Enrolment at the Lower Nicola Band School is taking a big leap this year as other public schools in the district remain closed during the teachers’ strike.

So far this fall, 97 students have enrolled at the school, compared to 70 last year.

While registration is still open, class sizes will cap at 24 students and some of the classes are filling up quickly, principal Angie Sterling said.

“Every day, there have been a few more trickling in,” she said.

The kindergarten class has the most room for new students as it’s currently at 16, she said.

Sterling said the ongoing teachers’ strike is likely a factor of the influx of students.

“Parents are wanting their kids in school, so I think that would be part of the reason, for sure,” she said.

The school covers kindergarten to Grade 7 and is open to all students in that age range.

“You don’t have to be a band member and you don’t have to be status. Anybody can enrol their child here at our school. You don’t have to be First Nations,” Sterling said.

The school follows School District 58’s curriculum with an added language and culture piece.

“We do have a good handful of non-First Nations students attending our school and I think it’s great,” Sterling said. “I’d like to see more.”