Thunder News Flash – December 25, 2021

Today we celebrate the birth of a King.  Jesus is the Saviour that God promised, and His birth proves to us that God keeps His promises.  Placed in a wooden manger by His mother, Mary, this wood was replaced by the wood of the cross where He was hung to die, but ultimately the place where He accomplished salvation.  Even in the dark times and uncertainty of this pandemic, let us remember the words of the angels, “do not be afraid”.  Let us believe that Jesus brings light to the darkness, and only He can take away our fears.  Let us put our hope in Jesus, this Christmas and always.

The school is scheduled to re-open on Tuesday, January 4th after the Christmas break.  However, as we know, these are very uncertain times with the possibility of more restrictions being put in place.  Please continue to read the Thunder News Flash weekly, as well as monitor your email closely over the Christmas break, as we will do our best to keep you updated regarding any information about COVID-19 that affects schools.  As you know, our Public Health Officer and the Ministry of Education want to keep schools open, as long as it is safe for staff and students to do so.  Let’s hope and pray that we will be able to open our doors for in-person instruction on January 4th. 

Here is some important information regarding international travel from this week’s Ministry of Education COVID-19 update:

• The federal government has advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside the country 
• Staff and students who travel (or their parent/caregiver) are responsible for ensuring they adhere to all federal travel requirements.  This includes adhering to all quarantine and any other specific requirements
• Staff and students who travel should be reminded to regularly review information from the Government of Canada, which can be found by clicking here, recognizing requirements are subject to change, particularly in light of the rapidly evolving situation due to the Omicron variant
• Information about requirements upon returning to Canada following international travel can be found by clicking here 

The 2022 Prime Minister’s Awards competition is open!  Educators play an important role in helping to build the next generation of Canadians.  We all remember an educator that changed our lives.  The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Excellence in STEM, and Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour exemplary teachers and early childhood educators who are preparing youth for the innovation economy.  Consider nominating an educator for a 2022 Prime Minister’s Award!  Download your nomination package by clicking here.