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When Ottawa’s French Catholic school board cancelled student trips overseas because of fears surrounding the novel coronavirus, a group of parents from Paul-Desmarais high school in Stittsville took matters into their own hands.

On Thursday their children will head to Peru as planned with parent chaperones instead of teachers.

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“I’m super happy,” said Erin Tighe, whose daughter Maeve will be among those travelling. “The kids won’t have to miss their trip.”

Maeve’s dad and another parent, who is a police officer, volunteered to travel with the students instead of the two teachers who had been assigned to the trip, she said.

École secondaire catholique Paul-Desmarais is no longer involved with the trip.

School boards across the province are cancelling student trips overseas, especially to Europe. In Ottawa, hundreds of students’ trips have been cancelled at all four school boards.