St. Peter’s Junior High, in consultation with the Department of Education, is implementing compressed school days.

In a memo sent home to parents, St. Peter’s Junior High informed the school community that it is moving to compressed school days to limit the chances of spreading COVID-19.

The memo cites students mixing with other cohorts as a risk of spreading the virus. Effective May 3, students will follow a new schedule with dismissal at 1:20 p.m.

However, some parents are frustrated with the decision. One parent who reached out to VOCM News is challenging the department and the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District to provide the information used to make that decision.

They say there’s been no mention of a possible outbreak at the school and that it is naïve to believe students aren’t mixing cohorts outside of school. They say an earlier dismissal will not prevent cohort mixing.

They say students and parents should have been consulted on the decision.