The South East Cornerstone School Division and the Holy Family Roman Catholic School Division have seen an increase their student populations this year.
South East Cornerstone has 7,954 students, which is 56 more than they had last year. Included in that total are 881 students from the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS). Student numbers at ECS are about 70 more than what was anticipated.
“We got a lot of new students moving to the area, so I think it's from an influx of new people into Estevan,” said ECS vice-principal Allison Holzer.
South East Cornerstone operates four Kindergarten to Grade 8 schools in Estevan. Hillcrest School has 171 students, Pleasantdale School has 219, Westview School has 186 and Spruce Ridge School has 425.
South East Cornerstone director of education Dr. Marc Casavant said that a few more students will continue to register, even though school started August 26.
“After the long weekend, that's when we start to get a better indication of where the numbers will actually be at,” said Casavant.
Holy Family has 1,086 students, which is 63 more than they had last year. Forty-eight students joined the division once they took in St. Augustine School – a Kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Wilcox.
There are seven more students in Holy Family’s Estevan schools than there were a year ago, said director of education Shelly Rowein. Sacred Heart School in Estevan has 243 students, which is up from last year. St. Mary's School has 230 students, which is down a little.
Rowein said that’s an encouraging sign.
The final enrolment figures for the divisions will be released on September 17.
Check out Friday’s edition of Lifestyles, or come back to www.sasklifestyles.com, on Friday for more back to school stories.