It’s that time of year when “back-to-school” commercials fill the airwaves and either raise feelings of anticipation and excitement in students, or absolute dread. Regardless of how students feel about the coming school year, School District 52 in Prince Rupert wants to ensure that students know when and where they should be on the first day of school, as well as making sure new students know how they can register.
“We are looking forward to this year. This will be the second year of our transition. We learned a lot from last year…” said School District 52 Superintendent Lynn Hauptman.
The first day of school will be on Tuesday, September 4, after the Labour Day long weekend. Students from elementary up to high school will have their first day start at different times.
Kindergarten registration started earlier this year, with new students still being able to register at the elementary school closest to them. Their school will notify kindergarten students of their starting date and time.
Grade 1 to grade 5 students should be at the elementary school they are registered to attend at 10 a.m. on September 4, with their first day running until noon.
Grade 6 students entering into middle school should be at PRMS at 1 p.m. Students have already toured the building last school year and will be the only kids in the school during this time on September 4 to ensure that the big move isn’t too flustering. Their day is expected to end at 3 p.m.
Students in grade 7 and grade 8 should be at PRMS at 10:30 a.m. on September 4, with their day ending at 12 p.m.
Grade 9 and 10 students will be expected to be at CHSS at 9:45 a.m., with grade 11 and grade 12 students starting their first day at 1 p.m. According to administration at the high school, students must attend the first day of school to ensure they will have a spot in classes they need. High school students are also reminded that because of rapid progress though coursework, students not attending will fall behind quickly.
Grade 9 to 12 students attending Pacific Coast School this year should be at the school at 10 a.m., with the first day ending at noon.
Students needing to travel into Prince Rupert to attend classes should also pay extra attention to what time their bus or ferry is leaving on September 4.
As per usual, students living in Dodge Cove, Crippen Cove and Metlakatla will be transported to Prince Rupert daily by ferry and bus. However on September 4 the ferry will be leaving Metlakatla at 9 a.m., and will be leaving Dodge Cove at 9:15 a.m. The bus will leave Northland Dock at 9:30 a.m.
Elementary and secondary school students that are done their first day of school by noon will be picked up by bus, and dropped off at the dock, where they will leave on the ferry at 12:15 p.m. All other students needing to use the ferry will be picked up at 3 p.m., and will depart on the ferry at 3:30 p.m.
When regular classroom instruction starts on September 5, the ferry will leave Metlakatla at 7:50 a.m. and Dodge Cove at 8:05 a.m. daily.
Middle and high school students living out in Port Edward will be transported to the community by bus, that will leave the district at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and will return to Port Edward at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Students should be at the Evergreen or Hill Crest stop ten or so minutes before 9 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
Any elementary school student that is new to the district, or has moved to another catchment area during the summer can register at the school closest to them on Monday, August 27 through to Friday, August 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All elementary schools in the district will be open during that time.
Any new students needing to register to attend Prince Rupert Middle School, Charles Hays Secondary School or Pacific Coast School can register anytime, with staff being at all three schools currently until August 31.