Bethlehem Catholic High School says it will begin the school year on time, but students will follow a temporary split-day schedule after a recent fire damaged the school’s portable classrooms. In a letter to families, the school said classes will start as scheduled on Sept. 2. While the main school building is available for use, 26 portable classrooms were damaged in the fire and will not be available this fall. “After careful consideration, and in consultation with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, we have decided to move to a split-day schedule as a temporary response to an extraordinary situation,” the school said. According to the school schedule, Grades 9 and 10 students will attend classes in the morning, while Grades 11 and 12 students will attend classes in the afternoon. “Class periods will be slightly shorter than usual,” the school said. The school said it has also notified Saskatoon Transit of the schedule change because more students may need transportation during the middle of the day. Families are being asked to review their transportation plans ahead of the start of the school year. Firefighters were called to the school at 110 Bowlt Crescent around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 7. According to Saskatoon police, the fire was believed to be suspicious and an arson investigator was working on the case.
