By Troy Gillard

starting tuesday

Normandeau School suspending in-person classes due to rising COVID-19 cases

Dec 7, 2020 | 4:09 PM

A school in north Red Deer is suspending in-person learning due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases affecting its students and staff.

Normandeau School principal Lisa Spicer told parents in a letter on Monday that nearly half of staff and students are currently required to self-isolate, and there’s also a growing number of families choosing to keep their kids at home due to the rising case numbers.

“This is having a significant impact on our students and staff, both those who are now required to self-isolate and learn from home, as well as those who remain learning at school,” Spicer explained.

Normandeau School is home to approximately 420 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8.

Red Deer Public Schools has requested and received permission from Alberta Education to move Normandeau School to Temporary Online Learning for all students starting tomorrow, December 8, through December 18.

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“This means students will not attend in-person classes, but rather all classes for all students will move temporarily online,” said Spicer.

Online learning will continue for the week of January 4-8, 2021, as was previously announced for all students across the province.

“We know the current pandemic has created an unprecedented change in all our lives and these new measures are yet another disruption,” Spicer acknowledged. “Again, we want to try and provide teaching and learning as normal as possible to maintain continuity and minimize disruption.”

According to the website Support our Students, which is tracking COVID-19 cases in schools across the province, Normandeau School has had 12 cases since the start of the school year, including eight since December 3.