Boundary reviews launch for schools in Rockwood and Ponsonby
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 6, 2013
GUELPH, Ontario — The Upper Grand District School Board is launching separate boundary reviews in Rockwood and Ponsonby in response to enrolment pressures brought on by Full Day Kindergarten (FDK), residential growth and interest in French Immersion programs.
At the Business Operations Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 10, trustees will receive the first reports for the New Rockwood Elementary School Boundary Review, and also the Ponsonby PS Boundary Review. The reports have been published online at www.ugdsb.ca/rbr (Rockwood) and www.ugdb.on.ca/pbr (Ponsonby).
In Rockwood the board has plans to build a new 308 pupil place elementary school on MacLennan Street, with a scheduled opening of September 2014. The Rockwood boundary review will establish grade levels and an attendance area for the new school, and may entail adjustments to the boundaries of Rockwood Centennial PS, Eramosa PS and Brisbane PS.
Residential growth in Rockwood has resulted in overcapacity issues at Rockwood Centennial PS, which currently has 8 portables. The school will introduce Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) in September 2014, creating further demands on classroom space. Projections indicate the school will be at 154% utilization by 2014 (an estimated 665 students for a school building that will have a capacity of 432 pupil places, excluding portables).
The Rockwood boundary review may also consider the boundaries for a French Immersion (FI) program in the community. In the spring of 2012 the board conducted a feasibility study into starting an FI program in Rockwood. In June 2012 trustees passed a motion approving the establishment of a JK/SK or JK/SK/Grade 1 FI program, provided that sufficient numbers of parents confirmed their intentions through an early FI registration process.
FI registration for students entering JK, SK or Grade 1 in 2014 will be held at Rockwood Centennial PS on October 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More details are available at www.ugdsb.ca/fi-rockwood.
The location of the proposed FI program in Rockwood is not known at this time, but will be an outcome of the boundary review process. The review will also produce recommendations as to whether the FI program will start in the kindergarten grades only, or also include Grade 1. The board’s usual practice is that a decision to participate in FI is made at the kindergarten level (JK or SK), and students are not admitted in later grades without prior experience in French. For the September 2014 startup only, the board may accept FI registrations for students entering Grade 1 without any prior French instruction. Parents can learn more at an FI Information Night at Rockwood Centennial PS on September 26 from 7 to 9 p.m.
At the small rural elementary school in Ponsonby enrolment has remained fairly stable in recent years, but that situation is changing. The introduction of FDK in September 2012 contributed to increased enrolment at the school. Students are also coming from new residential housing in the South Ridge development at Bridge Street and First Line on the south edge of Elora. South Ridge is within the existing boundary for Ponsonby PS.
The enrolment projections for Ponsonby PS anticipate an increase to 107% utilization by 2015 (approx. 203 students for a 190 pupil place building), while Elora PS is looking at a decline to 92% in 2015 (approx. 439 students for a building capacity of 475 pupil places). While these are not drastic changes, longer term projections for growth beyond 2015 are prompting the board to look at the issue now. Ponsonby PS has little flexibility in accommodating excess numbers of students because electrical and septic system constraints limit the number of portables it can have. Even at schools that are under capacity it is sometimes necessary to use portables because of variations in class sizes. The Ponsonby review will produce scenarios that may include changing the boundaries or grade levels at Ponsonby PS and Elora PS.
The board will be hosting public information sessions for interested persons to learn more about the boundary reviews, ask questions and provide feedback. The Ponsonby meeting will be Thursday, November 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Ponsonby PS. The Rockwood meeting will be Thursday, November 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Rockwood Centennial PS.
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext.544
[email protected]
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