Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
In order to protect the identity of all individuals who have submitted correspondence with regard to the
Edward Johnson FI Boundary 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.
December 15, 2011
Dear Dr Rogers, Ms Passy, Mr Scinocca and Ms Wright:
I enjoyed speaking with both Ms Passy and Ms Wright today on the phone. Thank you so much for
your time and consideration. I hope Dr Rogers and Mr Scinocca received my messages.
I would like to express my concerns regarding the three scenarios printed on your website concerning
the boundary review for Edward Johnson Public School.
I am writing as a parent of French Immersion children from Rockwood, but my own children would not
be affected by the changes as proposed by the current boundary review. As such, I consider myself a
Rockwood resident concerned with the future and availability of French Immersion education for the
children of Rockwood, Everton and Eden Mills.
The scenarios proposed by the boundary review do not give any options to the children of Rockwood,
Everton and Eden Mills. In all 3 published scenarios they would be shuttled to Brisbane or Erin for
their French Immersion education. Most of the families affected conduct their business in and around
Guelph. Most of the children affected do their extra-curricular activities in Guelph. Most parents I
have conferred with would be happy with their children continuing at Edward Johnson or at King
George and continuing on to JF Ross for high school. It seems that the boundary review committee
considers that the approximately 50 children from this area who are affected will proceed to the
under-utilized Brisbane and Erin schools. This is not the case. Most families will remove their children
from the French Immersion system and into Rockwood Centennial, which is already at or above
capacity. This will not help congestion in the system at all and will cause more problems. I would like
to see some other options on the table. What are the numbers of Tytler area children at Edward
Johnson, for instance? Could they or others move to King George, which was considered within
walking distance for many of the grade 7 and 8 students of that area only a few years ago? Could
the Rockwood and area children go to King George? We need to see other feasible scenarios!
French Immersion at the Upper Grand District School Board has been a wonderful and successful
program, as evidenced by the huge demand for it in Guelph. Student performance at Edward
Johnson has been excellent in the last few years. Why should the students of Rockwood, Everton and
Eden Mills be denied the opportunity to broaden their minds and learn the other official Canadian
language because of the inability of the board to find a feasible place for them to learn and grow in
Guelph? Will the area surrounding Rockwood be considered a place with fewer educational
opportunities than Guelph? This is a sad state of affairs and tragic for these young minds.
Please, let’s see some viable and acceptable options for the French Immersion students of our area to
fulfill their potential and become great members of our society! I'm sure the committee will be able to
find a happier solution to the FI education issues of our children.
Sincerely,
1
Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
December 15, 2011
Re: Edward Johnson JK-6 Boundary Review
I am a parent of 3 children who live in Rockwood and attend French Immersion in Guelph. Our
children are currently in Grade 7, 4 and 2. Our family is currently in a state of devastation at the
proposal of moving 2 of our children to Brisbane School. Brisbane may be a fine school, but 10
years ago when we were deciding where to buy our house, we chose Rockwood because our children
would go to French Immersion in Guelph. Going to school in Guelph was not an after thought. It
was one of our motivating factors to move to Rockwood.
I grasp to understand why the Board would take the Rockwood group of children and move them in a
completely different direction. I can only hope that those in the proposal process did not really
understand the impact it would have on our children and how entrenched Rockwood is in the Guelph
community. Other than that reason I cannot believe the relocation was chosen intentionally knowing
the devastating impact it would have.
Rockwood is essentially a suburb of Guelph. When you live in Rockwood your family becomes more
and more intertwined with all of the community groups and services that Guelph extends to us. Our
hospital is the Guelph General. Our family doctor, eye doctor, orthodontist, medical specialists, are
in Guelph. Our kids community sports activities are in Guelph. Hockey, soccer, swimming,
basketball, dancing, volleyball, lacrosse, music, all take place in Guelph. This is just the natural
progression
of where you go for these things when you live in Rockwood because you consider yourself a part of
Guelph. Our kids are established in these sub-communities as well as their school community.
An example of how these sub-communities impact the well being of our children is when our oldest
son moved to John McCrae this year for grade 7 he was only 1 of 4 children from Edward Johnson in
his class. The number seems low, but then you find our that a boy from his summer soccer team is
also in his class as well as some kids from his hockey team. Then you extend that to his grade and the
school yard and all the kids he has met over the years that you didn't even realize went to French
Immersion are reunited. The whole community was again intertwined. When these kids then go to
highschool at John F. Ross another segment of our community will be reunited with those kids that go
to Rockwood Centennial P.S.
All of this will not happen if we sever our ties with French Immersion in Guelph. It will destroy our
community.
For my family personally, we will have one child still in Guelph and 2 going to Brisbane. Our family
will be divided. When I look at my individual children and how they would cope with this I fear most
for my son who will be going into grade 5. He is an excellent student, rule follower, works hard, a
teacher's dream student. Socially he is not a risk taker. He does not put himself out there to make
friends and guards his feelings closely. He has never had a best friend. He does however have a
group of kids that he has been with for 6 years now that accept him into their social group within the
school. He gains confidence that he belongs and has a place to play at recess for example. This has
taken him the 6 years to get to this point. Moving him to Brisbane I fear for his emotional well being.
I am sure Brisbane is a fine school and that is not the point at all. It is putting him with a different
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
peer group that has already been established. He will not ask to play with someone. He will stand on
the playground at recess for
the entire school year, likely back against the wall. He would be starting over. Our son being
removed from what has taken this long to establish would be psychologically damaging for him.
Our daughter who is in her 4th year at Edward Johnson has made some really close friends in
Guelph. She would feel the psychological impact of removing her from this dynamic as well.
Rockwood is not some town on the map located in between Guelph and Erin. It is not a coin flip of
which direction we travel. Rockwood is a part of the Guelph community. It always has been.
Sending our children to Brisbane would be devastating to our community. Our children will be
severely and negatively affected. It is not in the best interest of the well being of our children.
Perhaps not knowing before and knowing now how much Rockwood is a part of Guelph, my hope is
the Boundary Scenarios will be reviewed and our children will be allowed to stay in their community.
Sincerely,
December 15, 2011
The proposal to send Rockwood FI students out of Guelph is not in their best interest. My family is
completely opposed to this notion and my children are upset and heartsore about the possibility of not
only being torn away from friends and the school we have called our own for the past 8 years, but
also the Guelph Community. For Rockwood families, Guelph is an extension of our community. Our
lives are lived equally between the two. As lovely as the Erin area surely is, it is not on our family
radar, in terms of sports, activities, social lives and family support base. Rockwood French Immersion
students must stay in Guelph!
December 15, 2011
I am a Rockwood Edward Johnson parent with two daughters attending the school, in grades one and
three. I have just come back from the public meeting that was held tonight, Dec 15th and wanted to
share my comments while weighing so heavily on my mind.
First of all, thankyou to Janice Wright for making the presentation. It was clear and I appreciate that
all parents that wished to, had the opportunity to get up and speak. It was made apparent that these
comments are important to the decision makers.
After listening to the preferred scenario, and especially in reference to East Wellington children, it
became obvious to me that this plan is strictly based on numbers. I just couldn't help but think that our
children were being discussed like some sort of commodity. With regards to our kids going to Erin, it
was noted in the presentation that there were no negative impacts as a result of the scenario. This
didn't sit well with me at all. I can think of so many ways in which this decision will negatively impact
my children. It may be advantageous from an administrative perspective but surely decisions are not
made on numbers alone. In the board documents for criteria for boundary change, balancing
numbers is noted to be important but what is in the best interest of the children is supposed to be the
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
number one priority. My feeling, after listening to the presentation, is that the best interests of our
children are in no way served by any of the proposed scenarios.
I feel compelled to share my reality and I hope this is being read by those making this decision. My
two daughters are extremely shy. We live in the country, we have very few children in our
neighbourhood as they are mostly older couples or families with teenage children. Edward Johnson is
the only school my girls have known. Other than our family, the friends that they have made over the
years at Edward Johnson are the most meaningful relationships they have. My youngest is so shy it is
a condition. When put into new and unfamiliar circumstances, she can become physically ill due to
anxiety. She has a tight group of three friends at EJ. They all live in Guelph and will remain at that
school. There is no way to branch these relationships into Erin. That will be totally devastating.
As school planners and decision makers, you must hear these stories all the time. Boundary changes
are tough, kids loose friends, it's unfortunate, but they make new ones. Boundary changes within a
community is one thing. Friendships and connections can be maintained through extra-curricular
activities and on evenings and weekends. But there is no comparing a city boundary change to one
that transplants your child into a new community, 30 minutes away, where he/she has hardly been in
his/her life . Please don't make this decision assuming that this change will effect our children in the
same way as an inter-community boundary change would.
Guelph is our community. It is where my kids were born, their grandparents live and they have
developed so many bonds. It is where they take lessons in various activities. It is where our family
doctor is located. I cannot count the number of times that I've gotten a call from the school to come
pick up my child as she is sick and I take her straight to the family doctor, 5 minutes away from
Edward Johnson. How would this work if she was at Brisbane? What accommodations will be made
to get my child the counselling she needs when I can't get her to school in the mornings as she's hyper
ventilating due to anxiety and stress of this new and unfamiliar setting???
When it was time for us to decide where to enroll our children in school, I wasn't sure which route to
take. My husband speaks French so we decided to go the FI route. I was really unsure as I saw
advantages of our kids attending the local school. The french immersion program has been such a
positive experience. I now look back and can't believe that I even hesitated!! My kids are so
enthusiastic about the language, I couldn't ask for a more as a parent. I am now learning from my
kids and everyday they come home and have something new to teach me. If this proposed scenario
was to go forward, we would seriously consider pulling our children out of the FI program. It is
nothing against the Erin system- I'm sure their schools are great. It comes down to the well being of
my children and balancing all of their needs- both academic and social.
In summary, I just want to make a plea as a parent, to you the decision makers. Please put the best
interests of our children ahead of numbers. This is not just another boundary review, moving children
within a community. This is devastation to my family and to the Rockwood community.
I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this letter and to understand the perspective of my
family.
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
December 15, 2011
Boundary Review OK as Map 1. Bus – very good! Confusing – you discuss 2 options but have 4
options in hand out.
December 15, 2011
My children have attended EJ since JK. They have many friends at this school. As a Rockwood
resident we are vey concerned about the change. Erin and Brisbane are very far from our extra
curricular activities. I would very much like for them to remain at EJ.
December 15, 2011
I would suggest that the disadvantage listed under Scenario C (not a walking school for Tytler, busing
required for otherwise walkable routes) also apply to the neighbourhoods between Starwood, Grange
& Victoria in Scenario A, ie: King George is closer than EJ for these neighbourhoods. In other words,
the Starwood-Grange-Victoria community has been included in the EJ area only because of ‘viability’
considerations. So why not send this community to KG and keep Tytler and Rockwood at EJ?
Priorities: Bussing, not having to re-apply to stay at EJ every year (this is under Scenario A but see
alternate above).
December 15, 2011
Why are kids from Rockwood going to Brisbane when King George doesn’t have a sustainable
boundary for the future?
December 15, 2011
I NEED children already enrolled plus siblings grandfathered in. I also want a guarantee that the Tytler
area will be left alone in future reviews.
December 15, 2011
I warmly welcome potential FI students to the Erin area. My two sons are thriving in the FI in Erin,
grades 11 and 6.
December 15, 2011
It is absolutely ridiculous for my grade 1 daughter to have attended 3 schools. I will not separate her
from her sister (in JK next year). Please grandfather kids & siblings or GUARANTEE no more moves.
____________, 6 years old, grade one in 2012, a different school EVERY year (3 schools in 3 years).
How is this going to affect her ability to socialize and make friends in life?
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
December 15, 2011
It seems as though this whole process is happening too fast. Slow down. Give it another year. I am
not a Tytler parent, however I believe the Tytler kids should go back to John McCrae. Sounds like that
is where they want to go. Then the Rockwood kids can stay in Guelph.
December 15, 2011
The boundary’s established for ‘walking distance’ do not consider all the hazards: congestion of the
traffic in areas, 1.6 KM’s in NOT an acceptable distance for 3, 4, 5 yr old children nor is 2.2 KM’s a
safe distance for 6, 7, 8 yrs old. The money saved not bussing these children doesn’t measure to the
danger they face.
December 15, 2011
Shuffle schools projected to start full time JK & K to accommodate Tytler & Rockwood in Guelph.
December 15, 2011
Why are you uprooting families & moving the students our of their community that they have grown up
in, do their after school sports, have dentists, doctors, friends, etc…How can you say that there is no
negative impact on my kids.
Grandparent the entire school. Don’t move them our of their community.
On keeping the EJ students in Guelph the ministry would save on busing.
How come Brisbane school had 150 students move out recently to then become underutilitzed. Now
the proposal is to fill in Rockwood & Eden Mills. How does the Board make these situations. Delay
JK!!
December 15, 2011
I understand & appreciate the need for boundary review, but based on our experience do NOT feel
confident in the LONG TERM thinking & decision making by UGDSB staff & board.
I have 2 children at EJ. One in JK and one in grade 1. I do not want my daughter to go into full day
SK. I believe that the benefit of blended kindergarten comes with continuity between JK and SK. My
son thrived in JK & SK at John McCrae and has been resilient & content with his transition – BUT
because I volunteer at McCrae & here at EJ I have experienced the vast difference in curricular
implementation and school culture. I want my children to have a school experience of a stable
community. I’d like them to stay here until grade 6. I would ask that until a boundary review is
completed in 2014 at King George, our children (mine and the others in the Tytler FI catchement) and
their younger siblings be allowed to stay at EJ. If our children are allowed to stay here at EJ they need
to have transportation.
December 15, 2011
I am greatly concerned about a large 7/8 population with a small pocket of French Immersion
primary children. It is not a large yard. How are these children going to be a part of the culture and
community of the school.
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
We live one block east of Eramosa. We are currently a 10 minute walk to Edward Johnson. With the
proposed boundary change we would be much further away from King George and still have a major
road to cross – Stevenson. We would strongly suggest that those on that small corner of the map
(specifically Callander Dr.) be allowed to stay at Edward Johnson. You have stated that walking
students stay at Edward Johnson. I have committed to my JK son going to daycare next year part
time. I have now been told that he has to start SK full time now at King George.
December 15, 2011
Solution – Keep the East Wellington kids in Guelph, in their community with their friends and do not
split families 40 minutes apart. Thank you.
Having a child in grade 3 at EJ and another at John McCrae who will not be affected and will be
grandfathered, it is not feasible to have my children 40 minutes apart. Therefore my grade 3 child will
be pulled out of French Immersion and placed in the already overpopulated Rockwood school, how
does this help any overcrowding in the country.
December 15, 2011
Asking parents to drive or be so far from our daughter will never happen. If we don’t go to Erin, is
there room in Rockwood? Changing the boundary and moving Rockwood & Eden Mills kids to
Rockwood doesn’t solve EJ problem, but Brisbane’s undercapacity problem. However Rockwood
parents are not going to send their kids to Brisbane so this will create another problem with the
overcapacity in Rockwood. In other words your proposed plan is in NO ONE’S best interest.
Increasing the bus ride is unacceptable.
Allow existing boundaries to stay the way they are. Listen to the parents and kids involved. Build a
larger cental school for JK-6 in Guelph.
December 15, 2011
Send Rockwood kids to King George, not Brisbane/Erin. Brisbane/Erin is not our community! We
shop, work, have guitar, piano, climbing, swimming, basketball, etc…in Guelph. We are part of
Guelph.
I don’t think Rockwood/Eden Mills/Everton kids will get on a bus to go all the way to Erin. Really!
I don’t want Rockwood to become a place where people won’t send their kids to French Immersion.
People will leave or not come to our community because of this.
December 15, 2011
The reality is that almost no East Wellington FI children will go to school in Erin & Brisbane. This will
NOT solve a problem by filling Erin/Brisbane but will cause another by over loading Rockwood
Centennial even more! It will also eliminate the option of FI for Rockwood/Eden Mills children,
harming their education & future life options. Better scenarios keeping these children SOMEWHERE
in FI in Guelph need to be developed. These scenarios are not sufficient. Who would send their child
to a school where they would have to go to a hospital in Brampton or Mississauga, etc???
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
Bussing from Rockwood/Eden Mills to Edward Johnson, John McCrae & Ross is already in place.
Bussing to King George was done just 2 years ago & previously. Bussing to Erin??? – never done that
I know of.
December 15, 2011
Over capacity of schools throughout Guelph are a common problem. FDK is seen as the number
one problem for creating the overcrowding worse. Delay the implementation of FDK until
infrastructure can be built.
Our kid already have a long bus ride to Edward Johnson. The ride to Brisbane would have minimal
affect on us. Extracurricular activities would be a disaster for our community & children.
We view the FI program as a privilege to our kids. Logistically if FI in Guelph (Edward Johnson) is not
an option we will be unfortunately be joining the over crowded school at Rockwood Centennial.
Yiikes!!
December 15, 2011
Consider the point made tonight that Full Day Kindergarten implementation be delayed a year or two
(till the deadline provincially) so that the new schools can be built and there isn’t a need for “holding
schools” and boundary reviews yet to come.
Give parents a choice which school to attend (Edward Johnson or King George) and provide bussing
for both options (ie. King George or Edward Johnson).
First Choice – consider allowing Tytler kids to return to John McCrae and stay through grade 8 – it is
the closest neighbourhood FI school. Consider grandparenting to allow for siblings of Tytler area kids
to attend Edward Johnson. Ie: consider longer term grandparenting. If children go to either Edward
Johnson or King George from Tytler area (ie: families have the choice based on what is right for
them), there should be bussing provided to both schools).
Once again, please consider allowing Tytler kids to be able to return to John McCrae till the end of
grade 8. Consider allowing Rockwood area students to re-locate to King George where they at least
will move en masse with other EJ students rather then move them out of their community to Erin.
December 15, 2011
The idea of my children going to a "holding school" for the next two years is very disturbing. Where
will the sense of community be that is so strong at Edward Johnson? It is that sense of community,
safety, and belonging that allows children to succeed at school. I believe very strongly that delaying
the introduction of Full Day kindergarten at Edward Johnson until 2014 will immediately alleviate the
majority of issues. It will allow Edward Johnson's current students to stay one more year until the King
George boundary review is complete. It will allow King George to be built and ready in time. Can
you imagine how livid parents will be if King George is not ready to take the incoming students for
September 2012? It will also mean that our students will miss one year of this dreaded "holding
school" scenerio where they will be making and losing friends each year. Next year is particulary
upsetting with the high number of 7 and 8 students in the school. Delaying FDK until 2014 will allow
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
the review committee time to come up with a boundary review that is truly sustainable, fair, and puts
the needs of children and families as its highest priority.
December 18, 2011
This boundary review is proceeding too quickly for proper reflection and for the committee and
trustees to properly reflect on the gravity of the scenarios as currently outlined. Pushing this review
over the Christmas holidays is also ill-advised. Please DELAY the final decisions to sober reflection
after good review of the BEST plan for STUDENTS, rather than convenient resource allocation.
December 18, 2011
I am surprised at the speed at which this process is moving and the lack of apparent concern over the
effect of this proposal on the students involved.
Not a single word or statement was given in the report or at the information meeting about the impact
on the students. No information was given on how the board would help students and families deal
with what will be a traumatic event for many of these students. There was no mention of attempts to
avoid the separation of siblings, which this plan will do. There was an apparent lack of empathy for
those that are going to bear the brunt of the plan: The kids. Several studies were introduced at the
meeting showing how this kind of change has a negative impact on learning and psychosocial
development of students; all presented by parents.
There is no animosity towards the community of Erin and it's schools, which by all accounts are
amazing. This is an issue of disruption and the severing of community that the FI students have built.
For the sake of 40 or so students, not a large number, there is a solution(s) that will not see them
move.
Let them stay in Guelph at EJ or move to King George with their classmate that will be heading there
anyways. The school has the available space. How about a grandfather clause that will see those
that are at EJ and their younger siblings remain and new FI students from East Wellington enter the
system in Erin?
We were told at the meeting that if most of the FI students were to leave the program and go to
Rockwood C
entennial that the school would accept them, even though the school is beyond capacity. Why is this
type of accommodation possible not possible at EJ and King George if capacity is the driving force
behind the plan?
Our trustee has been calling East Wellington parents to welcome them to the Erin School community.
Yet says in public that she and all the trustees must consider all the information put forth and
forthcoming before making a decision. Is the deal done? Why was this process so rushed? The
projected enrollment was known for a long time and there was a lot of time to do this right and
involve the stakeholders. We, as parents, are the ones with the largest vested interest yet our
involvement and inclusion is post hoc.
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
Children are not puzzle pieces and they are not numbers. They are being asked to bear the burden
and seem to be an afterthought. My daughter (In Senior Kindergarten) has had a very difficult time
adjusting to school. It took the better part of a year to get here to last a full day without breaking
down. We are just starting to find some success but everyday at school is struggle for her. We had to
bring in outside help from Trellis to help us all deal effectively with her anxiety. What will become of
her and who will be responsible for her education if she is set back and is unable to attend school for
an extended period? Our commitment to her education is deep but it will not be enough and we will
likely just fall through the cracks. Her future and stability is not a part of the current plan nor is the
future and stability of many others like her who have not developed a deep level of resiliency yet.
I am not asking to have my cake and eat it too. There are options that I feel have not been
considered. There are ways for all parties to win and for none to lose. Convince me and the other
parents that this pan is the best option and will, at least, have neutral impacts on the lives of our
children in the long term and you will have our support. Slow down and let's do this right, together.
One last question: Where on the list of priorities are community and students?
December 18, 2011
This very rushed, and very exclusive report has caused a flurry of stress, panic, and ACTION from
parents and families who would be affected if this "proposed" scenario is implemented. I hope the
Board is listening to the members of this community who STRONGLY oppose ousting East Wellington
students to another town. This scenario is completely unrealistic, inconsiderate and will be ineffective
in the long run... as sadly many East Wellington families will be forced to withdraw their children from
a French Immersion education - something that sould be accessible to ALL Canadians (including
those of us in the "country".)
December 19, 2011
My comment is in regards to The Board permitting parents to choose to relocate siblings that are
being 'grandfathered' to John McRae to the East. Keeping families together is crucial. However,
relocating my eldest daughter to Erin P.S. is not a realistic option. It would mean pulling her away
from the Guelph and Rockwood friends that she has had since kindergarten. She would be the one
and only girl moving to a brand new school and would not know a single friend. Not a fair decision to
be made on behalf of our teenage daughter as she enters Grade 7. It is not even a consideration to
disrupt both of our children. We would like make the board aware of this dilema and propose that
younger siblings be grandfathered to Guelph and not to the East for the well being of the children.
December 19, 2011
I am a little disapointed with the possilbility of a boundary change. I moved to Rockwood specifically
for my children to attend school in Guelph for French Immersion. Making my kids go to Brisbane and
then to Erin is taking a lot of opportunity away from my kids. Eg. After school sports, social events,
anything outside of school really. We would have to wait for them to get home from a 45min-1 hour
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
bus ride or pick them up and then drive to Guelph for anything they do outside of school. This will
not help my kids education and social standing at all, it'll hinder that.
The comute to Brisbane and to Erin is more than double the distance. By the time they get home, eat
dinner, when are they going to have time for studies without staying up till 10-11pm every night.
They'll have no social time at all.
So my options are to not put my kids in FI and put them in an overcrowded Rockwood school, that
has 200+ more kids than Edward Johnson and is smaller or make them trave1 hour a day for their
education. Not very good options if this boundary change goes through.
There is only 40-50 students from Rockwood in FI at Edward Johnson, how does that overcrowd the
school. It is the City of Guelph and lack of planning that overcowded Edward Johnson. East Guelph
has grown quite a bit in the last few years, so why sacrifice the education of my kids?
I am only one voice but I hope somebody reads this, not sure if anyone will.
Thank you
December 19, 2011
I submitted a letter a few days ago but another point has been bothering me and I'd like to add post
script.
This particular point speaks to the timing of this review. It is stated in the report that they had to do a
review because of Full Day Kindergarten and the increasing growth in East Guelph. This is nothing
new!! FDK has been in the works for years now!! Growth on the east side of Guelph has been in full
gear for even longer! Why couldn't this review have started last year (or even before)?? At the very
least in September. Now, I've heard that the rush to have a decision by February is for staffing
purposes, that's understandable. But why could it not have been started back in September?
The fact that this is right over the Christmas holidays makes it feel even more unfair. Feedback has to
be submitted by Jan 6th!!! That is even before the kids head back to school! I feel that the timing of
this has been set up to be as inconvenient as possible.
Instead of enjoying this time of year, I've been loosing so much sleep over this and worrying about my
kids future.
I'm trying to understand why decision makers have timed this process such as they have. All I can think
is that it is an attempt to railroad it through and try to get it passed while make it as inconvenient for
those of us with a REAL stake in it.
December 19, 2011
I am very concerned about the proposal to send the Rockwood French Immersion students to Brisbane
then Erin. Rockwood residents are part of the greater Guelph community, and have no relationship
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Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback
December 15, 2011 to December 21, 2011
with Erin at all. Guelph is the centre of the Rockwood children's after-school lessons, sports teams,
health care, and friendships. Their parents probably work in the Guelph area. If a Rockwood student
does not attend Rockwood Centennial, he or she goes to Guelph to the separate school or high
school. To single out the French Immersion students to be sent to Erin would put families in very
difficult situations. I dare say, if the Erin alternative were forced upon them, many would drop out of
the French Immersion program all together and go into the English stream in Rockwood.
The UGDSB was a pioneer in offering the French Immersion alternative to its students. Please assure
me that the Rockwood FI students will be able to continue in the program without major disruptions.
December 20, 2011
My daughter is at EJ and has BEEN since JK due to historical daycare. I am happy for her to go to
king George but want a commitment from the board that she will stay there. I know my community
wants their children to stay at EJ for a year or two more and I fully support them although would not
choose this for my daughter as she has established a community and has not been moved and up
rooted like the many tytler area kids have been.
I would also like to say I think rockwood kids should be able to attend king George as well as the
impact on families is too huge to go with the proposal.
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