December 12 to January 14th
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.
Dear members of the Accomodation Review Committee
I am writing to express my concern regarding the proposed scenario to relocate
the students of Fred A. Hamilton Public School in favour of bussing-in French Immersion
students from throughout South Guelph. I am concerned with how this decision may
affect the current students, as well as the community around our school.
I am a parent of three children –two of whom are current students at Fred
A. Hamilton, and one who will be registering to start Junior Kindergarten in September.
Daily, we walk together to and from school, sometimes meeting up with other children
and parents along the way. This routine has enabled us to make friends, meet people in
our neighbourhood, and create networks and supports that otherwise would not have
evolved. Walking to and from school is obviously an early lesson in making physical
activitiy a routine part of your life. It also allows us to be spontaneous in our play and
interactions with other families. We can stay and play after school with other
neighbourhood families -sledding, skating, playing a game of ball or just using the
playground equipment –again in a simple way, promoting physical activity in a familiar
place. It is important for children to feel like they belong in the neighbourhood and that
the neighbourhood belongs to them too.
Fred A. Hamilton school is an important hub in our neighbourhood. The Hanlon
Creek Neighbourhood Group invites all people living in the Fred A. Hamilton catchment
area to join in its activities. Many of its activities are based at the School site. At the Fall
“Harvest Happenings”,” Winterfest” or Summer “Cones in the Park”, the neighbourhood
comes together –families whose children call Fred A. Hamilton home, families whose
older children are graduates of Fred A. Hamilton, University and College students who
live in the area (and often use the outside facilities for recreation) as well as other people
who live in the vicinity of the school. When someone hears that the activity is being held
at THE school, they automatically know that it means Fred A, Hamilton –the
Neighbourhood school.
Fred A. Hamilton Public School is also a site for a City-supported ice rink. This
rink is used frequently by the school children at recess, sometimes as part of the Phys-Ed
program and has even inspired a teacher-student hockey game. University and College
students living in the area are often seen using the rink. Many families use the rink after
school hours and on weekends. A great many of the volunteers that spend hours tending
to the flooding and care of the rink are parents of children at Fred A. Hamilton. Again,
the neighbourhood comes together at THE School.
December 12 to January 14th
Fred A. Hamilton Public School is a very family-oriented place. It is not located
in an affluent area and yet fundraising is kept low-key. Throughout the year, the school
council hosts many family-friendly (non-fundraising) activities such as free movie nights,
and a reading night where families and teachers come in pyjamas to share in reading
books together. Promoting family and community is a huge benefit for our kids.
Volunteers are very important to many class activities, as they are in all schools.
At Fred A. Hamilton, since I have already walked there with my children, I feel very
open to offering my time to the school programmes. Whether it be walking with a grade
4/5 class to the Neighbourhood retirement home each month, co-coordinating the Silent
Auction fundraiser, being part of a committee to obtain suitable playground equipment,
assisting with snowsuits in the Kindergarten class, or simply serving pizza and subs in
my children’s classes, I feel that my time is supporting a fantastic environment for my
children. I know all of the teachers and thus all of my children are known by the staff
too. There is very much a feeling of FAMILY at Fred A. Hamilton! In addition, my
school-age daughters feel valued having their parents and people from their
neighbourhood involved in their school environment. Also, my daughters and their
preschool brother (who has accompanied me for much of my volunteer time), have seen
that volunteerism can take many forms. I am not sure that I and other parents could be
this involved if our young children were sent to another community for their schooling.
The neighbourhood in which we live is the neighbourhood that we chose. Prior to
our eldest child beginning school, we interviewed the Principal and toured the facilities of
both John McRae and Fred A. Hamilton. We chose the local neighbourhood school in
large part because we could walk there and because we felt we could be more involved
there. Sadly now we have heard from other Fred A. Hamilton families who made the
same choice, that they are considering moving out of the neighbourhood if our children
are to be relocated for their schooling. If families leave, the fantastic diversity and
feeling of community will be lost.
I value our Neighbourhood school.
I also value our Neighbourhood.
Sincerely,