Reversal over lunches at Sissons
Message stating mealtimes were replaced by two nutritional breaks has been rescinded
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, September 1, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There will be a lunch break after all for students and staff at J.H. Sissons School this year.
Outgoing principal Rachell Simmons stands in front of J.H. Sissons School in May. A message to parents, with Simmons' name attached, was posted to the school's website on Aug. 24 stating the school was eliminating lunch breaks for the coming school year. That message has since been replaced by one stating lunch breaks will continue for 2017/18. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
On Aug. 24, a message was posted to the school's website stating the noon-hour meal was being eliminated for the coming school year.
It is not entirely clear who posted the message, but outgoing principal Rachell Simmons' email address was attached to it.
The message stated the break was being replaced by two 25-minute nutritional breaks - one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
The morning break was to be preceded by a 20-minute physical activity break while the afternoon nutrition break was to be followed by another 20-minute physical activity session.
"In order to balance the day and to reduce frequent interruptions, Sissons will be adopting a new schedule this coming September," stated the message.
"As this will be new for your child or children, please provide two large portions of healthy food for their breaks."
The message was posted four days before Simmons went on a one-year leave as principal, according to Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (Yk1) superintendent Metro Huculak.
Yellowknifer was unsuccessful in its attempts to contact Simmons.
Huculak confirmed the message went out without board approval and has since been replaced with an updated message.
"I don't think it was a mistake," said Huculak. "They were looking at how they could get kids more active ... But they put it in without good consultation with parents. That will take place over this next (school) year to see what parents think about the program."
Huculak said the board will be bringing in an physical activity expert this month to talk to staff about how to get students more physically active.
Cynthia Moyo, outgoing co-chair of the Sissons' Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) said she was caught off guard by the original message.
"I was taken aback," she said.
"There was no mention made of this previously to the PAC. It is our job to monitor what school administrators are doing, but this came straight out of the blue."
She added it is good news to hear parents will be consulted on the issue during the coming school year.
Moyo said she is stepping down as co-chair of the PAC for the coming school year, but will stay on as a council member.
For the coming Sissons school year, the second recess of the day will begin at 11:40 a.m. and run until 12:10 p.m. It will be immediately followed by a half-hour lunch break.
Brigitte Rivet is the acting principal at Sissons for the coming school year, which begins on Tuesday.
