A summertime asbestos discovery means Rocky Christian School students will have to wait a while longer to return to their normal classrooms.
The discovery means students will once again begin the school year at an alternate learning space at École Rocky Elementary, after spending the entire 2025-26 school year there.
After asbestos was first discovered in 2025, additional asbestos was discovered over the summer, requiring a mandated, comprehensive remediation process.
“There can be absolutely zero asbestos before students and teachers return,” says Rocky Christian School Society chair Peggy Hondebrink, who adds remediation crews are currently at work.
Government regulations are fairly stringent, she adds, as even school supplies temporarily moved to the alternate space must be individually cleaned.
Despite the setback, Hondebrink says École Rocky and Wild Rose School Division have been tremendous to work with, welcoming students and teachers with open arms at the temporary space.
While she couldn’t anticipate a timeline for students to return to the building, Hondebrink was optimistic they may be able to return before the end of the year — if all goes well.
She compares the remediation and ongoing building envelope work to remodeling your own home.
“You always run into things you didn’t see coming.”
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Ongoing school modernization work has also been put on hold.
In 2025, the school board began construction on a number of improvements to the building, including a new main entrance, gym change rooms and a new classroom.
Hondebrink says another four weeks of construction will be required once remediation is complete.
During the summer, however, work was completed on the exterior, including new concrete.
While the delayed timeline wasn’t what the society had hoped for, Hondebrink says she is grateful for the support of families and the community, as well as staff at École Rocky, who “bent over backwards” to make the displaced students feel at home.
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