More students are filling classrooms in Yellowknife which may cause some capacity issues at schools in the city.
The Yellowknife Education District No. 1 says enrolment has increased in the district. As for Yellowknife Catholic Schools, enrolment remains full but stagnant, however, more teachers have been added to accommodate more students in the French-immersion program.
“It's exciting to see so many new students coming to Yellowknife,” said Yk1 superintendent Metro Huculak. “We've seen an increased enrolment across the district, including a lot more students registering for junior kindergarten.”
There are nearly 150 junior kindergarten students registered in Yk1, bringing J.H. Sissons School and N.J. Macpherson school to full capacity, said Huculak.
This year's increased enrolment has prompted Yk1 to hire more teachers. A new education-assistant and full-time teacher are being added at Sir John Franklin high school.
Finding teachers becomes increasingly difficult as many educators are migrating south for work, said Huculak.
“Some people we had hired found themselves positions in New Brunswick,” he said. “(However) this year has been good ... We want teachers who want to be here, have a good knowledge of the curriculum and have a positive impact on our students.”
Yellowknife Catholic Schools has hired six new staff. Additions include a new math and science teacher at St. Patrick High School, a core French and French-immersion teacher at Weledeh Catholic School and four new French-immersion teachers at St. Joseph School.
“Portable classrooms will be opened for the start of the school year which will create more room for students inside the building,” said Parker.
The district reported severe capacity issues at St. Joseph School last year, which is being offset by the portables.
Last year, the school was at 98 per cent capacity with 569 students. Weledeh Catholic School was at 77 per cent capacity with 383 students. St. Patrick High School was 96 per cent and 517 students.
In addition to the increase in staff, administration changes are being made throughout the Catholic school district, said Parker.
Weledeh principal Todd Stewart will take over as principal of the high school. Weledeh assistant principal Jenny Reid will be filling in as the school's principal. And Seanna Stewart is being named the school's new assistant principal.
Enrolment numbers have also increased at the Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest. Superintendent Yvonne Careen said enrolment at Ecole Allain St-Cyr is expected to be 135.
The french school board is also preparing for over 90 students to attend Yellowknife's College Nordique Francophone-- the only French college in the territory -- for the upcoming semester.
FACT FILE: Student enrolment in Yk schools
- Yellowknife Catholic schools: 1,043
- Yellowknife Education District No. 1: 2,100 (approx.)
- Ecole Allain St. Cyr: 135