Grade 7 to 12 students under the Rocky View Schools (RVS) division won't be returning to their classrooms tomorrow. 

In a letter to families sent out this evening (May 3), RVS Superintendent, Greg Luterbach and Board Chair, Fiona Gilbert made the announcement of a temporary shift to online learning effective May 4, under a Scenario 3 plan.

They state that the decision aligns with government’s announcement.

In the Covid-19 update provided May 3, Premier Jason Kenney prepared Albertans for the announcement of stricter restrictions, which the province plans to deliver tomorrow. 

The temporary switch to at-home learning will continue until at least May 14 with a tentative return to the classroom on May 17 at the earliest.

This announcement closely follows three Cochrane area schools that made the switch today, due to operational issues separate from today’s provincial announcement.  

Luterbach and Gilbert stress that all Kindergarten to grade 6 students, with the exception of three Cochrane area schools, will continue to learn in-person. 

"To clarify, all students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 except those in Westbrook, Fireside, and Mitford, are to attend in-person classes as they would normally," states the letter.

They add that the ongoing situation will be closely monitored and adjusted as necessary. 

School buses will run on schedule for all registered riders in Kindergarten to grade 6 across RVS, except those moved to at-home learning, and bus services will be paused for grades 7 to 12 students.  

Impacted families will be contacted by their teachers as quickly as possible with a more detailed plan.