Students at Bethlehem Catholic High School are set to return to school on Wednesday after a fire incident that occurred last month. The school day will be shortened for most students as a result. The fire destroyed 26 portable classrooms at the Saskatoon school on August 7, displacing nearly 800 students, including Kyson Kenny, a Grade 11 student.
Reflecting on the fire incident, Kenny described the experience as surreal, having seen videos of the flames while he was away. He noted the shock of witnessing the aftermath at the school, with the football field covered in ashes. The fire’s origin is under investigation as suspicious, with no charges laid yet.
The school has implemented a split schedule, with Grades 9 and 10 attending classes in the morning and Grades 11 and 12 using the classrooms in the afternoon. The remaining half of the day is dedicated to optional tutorials, held in nearby facilities like the Shaw Centre. Some students expressed concerns that the shorter class time may lead to increased homework load.
While students like Kenny appreciate the shortened days, they worry about classmates who may not take advantage of the tutorial sessions. The Superintendent of Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, Tom Hickey, acknowledged the emotional toll the fire incident had on both students and staff, with some teachers needing firefighter escort to retrieve personal items.
The timeline for rebuilding the classrooms remains uncertain, pending decisions from structural engineers, insurers, and the school division. The Ministry of Education will determine whether temporary portables or permanent structures will be used for expansion. The split schedule may continue for the entire semester until sufficient space becomes available.
The school community remains resilient despite the challenges posed by the fire, with preparations in place for any scenario that may arise throughout the academic year.