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Boundary review launched in North Dufferin, to include study on feasibility of French Immersion in Shelburne

For Immediate Release
September 6, 2016

GUELPH, Ontario – The Upper Grand District School Board is launching a boundary review in North Dufferin in response to enrolment pressure. In conjunction with the boundary review, the board is conducting a study to gauge the feasibility of establishing a French Immersion (FI) program in Shelburne.

During the board’s public consultation on the 2015-16 French Review, interest was expressed in having FI introduced in Shelburne. Currently, students who reside in North Dufferin attend FI at Princess Elizabeth PS and Mono-Amaranth Public School.

Both schools are experiencing significant enrolment pressure as a result of the growth in FI. Caps placed on JK FI enrolment, beginning in September 2017, will not resolve the immediate overcrowding concerns.

The purpose of the FI feasibility study is to confirm the viability of offering FI in Shelburne. If FI is deemed to be viable, the boundary review process would also make changes to school boundaries to establish a new North Dufferin JK-8 FI boundary. This will also require a modification to existing JK-8 Regular Track boundaries.

At the August meeting of the UGDSB, trustees were presented with the Initial Boundary Review Report and approved the commencement of this review. The report included a recommended staff option, which includes accommodating North Dufferin JK-8 FI students at Centennial Hylands Elementary School. The option also involves the reassignment of a portion of the Centennial Hylands ES Regular Track boundary to Primrose Elementary School. You can view a copy of the report which includes maps of the recommended option online at www.ugdsb.ca/ndbr.

The next steps for the FI Feasibility Study include a Shelburne FI Feasibility Study Public Information Session on September 19 from 7-9 p.m. in the gymnasium at Centennial Hylands ES. This meeting will provide interested parents and guardians with information about FI. A survey will be available to gather data on the number of potential FI students. This information will be shared in a Shelburne FI Feasibility Study report to be presented to trustees on October 11.

For the boundary review process, a Boundary Review Public Information Meeting will be held on October 19 from 7-9 p.m. in the gymnasium at Centennial Hylands ES. At this meeting there will be a staff presentation of the Initial Boundary Review Report including staff’s recommended option and an opportunity for parents and guardians to ask questions and provide feedback.

Members of the public interested in staying informed throughout the boundary review and FI feasibility study are encouraged to review the material posted to www.ugdsb.ca/ndbr. From there they can access the survey, submit ideas, suggestions and comments online, and subscribe to email alerts that will inform them when new content is added to the webpage.

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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]

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