Jasper students are set to find out what the school year will look like Wednesday evening. Sarinya Pinngam/Dreamstime.com

By Tanner Smith

Jasper students to ‘soft start’ 2024/2025 school year

Aug 21, 2024 | 2:23 PM

Jasper students displaced during the wildfires will have a clearer view of what education in the town will look like after a meeting Wednesday.

The Alberta Government and Grande Yellowhead School Division will co-host a virtual town hall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. updating residents on the 2024/2025 school year.

Evergreen Local 11 President Jessie Smeall said as of right now, the plan is to have a “soft start” later in September.

“The Grade 10 to 12 students will be doing a little bit of online work at the beginning just to kind of get to know their teachers and do some very light work,” Smeall said.

“The actual curriculum is not going to start until they’re physically back in school on Sept. 17.”

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However, teachers can’t enter the building and start preparing for the school year until September 14 at the earliest, so some things could change.

“For the time being neighbouring communities, like ours here in Hinton, have activities available at the learning connection or the Outreach site where parents and their kids can come in play, and do some activities. But it sounds like students are encouraged to register wherever they are at this moment, especially if they’ve been displaced or lost their structures.”

Smeall added she can’t speak directly for districts in Calgary or Edmonton, but enrolling your child in the nearest school division is encouraged, to add a sense of stability.

Besides, educational and community support, Smeall says there will also be professionals available to help residents with the transition; “I have heard there are going to be several mental health supports in place, not only for our students and our staff, but our families in any community.”

A link to attend the virtual town hall will be sent out by the school division to all parents and guardians.

For anyone wishing to help support Jasper residents, a teacher supply drive was started by Smeall last week, to help Jasper teachers gather and replenish supplies before the school year.

She thanks everyone who has helped out so far, and other charitable organizations such as the Red Cross and local businesses who helped residents during a time of need; as “it made a huge and positive impact on families.”