When does the Strawberry Panic novel occur relative to the manga? I got both the manga and the novel of Strawberry Panic. While I was reading the back of the novel, I saw that it mentions that the characters are from the 3 schools in the area. One of the schools is the same one the manga is set in, St. Miator Girls' Academy.

So I am wondering, when does the novel occur relative to the manga?
The novel takes place at the same time as the manga does and covers the same content. However, the novel covers all of the story, whereas the manga stops about 2/3rds way through.

The manga also has characters from the 3 schools, but the primary characters in both mediums are from St. Miator's. 

There may be a couple of characters that differ between the mediums, but they will be minor characters and the cast is mostly the same.