Box 308, Watson Lake, Yukon, Y0A 1C0
Phone: (867) 536-2501 Fax: (867) 536-2518
Home Of The Bears
Our Student's, Staff and Community Welcome you to Watson Lake Secondary School, Watson Lake, Yukon.
COVID-19 Detailed School Health and Safety Operational Plan
When to Keep Children Home This School Year
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Watson Lake Secondary School is located on the Traditional Territory of the Kaska People and the Liard First Nation. Our school is a place of opportunity for all, where each and every one of our students has the opportunity to make the very most of his or her talents. We strive to provide excellent academic instruction at all levels of ability, as well as a rich variety of co-curricular and extracurricular activities from sports teams to student council. We are also always on the lookout for opportunities outside the school and have sent WLSS students all over the territory and the country for sports activities, leadership conferences and national competitions including Skills Canada. Our goal is for all of our students to find success in a way that is meaningful to their career plan. We are all proud to be Watson Lake Secondary School Bears! 
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 AT 8:30 AM
KASKA DAY AT WATSON LAKE SECONDARY
EARTH DAY CLEANUP AT WLSS
STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICY
WATSON LAKE SECONDARY SCHOOL 536-2501 The responsibility for regular attendance rests with the student and parent(s) or guardians. However, any attendance policy will only succeed when all concerned parties (the student, the parents or guardians, and the school) work together. Regular attendance is important in order for students to participate in class activities and to be exposed to the full range of knowledge and experiences necessary to successfully meet course objectives. Course work also instills self-discipline and develops skills by group interactions. Many class presentations and discussions are important to hear and participate in, and therefore, cannot be “made-up”. This policy emphasizes the involvement of all concerned parties. Please contact the school if you have any questions or concerns regarding attendance. Grade 8 and 9 Students Since the students enrolled in grades 8 and 9 are generally under the age of 16, they are subject to very stringent attendance requirements. The Education Act (22.1) states that every child younger than 16 in September of a given school year, is mandated to attend school operated by the Ministry or a School Board. There is a clear expectation for parents or guardians to ensure attendance at a school, unless excused under Section (22.2) of the Act. Attendance Policy Process The school wants to ensure that parents are notified of absences for the obvious safety and academic performance issues. The school follows the following procedures to notify parents. How we need you to inform us of student absences: If a student has a valid reason to miss class, we would like parents to phone the school at 536-2501 so teachers can be informed. Please do this by 8:30 a.m. to avoid being called by the school. As a follow-up, parents are encouraged to also send a note with the student when he/she returns to classes. How we inform Parents of student absences: First period teachers (a.m.) forward a list of all absentees to the office immediately after attendance is taken. The office will call home for all students who are marked as absent. Grade 8 parents will be contacted at home or work first and the office will work through the list from there. If the office cannot get a hold of someone a message will be left on the number that you indicated as the primary contact number. Parents will not be called if they have already contacted the school. We ask that parents contact the school no later than 8:30 a.m. to inform us of excused absences. How we inform you of student absences: All parents are encouraged to phone or visit as often as they wish for an attendance update. Upon request, we will also fax or email a weekly attendance report to parents or guardians. Parents are also invited to meet with teachers, counsellors or administrators to address attendance concerns they may have. What happens when you come back from an absence? Whenever a student returns to class after and absence, it is the student’s responsibility to meet with the teachers to get work, assignments or tests that were missed. If enough notice is given to the office of an absence work missed can be picked up at the office by the end of the day. School Staff Promotion of Good Attendance:
Within five absences, the teacher will attempt to contact the parents, identifying the problem.
After fifteen absences, the teacher will submit another referral form to the office. An attempt will be made to contact home.
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Important Dates
Quick Links
Watson Lake Secondary Library Online Kaska Dena Council Watson Lake Secondary School Weather Online Yukon Native Language Centre - Kaska Emergency Procedures fentanyl_info_sheet_oct_2018.pdf student_assessment_questionaire_for_parents_2019.pdf THANK YOU TO PC CHILDREN'S CHARITY
FOR HELPING TO SUPPORT OUR BREAKFAST PROGRAM! 
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CANNABIS INFORMATION
Cannabis legalization information for parents
As of October 17, cannabis will be legal in Canada. We continue to work with school communities to ensure students have the information they need to make healthy choices and stay safe.
Legal age for cannabis
The legal age to use, possess, cultivate or purchase cannabis is 19 years of age. As an adult, if you have any cannabis or cannabis plants, you are legally responsible for ensuring children who are under 19 do not have access to cannabis or cannabis plants that may be in your possession.
Cannabis legalization and schools
Drug and alcohol education, including cannabis, continues to be part of Yukon’s school curriculum. The curriculum has grade-appropriate learning outcomes about the risks of harmful substances to support students in making safe and healthy life choices. We are providing more information to school staff about cannabis legalization and health effects to ensure students are receiving current information.
The use of cannabis continues to be prohibited on school grounds. If a student is found to be using cannabis at school, the school principal will notify the parents and determine the appropriate action, which may include counselling by qualified school staff or outside agencies, and/or disciplinary action.
Some of the health effects of cannabis
The health risks of cannabis use are higher in younger users and when used more often and for longer periods of time.
Cannabis use can be harmful for youth brain development until the age of 25. Its use has been linked to the development of psychosis and schizophrenia, especially when use begins in adolescence and there is a family history of these illnesses.
Cannabis can be addictive. About 1 in 11 people who use cannabis will become addicted. That risk rises to about 1 in 6 for people who started using cannabis as a teen. Visit the Government of Canada’s cannabis website at canada.ca/cannabis to learn more about the health effects of cannabis.
Substance use supports
School counselors are available at all of our schools to provide students with guidance and advice around healthy decision making and avoiding risky and unsafe situations. We also work with Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services to offer more in-depth counselling to students.
If you suspect your child is having problems with drugs or alcohol, you can talk with your school about getting help from a school counsellor or contact Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services at 867-456-3838.
Talk with your child
Conversations about cannabis and other substances needs to happen both in school and at home. It is important to speak with your child about cannabis to help them make informed decisions to keep themselves safe and healthy.
- Be open, calm and ask questions. Do not blame, shame or lecture.
- Ask what they have heard about cannabis and other substances.
- Children are experts about their worlds. Listen and learn.
- Tell them you care about them. Speak from your heart.
- Help them make healthy decisions. Focus on your concern for their safety.
Find out more
For more information on how we are educating students about the risk of cannabis and other drugs, visit www.education.gov.yk.ca/drug_education.html or speak with your child’s teacher. For more information about cannabis legalization in Yukon, visit yukon.ca/cannabis or see the key things Yukoners need to know about cannabis video at youtu.be/N1v2BLibNqc.