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Future French Immersion attendance areas in South Guelph approved

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2013

GUELPH, Ontario – The attendance area for a new school to be constructed on Zaduk Place in Guelph has been established.

Boundaries for the new JK to Grade 8 French Immersion (FI) Centre, scheduled to open in September 2014, were approved by trustees at the regular board meeting on March 26, 2013. 

In approving Scenario 2, described in the final report of the New South Guelph JK-8 FI Centre Boundary Review, trustees also established new FI boundaries for Paisley Road PS, John McCrae PS and Fred A. Hamilton PS. 

All of the changes come into effect in September 2014.

A set of six maps in the report show the French Immersion boundaries for the four schools.

The boundary review was launched in September, with the goal of creating a JK-8 FI attendance area for the new 449-pupil place school on Zaduk Place. The review’s other goals were to relieve projected overcrowding at Paisley Road, John McCrae and Fred A. Hamilton due to the introduction of Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) and growth in the FI program.

FDK, which has the effect of doubling kindergarten enrolment, will be offered at Paisley Road and John McCrae in September 2014. The program was introduced at F.A. Hamilton in September 2012. 

Enrolment is also on the rise due to increased intake into the FI program. As of September 2012 there were 2,186 elementary FI students in Guelph, twice as many as there were ten years ago.

In addition to changes to the school boundaries, the boundary review’s implementation plan also includes a “grade shift” that will see grade 4, 5 and 6 FI classes at Paisley Road PS move to John McCrae PS. One of the unfortunate consequences of boundary changes is that friendships can be disrupted when cohorts are split up, but a grade shift – when appropriate – allows students to move as a group to a new school.

Steps to reduce the impact of changes upon students are also reflected in the use of a “transition area” bounded by Edinburgh Road N., London Rd. and the Speed River. The area is a part of John McCrae’s new JK-3 boundary as of September 2014, but the families of younger students who attend Paisley Road in the 2013-2014 school year will be offered a choice for the following year – remain at Paisley until Grade 3, or go to John McCrae.

Report #3 also includes comments and feedback received from the community since the launch of the review. Public input was also received at a well-attended public information session in January.

All documents related to the review are available on the Board’s website:

www.ugdsb.ca/sgbr 

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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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