Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Broughton Island (Dec 05/05) - Students at Inuksuit school in Qikiqtarjuaq were back in their classes on Nov. 28.

The school had been closed for more than two weeks after fibreglass particles in the air system made students and staff sick.

Airborne particles were eliminated, the school was cleaned and the air system vacuumed out, says the department of Education.

Principal Laura Marchand says the students and staff at the school are very happy to be back in school.

"It was tough for everybody being out for so long, and we're glad to be back."

While the school was closed, a number of teachers helped their senior students with exam preparations in a room in the hamlet office.

Marchand says this kept them from falling too far behind in their studies.

But falling behind is inevitable with the school closed, Marchand says, and students and teachers are working very hard to catch up.

As a principal who has been hard at her job for many years, Marchand said she has never felt as much support by the community and the school system as she did while cleaning up the problem.

"I appreciate all the help," she said.

Would she have done anything different in hindsight?

"I don't think so."