Graham Arts to become principal of Yellowknife’s JH Sissons

Yellowknife’s YK1 school district has announced Graham Arts is to become the new principal of École JH Sissons School.

Arts joins the school after a short spell as head of school at Vancouver’s Alexander Academy.

Previously, he spent more than a decade as part of BC’s Sooke school district, having first graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1990.

Arts joins JH Sissons at a time of imminent upheaval for the school.

In the coming few years, students are to be dispersed throughout YK1’s other schools while the existing JH Sissons facility is torn down and replaced.

“Planning for, and building, a new school is always an exciting time,” Arts said in an introductory letter to parents.

“I have been privileged to have been a part of large-scale school construction projects in the past. My hope is to use these experiences to help throughout the various phases of our project to ensure we have a facility that meets the needs of students, staff, and the extended community.

“As with the education of their children, the advice and support of parents and guardians will be key as we work to complete our next school.”

Both Arts and assistant principal Jeff McConomy will be new to their posts when they start at the school in August.

McConomy becomes the assistant principal having most recently served as the district’s intensive and post-intensive French coach.