By Shaun Penner

COVID IN SCHOOLS

St. Joe’s moving Grade 10-12 students online amid rising COVID-19 cases in division

Mar 28, 2021 | 1:59 PM

The Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools says due to a “higher-than-average” number of COVID-19 cases in the division and a looming staff shortage, students from St Joseph Catholic High School in Grades 10, 11 and 12 will move to online learning from March 29th to April 1st.

Superintendent Karl Germann says the move will help manage available staff resources within the division and keep students safe. He says it will help keep elementary schools open and provide adequate substitute coverage prior to the Easter break.

Germann is also calling on families to remain vigilant against COVID-19, as they are expecting case counts to continue to rise and more classes to have to move online.

“We too are tired of all the restrictions, but we really need your help! We are managing a higher-than-average number of cases in our Division and are waiting on a number of ‘unconfirmed test results’ this weekend,” says Germann, in a letter to parents Sunday.

“We anticipate the spread of COVID-19 to continue and to increase in Grande Prairie and area. At the current rate of infection, we anticipate more classrooms and schools transitioning to online learning after Easter.”

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There are currently 10 Grande Prairie schools under an outbreak status, including:

• Aspen Grove School (10+ cases)
• Grande Prairie Composite High School (10+ cases)
• Swanavon School (10+ cases)
• Charles Spencer High School (10+ cases)
• St. John Paul II High School (10+ cases)
• Riverstone Public School (10+ cases)
• Alexander Forbes School (5-9 cases)
• Hillside Community School (5-9 cases)
• Mother Teresa School (5-9 cases)
• Grande Prairie Christian School (5-9 cases)

Holy Cross Catholic School is under an alert status, where there are now between two and four cases.

The Peace Wapiti Public School Division also announced Sunday they would be moving Grades 7, 8 and 9 students online at Hythe Regional School next week due to the number of staff having to isolate because of COVID-19. Four cases have been confirmed at the school over the last week.

Beaverlodge Regional High School has also moved Grades 11 and 12 online for next week due to staff shortages created by COVID-19.