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ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK
Schedule D
In order to protect the identity of all individuals who have submitted correspondence
with regard to the Central Guelph (FI) Accommodation Review and in keeping with the
Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, all personal
information and/or identifiers have been severed from all recorded communication
(i.e. e-mails and letters) prior to distribution. The intent or message has not been
changed.
June 20, 2010
Dear Board Members My husband and I are parents with 2 children at Paisley Road School in FI; one in Gr 6 and
one in Gr 2.
First, we would like to say we have been very pleased with the FI program at PRS (largely
because of the core of excellent and committeed teachers) and hope that both of our children
stay in the FI program into their middle and high school years.
With respect to the FI Accommodation Review my husband and I have been reading the
announcements and articles, and have not become involved to date as we recognized the
board had a number of different factors to consider and trusted that ultimately the board
would come to a decision that was reasonable and fair. We filled out a previous survey
circulated at Paisley where we indicated our preference was to have one central FI center (at
that time at PRS), but recognized that this option would also displace a number of others and
were resigned to accepting the Board's decision.
However, a recent survey circulated at PRS laying out the final four scenarious in detail (U10
staff variation, NS-15, NS-12, NS-14) illustrated with startling clarity that the current preferred
scenario (U10) seems to be the one that would benefit the 7/8 FIs the least of all four
scenarios!
One of the primary reasons PRS has such a successful FI program is that there is a large
enough proportion of FI teachers and students in the school to have a collective presence and
voice. This is reflected in items as small as daily annoucements which are done in both
languages, as well as in larger school plays and preformances which are also in both
languages. This provides a support and reinforcement for the FI program which is critical
when the kids are, outside of school, immersed in a sea of English. I think it also enriches the
non-FI program to be exposed to this local diversity.
In comparing the four scenarios still on the table, it seems obvious that the FI 7/8 students
would benefit most from having one central FI centre at John McCrae, or at least all being
kept together at Waverley (scenario NS-12) from an academic and resource perspective. In
the U10 scenario, the FI 7/8s at Waverley (as well as NS-15) would be very much a minority
and very limited FI resources to draw on.
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As we understand it, it is not too late to voice our opinion and would like to say that we are
strongly in favour of the NS14 scenario, with our second preference being NS12, and do not
support the NS-15 or U-10 staff variation scenarios.
We respectfully ask that you seriously re-consider your recent motion and put academic
considerations above others.
Sincerely,
June 20, 2010
Hello, As the parent of a french Immersion student at Paisley Road school I find it very
disturbing that the board is considering moving French Immersion 7/8 student to Waverly.
They would be the only French students in the school! It can not be a good French learning
environment with only 3 Frech speaking teachers!. A full Immersion school should be
considered. We had a new French immersion centre school built at John Macrae. Why can't
they go there? It is only a short walk for students in this area. Also there is a lot of seperation
and French vs English bullying that happens when there is a minority of French students in a
school. For a province and school board against bullying, this scenario is not a good one.
Please reconsider this scenario.
Sincerely
August 16, 2010
Dear Trustees,
Thank you for your hard work on ARC. I support the "U10 staff variation" scenario. My son is
in grade 2 at Edward Johnson and I would be happy to see him at Waverley for 7/8 FI.
Thank you,
August 16, 2010
I am the parent of 3 children, 2 of whom are at Paisley in the French Immersion program and
on track to attend King George. (1 is entering J. Ross this year).
I am very concerned by the "U10 staff variation" option and the inequal access to french
resources that my children will have at Waverly Drive compared to the access available to the
children at John Macrae. I believe the overall english context at Waverly Drive will impact
upon my children's french comprehension and vocabulary, motivation, confidence and
comparative standard of ability in the classroom when they move on to high school with
gradutates of the John Macrae system.
I am asking you to please represent my children's best interests by voting no to staff variation
U10! Do not place my children at a disadvantage compared to other children in the French
Immersion system.
August 22, 2010
Dear Trustees,
On Susan Moziar's suggestion, I am forwarding my letter (below) to you.
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I sent one to both Jennier Waterston and Susan Moziar because I was informed they are
the trustees responsible for Paisley Road PS.
Thank you for your attention to our concerns,
----------------Subject: Re: grades 7 and 8 FI
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:53:04 -0400
Thank you for your email. I was one of two Guelph Trustees who did not support U/10 and
would have liked NS-14 instead. So I wouldn't waste anymore time trying to convince me
because I'm already against U/10. You need to concentrate you efforts on some of the other
Trustees.
Best Wishes,
Susan Moziar
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 4:48 PM
Subject: grades 7 and 8 FI
August 17, 2010
Susan Moziar
UGDSB Trustee
Dear Susan Moziar:
We are writing to express our concerns with regards to the location of the grades 7 and 8 FI
program for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. Our son, ____, is starting grade
6 this fall at Paisley Road School, our neighbourhood elementary school. He will be directly
affected by your decision.
Both our children have been successfully attending the FI program, and our daughter, ____, is
presently at King George PS. She has been able to safely walk with her classmates or take the
city bus from our home to school. We live over 5 km from Waverly PS and obviously our son
would have to take the school bus if he were to attend that school. This would limit his
opportunities to participate in before-and-after school activities.
_____ is an avid athlete and may develop other interests as ___ has through the music
program at her school. We are a one-car family with the car being out-of-town during the
workday. John McCrae PS is a reasonable walking distance from our home and the home of
our son’s classmates. John McCrae is also easily accessible from my downtown workplace on
a bike or city bus (or combination of the 2) if he has to be picked up from school due to
illness, etc.
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Many parents volunteered a great amount of time and energy on the ARC Committee. They
made some very reasonable recommendations to the UGDSB including NS-14 option where
all grade 7 and 8 FI students are moved temporarily to John McCrae PS. We strongly support
the NS-14 option. Thank you for your attention to our concerns.
Sincerely yours,