(Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools)

By rdnewsNOW staff

COVID-19

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools cancels international trips

Mar 12, 2020 | 8:22 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools Board of Trustees has cancelled a pair of international trips planned over the March spring break.

École Secondaire Notre Dame High School had planned two trips. One group of students was to travel to Germany, Croatia and Spain, while the other group was travelling solely to Spain.

St. Joseph High School students were planning to visit Central Europe (Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary). All trips were to occur from Mar. 18 – 29.

Officials with Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) say the decision was based on developing information from Alberta Health Services and Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

District officials say the Board of Trustees felt the decision was important, as the health and safety of students and staff is a top priority.

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“We recognize that this decision may be disappointing for students and their families that have been saving for a long time to attend these trips,” says Anne Marie Watson, Board Chair, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, in a news release. “However, student and staff safety is of utmost concern and we must take the direction of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health who is not recommending international travel.”

“The Board also considered whether families would lose the money they had put towards these trips,” continues Watson. “Our students and their families purchased travel insurance or provided their own, so we are confident that they will be able to recoup the majority of the cost.”

Officials say the division will continue to make decisions based on information from the World Health Organization, Government of Canada, Alberta Health Services and the Chief Medical Officer of Health.