Students at Gibraltar Secondary School in Fish Creek have been back in the classroom for less than a month and principal Gereon Methner is hoping to expand that offering this month. January 11th marked the first-day students were allowed for in-person learning since schools shut down at the beginning of the pandemic last March. Approximately 75 percent of the student population returned to in-person classes while other families chose to stay at home and continue with remote learning. Students in grades sixth, eighth, ninth, and twelfth alternate weeks with kids in seventh, tenth, and eleventh grades. While there have been some challenges, Methner says he believes their mitigation plans have been helped thanks to feedback from parents, staff, and students.

Methner adds they are exploring how to keep their risk mitigation strategies are effective with more people in the building before they increase the amount of in-person learning opportunities. He also praised the students, staff, and families for making the necessary adjustments to stay safe. Currently, the Gibraltar School District dashboard shows two active cases and three in quarantine between the elementary and secondary schools.