Parents of students who attend Sir James Douglas Elementary School now know where their children will attend classes starting late next week, after flood damage forced the school to temporarily close.
In a letter to parents obtained by Global News, parents are being told the 527 students will be able to resume classes on Jan. 5, 2023.
“What I can let you know today is that we can commit to having classes back in session for Thursday, January 5, 2023,” wrote Kevin Land and Meghan Gomes, principal and vice-principal of the school.
“We understand this extends the winter break by a couple of days and presents challenges for families in arranging childcare.”
For families that are struggling with arranging child care for the days the school remains closed, the school has created an online portal to “be in touch with options for care on Tuesday and Wednesday,” the letter said.
Parents can find the online portal on the Vancouver School Board’s website.
In a second note sent to parents Friday afternoon, the school provided a list of where students will attend class.
English students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 students in Divisions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 will attend class at Moberly Elementary, located at 1000 East 59th Ave.
English students in grades 6 and 7 in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will have classes at Trudeau Elementary at 449 East 62nd Ave.
“We are aware of the need to cross Knight Street as part of the walk and will work on plans in place to support students in walking safely to and from school,” Land and Gomes wrote.
French Immersion students Grade 4 to 7 in Divisions 15F, 16F, 17F, 18F, 19F, 20F, 21F & 22F will go to South Hill Swing Site at 5987 Prince Albert St.
Students at the South Hill Swing Site we will be sharing the building with Livingstone Elementary students and staff who are currently using part of the space as they await their move back to their school by early February.
“We acknowledge no solution is ideal but believe we have landed on a plan which will best meet the needs of the majority of students, families and staff,” the letter reads.
According to officials, the flooding occurred over the winter break when frozen pipes burst inside the school.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story stated classes will resume at the elementary school on Jan. 5. Classes for the students will resume but they will be held at a different location. Global News regrets the error.