The hallways are crowded more than usual as students try to rush from class to class at Duchess Park secondary school.
Some are sharing lockers and others aren't even able to take certain classes due to a lack of classroom space.
These were some of the concerns voiced by members of the District Parents Advisory Council at the first School District 57 meeting for the 2017-18 school year on Tuesday.
"We knew there was an issue," said DPAC co-chair Sarah Holland.
"We knew the board looked at measures last year but there is a concern that it has not been adequately addressed and we are concerned that if not addressed, it will cause more concern and stress for the students."
According to Holland, the school is built for approximately 900 students. There are currently about 1,075 registered.
"The board did identify issues with Duchess Park which is why we decided to have it as catchment only so anyone outside the catchment could not attend," said school board chair Tim Bennett. "And Duchess Park certainly saw increased growth in September. This compounded the issue but we have experienced this in other schools also."
Bennett says the district is growing at a larger rate since the 2014 Long Range Facility Report, which looked at all school facilities until 2021.
Trustees have met with the school principal in an effort to address the issue further.
"Great learning will still happen," Bennett says. "The district will form a "Capacity Hot" committee consisting of representatives from various departments and within the community to help best meet the needs of the students and possible increased infrastructure."
Along with overcapacity issues, parents are also pointing to safety concerns with increased numbers at the school.
"The district has agreed to have a meeting with us. We want a plan to emerge through discussion and dialogue with accurate numbers," Holland said. "The sooner we take action, the less disruptive it will be."
