might help parents enable learning at home is MindFuel. https://mindfuel.ca/staysafe/

We have pulled together many resources for educators, parents and students at home as we prepare for continuous learning throughout the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Follow the link for a list of great resources for language arts, math and other subject areas.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has released a bulletin outlining the NWT's education continuity plan for the remainder of the school year.

Get your children's story in before midnight tonight to enter the 4th Annual Children's Storybook Contest. The winner will receive a $500 prize and will have their book published by the SSDEC.

Additional details regarding Minister R.J. Simpson's advisory to close schools is attached in this letter to parents.

Minister R.J. Simpson has advised all schools serving JK-12 students to close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. During a meeting with the Minister, all Divisional Education Council chairs agreed with the advisory. The SSDEC and its schools are finalizing business continuity and essential services plans. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment will have additional details regarding continuity of learning next week.... The safety and health of our students and staff remains our top priority. Please be safe in this difficult time.

Looking for additional math resources for your children? Take a look at what's available on YouCubed.

Looking for ways to keep your kids entertained and continue working on their math skills? Games for Young Minds has several games you can play using simple household items.

The GNWT has directed all non-essential employees to work from home starting Thursday, March 19. As such, the SSDEC Regional Office will be closed starting tomorrow until further notice. Our team will be working remotely, so the best way to get in touch with any of us is by email. Should you need to get in touch with someone or have questions, please email Chris Talbot, SSDEC's public affairs coordinator, at [email protected].

Premier Caroline Cochrane, under the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer, announced this morning the temporary closure of all Northwest Territories schools until after the Easter long weekend in April. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in the NWT. The school closures will help to ensure the health and safety of all students across the NWT. We will provide more information as we have it.

The NWT Office of the Chief Public Health Officer, along with their federal and provincial/territorial health partners, are closely monitoring the risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada. The attached posters will help reduce any risk of spread of the coronavirus and other respiratory viruses. The risk of spread of this virus within Canada, including the Northwest Territories, remains low.

Nominate a teacher, education assistant, parent, student or community volunteer for an SSDEC Excellence in Education Award. It only takes a few minutes to nominate someone who has contributed to school improvement or student success. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2020. Winners will be announced at the SSDEC in-service in Hay River in August.... https://www.ssdec.net/excellence-in-education

Last year, South Slave schools participated in the Take A Kid Gardening project. Thanks to the generous support of the Department of Industry, Tourism & Investment and the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, our schools had the opportunity boost their existing gardening initiatives and start new ones. Students received in-class lessons and hands-on experience growing their own vegetables and herbs. Thank you to ITI, CAP and all students, staff and volunteers who helped make the project an amazing success.

Today is the inaugural #IReadCanadian Day. This nation-wide initiative celebrates the richness and diversity of Canadian literature. There are some great books by writers both from and living in the South Slave. Many of these books are available from the South Slave regional office and can be found in your local library.

Six weeks left to submit your story for our 4th Annual Children's Storybook Contest. As a youth writer, you could win $500 and see your story published in four languages.

Hey, South Slave students! Do you have educators you'd like to say "thank you" to? Here's your chance to do so and get a chance to win prizes. Tell the NWTTA how your favourite educators have made a difference for you by submitting in your school or online at nwtta.nt.ca. You have until January 31 to enter.

Do you know a teacher, education assistant, parent, student or community volunteer who has contributed to school improvement or student success? Nominate them by March 31, 2020 for an Excellence in Education Award!

Three Feathers, the graphic novel written by Richard Van Camp and illustrated by K. Mateus, has been shortlisted for the 2019 CODE Burt Award for the new Indigenous language award for young adult literature.

We have the winner of our 3rd Annual Children's Storybook Contest. Congratulations to Denise Broomfield, whose story will be published in four languages next year. https://www.ssdec.net//South-Slave-Divisional-Education-Co

Three Feathers is now available on DVD. Copies will be available from Chase's Pit Stop in Fort Smith, the Yellowknife Book Cellar and the SSDEC Regional Office. Contact [email protected] if you wish to order your copy.

Our very own Shirley LaMalice will be honoured as a 2019 laureate for the Indspire Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards. Indspire has recognized Shirley's accomplishments in teaching Indigenous language classes, as well as for creating Princess Alexandra's culture camp. Congratulations, Shirley!

The SSDEC 2019-2020 School Year Calendar and 2018-2019 Annual Report is fresh off the press and making its way into the hands of students and staff.

The 12th Annual Lawrie Hobart Memorial Volleyball Tournament took place in Fort Smith over the weekend. Check out the tournament's page for photos and more.

Watch out for misleading and inaccurate articles. In honour of Media Literacy Week, check out MediaSmarts' Reality Check: The Game to see if you can spot which articles are real and which are scams.

Renowned pianist Anastasia Rizikov visited the South Slave last week and spent time with arts students at Diamond Jenness Secondary School and Paul W. Kaeser High School. Here she is in the PWK arts room.

This week, Shawna Coleman, principal of Chief Sunrise Education Centre and the SSDEC's Regional Indigenous Language and Education Coordinator, was the recipient of the 2019 Ministerial Educator Literacy Award. Congratulations, Shawna! It's well deserved.

La semaine dernière, des élèves de 7e et de 8e année ont pu faire des apprentissages sur le terrain près du delta Paix-Athabasca au #PNWoodBuffalo! Notre parten...ariat avec l’école secondaire Paul William Keser, qui en est à sa dixième année, permet aux jeunes de se rendre au poste Sweetgrass pour participer à des activités d’apprentissage spéciales avec des enseignants et des détenteurs du savoir traditionnel de la région. Nous tenons à remercier nos partenaires et ceux qui ont joué un rôle essentiel dans le succès de l’activité cette année : La fondation Roberta Bondar (The Roberta Bondar Foundation) La famille Beaver , pour avoir diffusé ses connaissances Le détachement local de la Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta Les nombreux parents et organismes communautaires qui ont fourni des bateaux et du soutien Le conseil scolaire de division South Slave (South Slave Divisional Education Council), pour accorder la priorité à l’apprentissage sur le terrain Les enseignants de l’école secondaire PWK (PWK High School), pour leur travail inlassable #Sweetgrass2019 #ApprentissageSurLeTerrain #ExploreAlberta

Bdene nezo! Meyôsinkesîkâw! Sîníé nahegháehnda! Celebrate NWT Literacy Week by learning how to say "good morning" in our local Indigenous languages. In Chipewyan, bdene nezo (pronunciation: bee de ne ne zo).... In Cree, meyôsinkesîkâw (pronunciation: meyoogeesagow). In South Slavey, sîníé nahegháehnda (pronunciation: seenyeh naheygahuneda).

Not sure what NWT Literacy Week events are planned at your school? We've got you covered! Take a look, grab a book and get lost in a good story.

Congratulations to Bella Ekhiohina, the winner of our $25 Google Play gift card draw. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table at the Aurora College Community Services Fair on Wednesday.

Three Feathers took home the award for Best Short at the Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival (CIFF) this past weekend. The film is still on the festival circuit and will be screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Yellowknife International Film Festival this fall.

Next week is NWT Literacy Week. The theme this year is "Celebrate Indigenous Languages." Stay tuned for news on what schools in the South Slave are doing to encourage reading and writing for the week of Sept. 22-28.

This week at a ceremony in Ottawa, Superintendent Dr. Curtis Brown will be awarded the Polar Medal for his achievements in education over more than 30 years working in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Congratulations, Curtis!

We're proud of our Excellence in Education Awards winners. All well-deserved!

Welcome back to school!

Please join us in Hay River on August 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Princess Alexandra School Library in Hay River for a free presentation by renowned child behaviour expert Dr. Jean Clinton.

Just a few days left to submit your story to the Children's Storybook Contest. Don't miss your chance to be the NWT's next published author!

Don't forget to enter our Children's Storybook Contest before June 30. There's still time to enter for your chance to become the NWT's next published author.

This week, three South Slave educators were inducted into the NWT Education Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Sheila Cook (Hay River), Michelle Brown (Fort Smith) and Sheila Kindred (Fort Smith). Congratulations to everyone inducted into the NWT Education Hall of Fame this year.

Congratulations to Shannon Barnett-Aikman for being recognized for her hard work by the Northwest Territories Superintendents' Association!

Did you make it out to the Thebacha Trade Show on Saturday? If so, you may have caught a glimpse of Rufus the Reading Rascal. Rufus really enjoyed his visit and would like to express his thanks to everyone who came over to say "hi," get a high-five, give him a hug or take a selfie with our famous Reading Rascal. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the #SSDEC booth.

Three Feathers was a crowd-pleaser on Sunday evening at the Dreamspeakers International Film Festival in Edmonton. The festival, which showcases Indigenous films and is the second-oldest festival of its kind in North America, put the spotlight on the #SSDEC-produced Three Feathers. Several of the film’s cast and production crew were on hand for the screening . They stayed behind to field questions from the excited audience. Based on a graphic novel by Fort Smith’s own Richard... Van Camp, Three Feathers was written and directed by Carla Ulrich. It stars David Burke, Joel Evans, Dwight Moses and Eileen and Henry Beaver. It was produced by the South Slave Divisional Education Council, Brent Kaulback, Richard Van Camp, Ann Lepine and Liz Levine. Three Feathers is the first film that has been produced in four languages -- Chipewyan (Dëne Sné Yaté), Cree (Nhiyawwin), South Slavey (Dene Zhaté), and English. Three Feathers continues to gain praise on the festival circuit. Upcoming screenings are planned for Toronto, Los Angeles, Yellowknife and Germany. Photos courtesy of Brent Kaulback.

Congratulations to Bev Chepelsky! Bev is the winner of our draw for a $50 Google Play card at this year's Thebacha Trade Show. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth on Saturday.

Our Excellence in Education awards nomination deadline is Sunday, March 31. Nominate an outstanding educator or partner in education using the short (five-minute) fill-out form on our website: https://www.ssdec.net/excellence-in-education Each fall at our annual in-service, we give out three Excellence in Education awards: the Educator Award, the Partner in Education Award, and the Jill Taylor Above and Beyond Award.