Classes at Bellerose Composite High School will be in person on Tuesday, but move online Wednesday due to a bomb threat, the school advised in an email to parents Monday afternoon.
The school district is working with the RCMP, who are actively investigating the threat, and can’t share many details, said Paula Power, manager of communications at St. Albert Public Schools.
Right now, the school board can’t reveal when or how they received the threat, but the board has decided to move students to online learning on Wednesday, Nov. 10, to prioritize student safety.
The school building will be closed that day and staff will be working offsite.
On Tuesday the school, which is home to more than 1,000 students in Grades 10, 11, and 12, will be open for students, and classes will continue as usual.
“Some parents and families may choose to stay home tomorrow, and we respect that,” Power said.
“The teachers will work with the students who choose to stay home tomorrow.”
School will be out on Thursday for Remembrance Day and Friday is a non-school day, Power said, but the school expects to resume classes as usual on Monday, Nov. 15.
“We are working with the RCMP to make sure the school is safe for when students get back,” Power said.
Threats to schools are rare, Power said.
“It doesn't happen very often.”
The investigation is ongoing. Bellerose said in the email to parents they cannot share many details.
“The RCMP have launched an investigation, and while we can’t share many details with you because of this ongoing investigation, please be assured that as part of our commitment to ensuring a safe learning environment, we take all issues that may affect school and student safety seriously,” the email read.
“We want to reiterate that we are taking these precautions as part of our commitment to ensuring a safe learning environment at Bellerose and we will continue to take all concerns regarding the safety of our staff and students seriously,” the email said.
