Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback November 19 to November 25, 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. November 22, 2011 To whom it may concern, I have really not had much time to get involved in what is being discussed for the Edward Johnson Boundary Review. I guess I was really hoping that I wouldn’t have to again after the last Boundary Review at John Mc Crae. I would just like to voice my concerns and let it be known that I am extremely disappointed that I have to get my daughter to possibly move again. My daughter first started her schooling at John Mc Crae, it is within walking distance from our house (Tytler catchment area) which is something that I like because eventually I would have her get there on her own. Then that school had to be rebuilt, so she moved to the unused College Ave PS until the New John Mc Crae School was built. She stayed at College Ave for a year and then went back to John Mc Crae for the following two years. The Accommodation/Boundary Review that took place last year affected us and we were forced into Edward Johnson PS. My daughter was hesitant about the move because there were only a few kids that she knew were going to the school, and she was worried about making friends. So far she is enjoying this year and has made new friends and has adjusted to this move very well. She was expected to return to John Mc Crae in 2013 for grades 7 & 8 and have one more year at Edward Johnson. Now another boundary change seems like it is going to affect her. I guess I would just like to say, I am not okay with moving another time, just so she can be moved again for grades 7 & 8, I would like to see her either stay at Edward Johnson for one more year until she goes back to John Mc Crae or just have her go back to John Mc Crae for 6, 7 & 8. Having her and the other children move so many times is completely unfair. I also heard a rumour that one of the scenarios for the moving the kids could possibly be to a French/English school, I am not okay with that either, the reason being is because I believe that my daughter, along with many other kids in the FI program, will be discouraged from learning, and speaking French. I hope that my voice and concerns will be heard because really I just want what is best for the of the children that have already been affected by being moved on a regular basis. Thank you for your time, 1 Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback November 19 to November 25, 2011 November 24, 2011 I am also a Ward parent with one child in French Immersion currently attending John McCrae out of area for the year. First and foremost, I would prefer that my child remain at John McCrae rather than be assigned to Edward Johnson for the 2012-2013 academic year to reduce the number of transitions in the light of the latest King George situation. Additionally, my child already enjoys a safe and loving before-and-after school childcare situation which she has attended since she started school in 2008. I have been on the waitlist for afterschool care at the Kensington Y and am still unsure if I will be able to arrange childcare acceptable to my family situation if my child is transferred to Edward Johnson. Quality care is important to me as a working mom. I am very opposed to the idea of moving my child from McCrae, where she has enjoyed 4 years of nurturing education and warm peer and staff relationships, to Edward Johnson, where she would be new, and then have her transferred to King George on top of that. I am of the philosophy that a stressed child cannot learn and that as adults, we are responsible for planning secure educational situations for our students. That, to me, means doing the least harm with the least possible moves. Please consider the undue hardship you may be causing families who have already done their due diligence in their children's educational situations. November 24, 2011 I am a parent of two children who have been moved to EJPS this year from John McCrae PS. Hearing that my children will have to move schools yet again angers me to no end. I see this process as flawed. The only result of this continued reshuffling is to create negative feelings, in my children, towards the public school system. My observations of this process to date have left me wondering about the competency of the people in charge. For example, even I knew about the full time kindergarten and this knowledge should have been incorporated into last year’s decision. This is my concern this time around. I feel the "ward" children will end up being the group which is bounced from school to school to "up the numbers". To me, this is unacceptable. Between the use of technology and dialogue with the city to find out where the new growth hot spots will be, there must be a way to track student population. I would recommend our group of children be returned to John McCrae PS, our local public school, as of 2012. 2 Edward Johnson FI Boundary Review Feedback November 19 to November 25, 2011 November 24, 2011 We are concerned about the bondary review for children in our area yet again. While we understand the need for a boundary review we are less understanding of the way in which it is being done. The lack of organization and poor planning is leaving some kids dealing with multiple moves, some as many as several moves in a few years. This, from a transition perspective, is not in any childs best interest and can seriously impact a childs education experience not to mention have negative impacts on social connections and transition issues within the home and community. Why with the information that has been available for some time was this not better organized so kids are not being shuffled around multiple times? It is my hope that this time around you will find a way to ensure the kids that are moved are not dealing with this again before they graduate. We are not satisfied that every effort has been made to put the childrens well being first, as it would seem much more supportive to have the children remain in their current environment until they could be permanently moved to their new school. We do not want our child 'bounced' from school to school multiple times. 3