Sioux Lookout, area schools share what’s in store for the coming year as they welcome students back to classes

Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer

Sioux Lookout area schools have welcomed returning and new students through their doors as classes resume across Canada.
The Sioux Lookout Bulletin asked school senior administrators how the first day back went and what might be new or different at the schools this year.
The following are their responses in the order in which they were received.

Pelican Falls First Nations High School

Darrin Head - Principal

The first day of classes went really well. Our staff and students are really excited to be here and the energy in the school is very positive. On a personal note, I had the opportunity to meet each of our students in small groups throughout the day as I went through our school expectations. Being around all these young adults has been very rewarding as their energy is contagious.
We have added a new portable on site which will enable us and our partners to add additional programming and supports that our students require in order to enhance their Pelican Falls experience. We are looking forward to its opening next month so we can begin to fully utilize this new facility.
The grand opening of our new baseball field will take place on Tuesday, October 1. This beautiful field was made possible through the generous support of the Jays Care foundation and the hard work of NNEC Special Projects coordinator Angus Happa. We look forward to hosting some tournaments in the future.

Sioux North High School

Wayne Mercer - Principal

We are pretty excited to start our first full year in our new building. Our hope was to return to a completely finished facility, however we know that there are a few remaining items that will need attention yet before the project is considered complete.
We had a pretty smooth start up with most registrations completed prior to the first day of school, which really helps.
As students settled into classes, we made a few adjustments to some classes to reflect the course needs of our students and associated class sizes.
We have had our welcome assembly for the students and staff and are focused on developing community and laying those foundations for a successful school year.
Obviously, the big new thing is the new building itself. We have made a focused attempt to retain important pieces of memorabilia from QEDHS such as artwork, grad pics, championship banners, etc. These items have been brought to our new building and will proudly be hung in our halls and gym.
We have also introduced a new course option for our students which is a land based course offered in the senior division as an elective. It is a great opportunity to explore some traditional knowledge from the first peoples in an outdoor education setting.
As the final stages of our new building nears completion, we are planning to hold an open house to the community in early October and we hope to see community members come out to see our building first hand if you have not already. It will also be a great time to meet your child’s teachers.
This will be our first year competing in the AA sports league. While sports such as hockey, curling, golf, badminton, cross country, track and field, and wrestling remain unchanged from last year (already A/AA), however we will now be competing against the other AA schools in court sports (basketball and volleyball) and soccer. Many of our home games against Fort Frances, Dryden, and Kenora will also have delayed starts so that families and friends can come out to cheer on their Warriors during late afternoon and evening events.
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Looking forward to a great year!

Sioux Mountain Public School

Darryl Tinney - Principal

The first day back to classes ran smoothly at SMPS.  It was an opportunity for the students to meet their new teachers and classmates and connect with old friends.  The classrooms, hallways and playground were filled with excitement and energy.  
The school looks forward to working with parents/guardians and community partners.  We will have a renewed focus on these two areas and encourage parents and community partners to connect with the school, admin and teachers to explore ways to enrich student learning opportunities.  
We welcome a number of new staff to SMPS.  We invite parents to our open house on Thursday September 26th from 3:30 to 5:00.  We look forward to an amazing year!

Confederation College, Sioux Lookout Campus

Angelina Anderson - Director, Dryden & Sioux Lookout Campuses

The new school year is off to a great start! We are so excited to be in our new campus filled with lots of new and returning students as well as amazing opportunities for students and the community. Our new campus is located across the street from the curling club and is connected to Firefly & Sioux North High School. We are also excited to share that we are offering a new part-time educational assistant program that starts in mid-October. Applications are still being accepted.
Over 20 different programs are available annually in Sioux Lookout with intakes multiple times throughout the year including programs that will begin in January.

Sacred Heart School

Brody Marsonet - Principal

First day back to class was busy, but lots of fun.  Students reunited with friends, met their new teachers and explored new classrooms.  We welcomed new kindergarten students and returning students began to get back into school routines.  The day went off without a hitch and dismissal went smoothly.  
We at SHS are looking forward to another successful year of learning and continuing to build the connections between our school, the parish and our community.