St. Elias Community School in Haines Junction (Dakwäkäda), Yukon, is piloting a high‑school writing and literacy program during the 2025–2026 academic year to help students in Grades 8 through 12 improve their communication skills. The project focuses on giving students the direct, explicit instruction they need to succeed in their studies and after graduation.
The pilot applies Science of Reading (SoR) principles—research‑based, explicit instruction traditionally used in early grades—to a structured writing curriculum that aims to teach students how to write clearly and effectively. The approach moves away from older ‘balanced literacy’ models and toward explicit instruction rather than expecting students to acquire advanced writing skills on their own.
Teachers at St. Elias Community School are establishing a Professional Learning Community (PLC) to ensure writing instruction is coordinated across subjects. Under the PLC model, students will receive support with writing in content areas such as science and math as well as in English classes.
The First Nation School Board (FNSB) is overseeing the pilot in partnership with Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN). Megan Norris, Lead Literacy Coach with the FNSB, is helping to guide the school through these changes to improve student outcomes; Norris has also been recognized by national literacy bodies for her work in the territory.
Families will receive more detailed, skills‑based updates—beyond letter grades—that show which sub‑skills (for example, syntax, vocabulary, and morphology) their children are mastering. The FNSB has committed to sharing universal screening and assessment data with parents so they can better understand how their child is progressing toward post‑secondary and workforce readiness.
