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.
August 28, 2010
To the Planning Committee of the Upper Grand District School Board,
I am a concerned community member and parent of two FI students, I advocate for a solid,
well planned, well thought out French Immersion Program for the UGDSB. The U10 scenario
presently being voted for on August 31, 2010 does not offer a strong foundation, equitable
learning experiences, sustainability or growth for the north end FI students in the UGDSB.
I have been present at work groups attended by various ARC representatives with many
parents representing all of the FI schools involved in the accommodation review, Waverly was
never present. The U10 scenario was never popular nor voted on at any event. I would
suggest that the scenario chosen and voted on by yourselves will need to promote and grow a
balanced program for north end FI students. The scenario must provide a well thought out
plan and direction for the FI program for the whole school board. The U10 scenario does not
offer a long term plan for the FI program nor does it offer sustainability or equitable
programming for any of the FI north end students. One only has to look at the FI program in
Erin to understand sticking a French Immersion cohort onto a RT program does not work; it
does not offer equitable education, supports or resources needed for a successful and strong
FI program.
It is my understanding that the U10 staff variation was brought in front of the board last spring
recommending the board vote and support the scenario. I do not support this option as I
believe that a 7-8 FI program at Waverley must be anchored to a JK-8 FI dual track program
which will take time to create the supports and infrastructure needed for a successful transition
for all grades.
It is my understanding that the ARC process was to look beyond the practice of "sticking" FI
kids where there were seats available with little thought to the sustainability, equity and quality
of programming. Sending half of the FI students to Waverly, a RT school with no FI support,
infrastructure or resources will not ensure a strong FI program.
I believe that a JK-8 FI dual track program at Waverley would develop an involved school
community that would equally support the RT students and the FI students. Adding just the FI
7-8s to Waverley does not build a long term sustainable relationship or a strong FI 7-8
program.
I urge you to vote NO to the U10 scenario as it does not support any of the French Immersion
community north of the river or the Waverley community.
As a parent, I will choose not to send my children to an FI 7-8 at Waverley that has been
segregated and stuck on to a regular track program with limited resources, supports or
culture. Instead, I will move my family to the south end where they will be given a superior FI
experience.
Sincerely,
Victory P.S. & King George P.S. Parent
August 29, 2010
To whom it may concern:
Please know that my wife and I are opposed to the u10 proposal to house north end FI
students at Waverly school. We have a son who will be directly affected by this move. Please
consider housing all FI students at John McCrae for the 2011/2012 year until further
decisions can be made.
August 29, 2010
We are writing about the motion of intent to adopt the U10 Scenario (Staff Variation) and the
upcoming board vote on this issue on August 31st. As parents whose child is being affected by
this decision, we would like to share our opinions on this significant issue in the hopes that
more consideration will be given before deciding to adopt the U10 Scenario.
We have two daughters in the French Immersion program: one has just completed her middle
school years at King George and is moving on to John F. Ross, the other just beginning
Grade 7 at King George. We do not support in any way the proposed U-10 Scenario (Staff
Variation) which divides the Grade 7 and 8 French Immersion program between Waverley
Drive and John McCrae public schools.
Splitting the Grade 7 and 8 French Immersion students between two schools would create a
north-south divide and a weak intermediate program for students in the north. The south 7/8
FI students will attend a French Immersion centre with access to many French resources and
French language teachers while the north 7/8 FI students will be “attached” to an Englishtrack school and will not have the same access to French resources and French language
teachers, resulting in weaker intermediate programming than their south 7/8 FI counterparts.
It is a given that this is inequitable French Immersion programming.
The result of this unequal programming is that upon entry to high school, the FI students will
not be equally prepared for what awaits them in the secondary school French Immersion
program. The north FI students will not have had the rich cultural environment and support
that their south FI peers will have received. The quality of education for north FI students will
not be equal to the educational experience of the south FI students and thus, the north FI
students will be at a disadvantage in high school. We desire an equal education for all. After
spending the last two years considering more than 50 different proposals, we had hoped for a
more equitable program for the north FI students.
We know that a decision needs to be made soon; the review needs to be concluded.
However, we want a quality intermediate education, and an equal education, for every child-something that will not occur if the U-10 Scenario (Staff Variation) is passed. A decision for
this scenario will leave the north end students at a definite disadvantage. We trust that you will
consider the thoughts of many of those parents of students affected by this decision.
Thank you for all the time spent on this issue.
Sincerely,
August 30, 2010
To the UGDSB Trustees;
I am sending this note to you today regarding the up-coming Trustee vote on the Motion of
Intent to approve U10 Staff Variation. For those of you who don’t know me, I was one of the
two ARC representatives from the FI program at King George. I have been characterized by
some of my fellow ARC representatives as stubborn and un-cooperative. Others consider me
to be passionate and focused on finding solutions that work. Whatever their opinions, I hope
that you will take a few minutes to read and then think about what I have outlined below.
Simply, I do not believe that a vote in favor of U10 staff variation is your best choice. Yes, it is
very similar to one of the 3 ARC majority scenarios and it was recommended by Planning
staff. Many people have contacted you implying that it’s the only choice that respects the ARC
process. But, U10 was never unanimously supported by the ARC and it has its drawbacks. It
places a small group of grade 7/8 FI students in a K-8 regular track school with no plans or
timelines for introducing a K-8 FI program. It moves the gifted students to 2 new schools
without their input. And, it does not address the growing FI population at Edward Johnson
which is projected to be at 136% of capacity by 2017.
Luckily, U10 is not your only choice. There is an alternative that deserves your consideration.
A group of FI parents and the Gifted parent community have been working hard over the
summer and I believe, they have good ideas. Ideas that respect the ARC process, respect the
RT and FI communities involved in the accommodation review and respect the Gifted
program. Their proposals start with the 3 majority ARC scenarios recognizing the work done
by all of the ARC members. In particular, NS-15 was a majority scenario that was supported
by French immersion and regular track ARC representatives. Their proposals consider the
feedback from the Victory and Paisley Rd surveys conducted by the school councils within a
few weeks of the final ARC report which clearly showed that those schools do not support
U10. And finally they consider the desires of the Gifted and Waverly communities to engage
in discussions about their future before changes are made.
At the same time, their proposals allow the Board to move forward to re-build King George,
to balance the FI enrollment between Paisley Road and Victory, and open a new K-6 French
Immersion Centre school in the south while addressing the declining enrollment at Fred A
Hamilton.
Please consider their ideas before you vote on Tuesday night. Thank you very much,
August 30, 2010
Dear Trustees,
My family lives in the west-end of Guelph and we have 3 children enrolled in the FI program (
completed grades 8, 6 and 3 ).
We have been very happy with the kids experiences and progress in the program to date.
The FI Accomodation Review has been a long and difficult process. I'm sure, like myself, the
trustees and parents (and their kids) want to have the current review concluded
and get working on the actual plan. I thank you and the other trustees for working through the
seemingly endless number of scenarios and often difficult requests from the FI parents groups.
Many good things have come from the review. Sacrifices have been made by many groups
and I acknowledge and appreciate that.
I really struggle with one of the items being proposed.
I'm emailing you to express my concern with the "U10 (staff variation)" proposal endorsed by
the board after the May 25th meeting as it relates to the north-end grades 7&8 FI students.
Our eldest daughter just finished her studies at King George and is headed into Grade 9 FI at
J.F. Ross.
Working through the selection of courses at J.F. Ross it became clear that to obtain the FI
OSSGD almost all of the FI credits are taken in Grades 9 and 10.
To handle this heavy FI workload in Grade 9 requires a solid foundation from Grades 7 and
8. ______ has received this at King George.
From the information available I cannot see how placing the north-end Grade 7/8 FI students
at Waverley Rd PS with allow them to receive the required resources and support to
adequately prepare them for the FI program in high school. This appears to be French
isolation, not immersion.
At the May 25th board meeting representatives from Waverley Rd PS presented on the current
situation at thier school in terms of facilities, programs and challenges they are dealing with.
The overriding message was clear - that if the north-end FI 7/8 students come to Waverley,
ensure that all the required support and resources come with them as the school is at capacity
already.
Whether at Waverley Rd. PS or John McCrae PS the addition of the north-end FI 7/8 students
will be a struggle in the short term.
At Waverley the struggle will be more pronounced as there currently is minimal resources in
place for the new program. The resources will eventually come as the the school develops
a full JK to Grade 8 FI schedule, but in the short term the FI 7/8 students risk falling behind in
preparation for high school. The 2010/11 Grade 7 kids will attend 4 different schools over 4
years.
At John McCrae the struggle will be from a position of strength as the school has the facilities,
staff and organization already in place to best maintain the education required through this
transition period.
Please provide for a better solution to support the north-end group of students for the short
term.
Allow them to continue their education with their south-end classmates until the required
facilities are in place for a smooth transition to split the 7/8 FI program and maintain the
required support.
Best regards,