Frequently Asked Questions
Updated March 15, 2010
Q: What consultation will take place with community partners and the ongoing use of the McGregor Easson school facility?
A: Consultation with community partners will be coordinated through our Facilities and Planning staff. As additional information becomes available this website will be updated.
Q: Now that Carleton Heights will have a Middle French Immersion (MFI) program for September, 2010 what is the catchment area for attending this program.
A: The entire ARC study area will be directed to Carleton Heights Public School for Middle French Immersion initially, and ongoing analysis of growth of the program would see the area reconsidered as necessary, perhaps with a second MFI site being considered in the future. To date, Carleton Heights Public School has 19 registrations for their new MFI program. Through District website notices, signage outside the school on Prince of Wales Drive as well as communication with the community through school newsletters, the program has been successfully promoted.
Q: How does my child register at their new school?
A: A letter to all families was sent home early in March to seek confirmation of student intent to register at Carleton Heights PS for September 2010. All written confirmations received by the McGregor Easson PS office by March 12 will have their registration completed electronically by the school. Following March 12, 2010, families will need to go to the Carleton Heights PS office to complete registration paperwork.
Q: What will happen to the play structure and field equipment currently at McGregor Easson?
A: There may be some of the field equipment that will be able to be moved successfully, while maintaining the appropriate safety standards, for example the soccer nets, that would be expected for equipment in our schools. The play structure, however, would be costly to move and would likely not meet the current safety standards. Additional information with respect to this issue will be discussed with our Design and Construction Department and should additional detail become available they will be shared with School Councils, this website and the school Principals. In general, the resources of the school will follow the students to their redirected site.
Q: What Prohibitive to Repair (PTR) funding has been made available to the OCDSB to support the renovations and or addition to Carleton Heights Public School.
A: Report No. 10-055 to Business Services Committee 9 March 2010 (link to report) addresses the receiving school renovation projects for Carleton Heights PS. The report is attached for your information.
Q: The community has expressed concern about the safety of Meadowlands Drive and Prince of Wales Drive for students who may need to walk. Are there any developments on whether or not OSTA will be declaring this area as dangerous?
A: Our Planning and Facilities Department have ongoing communication with Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA). We currently do not have a response to this question, but will update families as soon as more information is available.
Q: What additional budget will be provided to McGregor Easson and Carleton Heights School Councils for support during the transition months ahead?
A: The Board of Trustees authorized up to $2,000.00 to be provided to the School Councils of both McGregor Easson and Carleton Heights Public Schools to assist in planning, organizing and hosting various functions between both school communities, to be used before June 30, 2010. These additional funds will be allocated to the appropriate budget holders through the OCDSB Finance Department.
Q: How is transition planning taking place and who is involved?
A: There are several levels involved in the transition planning for McGregor Easson and Carleton Hills Public Schools. Principals connected to the school closures in the Merivale Area- South of Baseline Elementary Study, meet weekly with the Superintendent of Instruction to discuss questions, share ideas and develop best practices. As well, School Councils members continue to get together with each other and their principals to plan for the transition.
Q: Will students presently attending Knoxdale for MFI who live in the Meadowlands area be able to continue attending at the Knoxdale MFI program with transportation or will they be redirected to Carleton Heights next year?
A: We are introducing the Middle French Immersion Program at Carleton Heights PS one grade level at a time, beginning at grade 4, as the program grows over a number of years. Students in grades 5-8 will continue to attend the MFI program they are currently in. Only those students beginning at the grade four entry points will attend Carleton Heights for September 2010.
Q: We have one child who is currently in MFI at Knoxdale PS and another who is ready to enter a Middle French Immersion program. We live in the study area. Will my child who is ready to enter MFI at grade 4 be allowed to transfer to Knoxdale PS or will he/she be redirected to the Carleton Heights MFI program?
A: A student entering the MFI program who lives in the Carleton Heights area should register at Carleton Heights for the program. A student who wants to attend a school outside their designated area will need to apply for a cross boundary transfer. Please refer to the OCDSB website for details about the new Cross Boundary Transfer Policy.
Superintendent of Instruction, Cathy Nevins meets with Principal of Carleton Heights PS, Jim Tayler and Principal of McGregor Easson, Catharine Pearson as transition plans are discussed.