***Updated at 7:35 p.m. to include Charles P. Allen High School

Families,

I know that today was not school as usual. Much like you, we are taking the situation surrounding the wildfires in Tantallon and Hammonds Plains day by day, and hour by hour. We are following direction from the province’s Emergency Management Office (EMO) and will continue to provide you with relevant updates as they become available.

At this time, the following schools will be closed on Tuesday, May 30, 2023:

• Bay View High School
• Tantallon Junior Elementary
• Tantallon Senior Elementary
• Five Bridges Junior High
• St. Margaret’s Bay Elementary
• Charles P. Allen High***
• Kingswood Elementary
• Hammonds Plains Consolidated
• Madeline Symonds Middle School
• Harry R. Hamilton Elementary
• Millwood Elementary
• Millwood High School
• Sackville Heights Elementary
• Sackville Heights Junior High

This is a stressful and difficult time. I know that some families may have lost homes. I know that many students, staff and families are displaced.

To those in the schools that dismissed early today with little warning, thank you. The decision to close the Bay View, Charles P. Allen, Halifax West and Millwood Families of Schools was based on conversations with EMO and a recommendation from Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services. It was a precautionary measure based on the uncertainty of the nearby fires and the potential of an expanded evacuation zone. Yesterday we witnessed how challenging evacuations can become in rapidly changing conditions, especially from a traffic perspective. We continue to work collaboratively with emergency officials to do our part to make their incredibly difficult job easier.

The coming days and weeks will be challenging for many. Caregivers, if you’re looking for advice on how to discuss this situation with your children, click here.

For children and youth, the Kids Help Phone can be reached at 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to children and youth who want confidential and anonymous care from trained responders in both English and French.  Visit the Kids Help Phone website for online chat support or to access online resources.

Please take care.

Steve Gallagher
Regional Executive Director