Holy Family Elementary School in Whitehorse’s Porter Creek area was closed today, April 26, following incidents on the property yesterday. The school’s closure was announced to parents via email at around 7:30 p.m. last night.
The email was provided to the News by a parent whose child attends the school.
In another email sent to Holy Family Elementary School parents last night, Trevor Ratcliff, the acting assistant deputy minister of schools and student services, alerted parents that the school was put on a “hold and secure” on the morning of April 25. This email was also forwarded to the News by a parent involved at the school.
According to Ratcliff’s email, during a hold and secure, students remain in their classrooms, where instruction continues, and people are not allowed to enter or exit the school.
“As you are aware, recent issues with two school community members at Holy Family Elementary School have led to them being issued a notice to not trespass on school premises. This notice is issued under the School Trespass Act. Today’s hold and secure was initiated due to a violation of this notice. The hold and secure ended at 8:51 [a.m.], after the individual had left school premises. RCMP attended the school this morning related to this issue,” Ratcliff said in the email to parents.
The email goes on to note that the same individual arrived at the premises again at the end of the school day and displayed “heightened behaviour” that was witnessed by some students and parents. The RCMP were once again called, and “school staff made sure that students were safely picked up or escorted to school buses while this situation was unfolding,” according to Ratcliff’s email.
An RCMP spokesperson based in Whitehorse confirmed via email to the News that police are investigating the incidents.
Earlier this month, a security guard was stationed at Holy Family Elementary School in response to an “ongoing situation.”
At that time, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said the school was experiencing issues with two school community members that had resulted in restrictions being imposed on their access to the property. The spokesperson added that the security guard was stationed at the school to ensure the individuals complied with the conditions.
A parent whose children attend Holy Family Elementary spoke to the News by phone and indicated that the security guard was absent this week. Ratcliff’s email notes that the security guard will be returning to the school during drop-off and pick-up times.
In emails to the News from the Education department, a spokesperson confirmed the details of yesterday’s episode and stated that the school would reopen for instruction on Monday, April 29.
The spokesperson also said the Education department is aware of the impact these incidents have had on the school community and that support has been made available to impacted staff.
“Last night, staff were sent an email with information on support. This morning, the school opened at 8 a.m. for staff. Members of our Student Wellbeing and Inclusion team, including two new school wellness specialists, were at the school to support staff. We’re also working to arrange spiritual support through Bishop Villa’s office. We are setting up a critical incident debrief for staff who wish to participate early next week and will provide more details as they are available,” said the spokesperson via email, adding that staff can also access confidential support available through the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
Contact Matthew Bossons at matthew.bossons@yukon-news.com