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‘Worrisome occurrences’ at, around Catholic schools prompt letters to parents

Letters will go home to all Catholic school parents in the community informing them of any attempted abduction or stranger on school property incidents after a number of worrisome occurrences in the last week at or around Catholic schools in Red Deer.

Letters will go home to all Catholic school parents in the community informing them of any attempted abduction or stranger on school property incidents after a number of worrisome occurrences in the last week at or around Catholic schools in Red Deer.

The Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division board asked administration to send letters home to all parents after any incidents, whether or not the incident happens at the school where their children are attending.

“We decided tonight that the safety of our students, as always, is of paramount importance to us.

“Therefore, if ever there is an incident in any of our schools a letter will be sent out to the whole division so that the schools are aware because that predator, or that intruder, may well come to another school in the district,” said Catholic Board Chair Christine Moore.

“It’s just so parents can talk to their kids and reinforce what kids should do in that situation.”

The most recent incident occurred Tuesday morning at Maryview School at 3829 39th Street.

A student spotted a stranger on the playground and informed the principal. When the principal went to talk to the man he hopped in a truck, that matched the vehicle from a previous incident, and drove away, said Paul Stewart, associate superintendent of student services.

Red Deer City RCMP were informed, A letter was sent home to Maryview School parents, as well as other Catholic schools in Red Deer and the Red Deer Public School District.

Stewart said the first incident happened last Thursday morning, when a St. Francis of Assisi Middle School student was walking to school, located at 321 Lindsay Ave.

She was approached by a man in a white truck who asked if she wanted to enter an online contest. Stewart said the girl said no and kept walking to school. When the man tried to talk to her again she ran for the school and told the principal.

The division was informed on Monday that another incident — an undisclosed location — had also occurred.

Again the Catholic division informed police, parents where the incident took place, the public school district and other Catholic schools.

Stewart said to deal with situations like this the division will increase supervision outside, students will be told where they can and cannot play outside and in some situations students might have an indoor recess.

sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com