Mountainview School Division is reminding staff and families within the division that there will be school both tomorrow and Monday, despite the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation holiday this weekend.
"Truth and Reconciliation Day is a federal holiday. While it is recognized federally, it is not a provincially recognized holiday for the education sector." according to MVSD Superintendent Stephen Jaddock.
He adds that a number of activities have taken place in their schools throughout the week, with more planned for Friday.
"I know that a number of schools are going to be doing an orange shirt day on Friday. Some are also doing week-long celebrations where there are events that are geared towards reconciliation, that will be occurring within the school."
MVSD does have a professional development day planned for Tuesday.
Frontier School Division plans
Meanwhile, classes will also be in session on Friday in the Frontier School Division, although there will be an administration day held in that division on Monday in recognition of National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Chief Superintendent Reg Klassen says a number of activities are planned for Friday for schools within their division.
"Some of our schools will be making orange shirts, tie-dying them. One of our schools is also tying orange ribbons. Many of our schools will be doing walks. I know that one school close to Pine Creek will be visiting the Pine Creek Residential School memorial monument."
Assemblies and speeches from elders are also being planned for Friday.
Klassen says National Truth and Reconciliation Day is a significant day for their division, with eighty per cent of their school population being indigenous.
"We are trying hard as a school division to move forward from teaching truth and reconciliation, and the history of residential schools, to trying to teach our students that throughout all of our courses and throughout the whole year. So that we do not just recognize orange shirt day today, that our students as they go through our education system have a much deeper understanding of that history."
Frontier School division operates schools in a number of Parkland communities, including Rorketon, Crane River, Camperville, Skownan, and Waterhen.
