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West Coast students head back to school on Monday

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The BC teachers’ strike has come to an end and that means West Coast kids will put their noses back to the grindstone on Monday.

Wickaninnish Community School will welcome Tofino’s elementary students back for a two-hour first day on Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“It is nice to touch base with our families, students, and staff once again after an extended time away from our great school,” said the school’s principal Drew Ryan.

“While the disruption to all of our lives over the past months has been unfortunate, it is wonderful to hear that everyone is eager to get back to school: learning from one another, playing with friends, listening to my long morning announcements, and of course eating Chef Rick's amazing lunches!”

Students should be sitting in their last year’s classroom by 10 a.m. and any students new to the school must report to the office.

A school-wide assembly will be held at 11:15 a.m. to welcome students back and run a refresher course on how schooldays operate.

All class lists will be posted on the school’s front doors on Monday at 2:30 p.m.

For Monday’s late start, buses will pick students up from Esowista and Ty-Histanis at 9:25 a.m.

When the school year kicks into its regular routine on Tuesday, classes will kick off at 8:38 a.m. and run until a 2:30 p.m. dismissal.

Ucluelet Elementary School will also run with a short first day on Monday from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Students are not required to bring any school supplies to Monday’s short day and the school will launch into its regular routine and 8:33 a.m. start time on Tuesday.  

Ucluelet Secondary School’s shortened first day will start at 10 a.m. on Monday.

Grade 9-12 students will be let go at 10:45 a.m. with Grade 8 students waiting a little longer before being dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

Students traveling from Tofino can hop on board the first school bus of the year at 9:15 a.m. at the Tofino Fire Hall.

This bus will also make stops at the North Chesterman pickup at 9:20 a.m., the Craig Road pickup at 9:25 a.m., Ty-Histanis at 9:35 a.m. and Esowista at 9:40 a.m.

The Hitacu bus will leave the Hitacu Community Hall at 9:30 a.m. with stops at Willowbrae at 9:45 a.m. and Millstream at 9:47 a.m.

Buses will leave the school at 10:45 a.m. for Grade 9-12 students and 12:30 p.m. for Grade 8 students.

The bus schedule will get back to normal on Tuesday with buses leaving from the Tofino Fire Hall at 7:40 a.m. and the Hitacu Community Hall at 8 a.m.

During the school year, buses will leave from USS at 3:05 p.m. except for Fridays’ 2 p.m. departure time.  

The secondary school’s late bus program for students from Hitacu, Port Albion, Ty-Histanis, Tofino and Opitsaht will begin on Sept. 30 and run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays leaving the school at 5 p.m.

USS’ morning bell will toll at 8:25 a.m. on Tuesday with first classes starting at 8:30 a.m.

Any students new to the area can register by calling the school at 250-726-7796 and any students wanting to make a change to their course list are urged to call this number in short order because the deadline for course changes is Sept. 27.

The school’s meal program will begin on Sept. 29 and any students wishing to participate must hand in their envelopes by Sept. 26.

Envelopes are available at the school’s main office.

reporter@westerlynews.ca

 



Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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