St. Mary High School. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

safety first

Catholic School Division enrolment stays consistent despite COVID-19 pandemic

Oct 11, 2020 | 1:00 PM

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division has not seen much of a drop in enrolment despite concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, they had a grand total of 3,022 students enroll, compared to 3,247 in 2019 and 3,161 in 2018.

“I believe the families that want catholic education want to continue with catholic education, and are devout faithful families and I think that has a big part to play with it,” Lorel Trumier, the director of education for the Prince Albert Catholic School Division, told paNOW. “I also believe that our teachers and are administrators and are staff members in our school really work to build relationships with our families.”

She said in this pandemic year, they had families reaching out with concerns about their children’s return to school and what safety precautions would be in place. In August, Trumier explained everything was being done to prepare for the school year.

“That was great because we were able to respond to the families and we were able to start an online e-school so to speak and be able to offer online courses,” Trumier explained. “That helped us maintain some of our students that just perhaps for a multitude of reasons are not able to return to school.”

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Trumier credits their success of enrolment and keeping students healthy to strong communication with parents because “in a pandemic year nothing is the same.”

She said the success they’ve had to date in keeping students and staff healthy has been dependant on everyone doing their part.

“One of the challenges is sustaining people’s willingness to continue because we’re as far into the school year we are because everybody did what they needed to do,” she said. “Doesn’t mean we’ll perhaps remain COVID free it’s what we’re striving for and it’s what we’re aiming for and what we’re working so hard to do.”

Although it’s sometimes human nature to let your guard down, Trumier said she wants everyone to remain diligent and remain committed to the processes in place.

“If a COVID outbreak does occur then we’re going to look at our current processes and try to make them better.”

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12