After 45 years as a family school, parents and teachers at South Park Family School are rallying to protect the schoolB次元官网网址檚 unique learning experience.
More than 125 people attended South ParkB次元官网网址檚 Monday night SOS rally, B次元官网网址淪ave Our School,B次元官网网址� to start a campaign that will save South ParkB次元官网网址檚 status as a school of choice. The century old school, across from Beacon Hill Park in James Bay, is one of the first built in Victoria and is at threat of being stripped of its program of choice, which currently means its catchment status is open to the entire school district. A similar situation is underway at Cloverdale Traditional School, which transferred to a school of choice in 2006 and has a loyal parent group that says itB次元官网网址檚 been a very successful model.
B次元官网网址淥ur community built South Park Family School to what it is today,B次元官网网址� said parent advisory committee (PAC) chair Jenn Sutton. B次元官网网址淐hanging our family school from an elementary school of choice to a catchment school is removing the core fabric of what makes this school special to every student, teacher, and parent involved, because our schoolB次元官网网址檚 philosophy is based on the commitment by a large number of its families to be actively and direct engaged in our school environment. Our school has been threatened with closures before, and every time our community has rallied to demonstrate the value of our inclusive schooling model.B次元官网网址�
With mounting enrolment pressures around the district, the school board proposed that South Park become a regular stream elementary with its own catchment zone. That would spell the end of the B次元官网网址渃o-operative parent participationB次元官网网址� model and a blend of other philosophies that the school uses, Sutton said.
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ItB次元官网网址檚 a model that should be celebrated and not terminated, she added.
In the South Park model staff, parents and students work together to support a community where the arts and the environment are integral to all aspects of learning, she said, adding itB次元官网网址檚 that open catchment that invites families seeking what South Park offers.
However, nothing is permanent with the SD61 boundary catchment review, says Jordan Watters, chair of the school trustees.
B次元官网网址淣o decisions have been made,B次元官网网址� Watters said.
ItB次元官网网址檚 not lost on Watters that parents are upset.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 heated,B次元官网网址� she acknowledged. B次元官网网址淲e are going into the consultation process with the intent to have meaningful discussions to inform our decision process. ItB次元官网网址檚 definitely challenging but weB次元官网网址檙e doing our best.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 the latest significant challenge to South Park families as the district announced the end of late French immersion at Central middle school with little warning last month. Last year was also the final year of the districtB次元官网网址檚 popular nature kindergarten pilot program at South Park.
Parent Kristil Hammer noted South Park has many families who enrol their children there instead of early French immersion, with many assuming they can register for late immersion at Central.
B次元官网网址淐hildren learn in different ways and not every kid is ready to sit in a seat and learn a second language at age four, five and six,B次元官网网址� Hammer said.
However, the district voted on Monday night to revisit late French immersion at Central, in particular, noting the interest of in-catchment students.
B次元官网网址淲ith over 125 people showing up today, it shows that our whole school community are not going to let the School District just take away what is magical about this school and our community,B次元官网网址� Sutton said.
SD61 will host three open houses for public consultation to discuss the boundary review catchment proposals. The first is on Feb. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Spectrum Community secondary gymnasium. Others follow, Feb. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lansdowne in the gym and Feb. 16, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Vic High Andrews gymnasium.
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