The significant increase in student enrollment numbers came as a bit of a surprise for the Seine River School Division for the 2016/2017 school year. 

Seine River School Division Superintendent Mike Borgfjord.

Superintendent Mike Borgfjord says they were expecting an increase of about 25 more students than last year. "Right now it's preliminary, but we are looking at about a 124 student increase which puts a little more pressure on us. A couple of schools in particular have had significant growth, both in Ste. Anne.”

The Ste. Anne Immersion and Ste. Anne Elementary Schools have an increase of more than 50 students between them. Borgfjord says it was a surprise but as always they will monitor class sizes and make appropriate responses as needed.

"I think by the time we get to September 30, which is the official count date for the Province, we could be anywhere from 95-135 more students."

Borgfjord notes the enrollment numbers may fall slightly because of students moving or switching schools without notifying the division. "Often it's in our highschools more so than our K-8. The change in those numbers are usually smaller, so the highschool numbers don't usually get confirmed for a couple of weeks yet."

Borgfjord adds, enrollment numbers are healthy as usual and the division is growing, but this year that growth caught them off guard.