Bethlehem Catholic students start school month after fire displaces 780

Bethlehem Catholic High School students began the new school year nearly a month after an Aug. 7 fire damaged 26 portable classrooms, displacing about 780 of the school's roughly 1,500 students. The fire, deemed suspicious by Saskatoon police, caused damage from flames and water, destroying teacher belongings and student projects. Temporary classrooms at the Shaw Centre and a split-day schedule for grades 9-12 are in place through December, with shorter classes requiring outside study time. Students expressed mixed feelings about the reduced class time and uncertainty over academic progress, while Superintendent Tom Hickey said keeping students on track is a priority. A timeline for returning to normal operations is expected in the coming weeks.