Johnson Elementary School

Welcome! We hope you come back often

Johnson Elementary School has an enrolment of 126 students from K4 to grade seven. Through this website we hope to share the exciting learning experiences our students and staff are involved in. We hope you enjoy viewing it and visit again soon.

We respectfully acknowledge that Johnson Elementary School is situated upon the traditional territory of the Liard First Nation.

Growth Plan

At Johnson Elementary School, we believe in connection to culture and community.

  • An icon depicting literacy.

    Literacy

    Johnson Elementary works to improve literacy outcomes through the use of science-based reading strategies and culturally inclusive approaches. We value play as part of literacy development.

  • An icon depicting numeracy.

    Numeracy

    Johnson Elementary, numeracy is delivered in a targeted, comprehensive, and culturally-inclusive way. We value play as part of numeracy development.

  • An icon depicting whole child.

    Whole child

    Johnson Elementary, we believe in a holistic approach to learning. Our staff are informed by current literature on neuroscience and its influence on learning, emotions, and the body. We focus on our learners' strengths, abilities, and interests, thereby creating a safe space in which they can learn, grow, and thrive.

  • An icon depicting land & language.

    Land & language

    We lift up cultural practices, traditional languages, and on the land learning at Johnson Elementary. We listen to and learn from our elders.

An icon of a calendar.

School Calendar

An icon of a calendar.

Johnson Elementary School Calendar

Our calendar is structured to reflect cultural ways of knowing and doing.

The school year starts in early August and we have multiple extended breaks throughout the year to to spend time with their families while engaged in cultural activities.

A word from our Principal

We are excited to welcome Wade Gemmell as the new Principal of Johnson Elementary School

I am incredibly excited to be joining the Watson Lake community and to serve as the Principal of Johnson Elementary School. It is an honor to step into this leadership role and become part of the dedicated team at both Johnson Elementary School and the First Nations School Board.

With over 33 years in education, including 27 years as a Vice-Principal and Principal (25 of which were in the Chilliwack School District) I’ve had the privilege of working, leading, and learning in eight different schools. Each experience has deepened my passion for building strong, collaborative school communities focused on student learning and success.

I am especially committed to improving outcomes in Literacy (reading, writing, and communication) and Numeracy (computational fluency and problem-solving). I believe in the power of teamwork and open partnerships with staff, families, the Liard First Nation and the broader community to support every student’s journey.

I am a lifelong advocate for place-based learning and I am deeply honored to live and work on the traditional territory of the Liard First Nation. My previous experiences in Hartley Bay (Tsimshian Territory), Bamfield (Huu-ay-aht Territory), and Cultus Lake (Stó:lō Territory) have taught me the value of weaving local indigenous knowledge and traditional teachings in everyday learning for children. I’m looking forward to learning more about Kaska language and building meaningful connections in Watson Lake.

Outside of school, I’m a proud father of three adult children, one of whom will be making the move to the Yukon with me. I enjoy the outdoors, exploring trails by dirt bike, and I’m hoping to add snowmobiling to my Yukon adventures.

I’m truly looking forward to this new chapter and to working alongside the students, families, and staff of Johnson Elementary.

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