School's IN for summer?

Edmonton Catholic school students already back to the grind

Because of a year-round schedule means 1,100 students at three Catholic schools in Edmonton went back to school Aug. 8.

There schools are about one hundred Canadian schools using a four-term calendar, which has a shorter, five-week summer holiday and then two-week breaks in October, at Christmas and in Spring.

Students are heading back to St. Alphonsus elementary and junior high, Mother Teresa elementary, and St. Catherine elementary and junior high.

"I'm a bit tired. But I'll just have to get used to it," said Grade 9 student Terrence Pigford, who has never had a short summer break.

Year-round schooling advocates say shorter breaks helps pupils retain knowledge better, meaning teachers don't have to spend as much time reviewing old material at the beginning of each school year.