Some students and parents at an Ajax elementary school are pushing back after administrators abruptly ended all overnight trips, citing in part financial considerations and “equity and inclusion.”

Families received a letter from Southwood Park Public School on Oct. 1 informing them about the decision, which means Grade 8 students will no longer go on a graduation trip to Ottawa.

Students in Grades 6 and 7 will also miss out on overnight trips to Claremont Nature Centre in Pickering and Muskoka Woods, respectively.

“We really want answers. Why weren’t we consulted? Why was this decision taken arbitrarily?” said Peter Pukitis, whose son is a Grade 7 student at Southwood Park.

The school letter, signed by Principal Sarah Mitchell and Vice-Principal Sasho Nedelkovski, says overnight trips

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