The Abbotsford School District is alerting parents of secondary school students to be aware of non-school sanctioned excursions being marketed to students.

Parents should be wary of excursions by businesses that promote trips during various holiday times to out of country destinations.

These trips are advertised as being "overseen (by company personnel) that includes Canadian high school teachers."

Abbotsford School District personnel are not officially part of these trips, said the district.

Also of concern is the marketing approach that centres on recruiting a few students at each school to organize and sign up other students, said the district.

"The reports we receive indicate students give parents and families the impression these are school-sanctioned trips," said school district superintendent Julie MacRae in a release.

"They most definitely are not sanctioned by our schools. We advise parents to be very involved in any decision about allowing students to travel out of country without parents or family, and to have a conversation with their sons or daughters about the potential for problems, including exposure to alcohol and other risk behaviour on such trips."

She added that the school district works to foster a positive, safe and healthy environment that encourages student growth, "which includes advising parents and families in matters that can result in negative consequences and behaviour, including these unsanctioned trips."