Lady Evelyn Alternative School Council

Newsletter #6 – April 2003

http://www.ladyevelyn.ca

Co-chairs

“Do We Need Educational Choice?”

Come Find out at our April

School Council Meeting

Tuesday, April 29^th, 2003. 7:30 P.M.

While Lady Evelyn does not appear to be targeted in the latest round of school closures, questions are being raised as to how much choice the school board should offer and what it can afford. Come out and discuss your feelings and what input our school council should give to the school board.

Other Items on the Agenda:

• Financial Update

• Alternative Awareness Campaign Update

• Library Donation Update: $400

• Bach Choir - $300

• Flying Phil

• Bulk Order School Supplies

• OCASC motion to support “school choice”

Unlike other school councils, the Lady Evelyn Alternative School Council is not elected but consists of all parents/guardians. Everyone who shows up at a meeting has an equal say. Come out, get involved, be heard. Your kids deserve it.

School Board Accomodation Plan

The School Board recently announced “a city-wide, public process to evaluate its educational infrastructure and accessibility of instructional programs.” This, it turns out, is bureaucratic language for “school closures”, with final recommendations going to the supervisor next September.

The School Council, with on-line input, drafted a letter to the board outlining our position on closures. The major points are:

• The board needs to maintain programme choice to both meet the educational needs of its students and to stem the flow of students to other boards, private schools and home schooling. Any savings in busing due to reduced catchment areas or elimination of busing will be more than taken away by lost pupil grants.

• Lady Evelyn's historic enrollment is in the 82% – 92% range and, despite two lower years, is projected to move back up into the mid-80% again next year. With our small yard, we do not have room to take on a programme involving more than one or two classes.

The full report can be found on-line at http://www.ladyevelyn.ca/closures/Lady_Evelyn_Accommodation_Submission_2003.html

Alternative Awareness Campaign

The Alternative Schools Advisory Committee is working to raise awareness of Alternative Education to ensure that parents/guardians know the options available to them, and to ensure that the board is aware that the programme is supported and valued.

As part of this campaign, look for articles on Alternative Education in local Community Papers this spring. If you would like to help get the word out, please email Sue Gray at suenadam2000@yahoo.ca. Or pick up a Lady Evelyn brochure in the school office and pass it along to your friends.

Medieval Feast

The medieval Feast hosted by Ms. Cairnie and Ms. Bedyn's classes was a great success. The kids had a great time researching and putting together the whole performance for their families and two local television stations aired the festivities on their nightly news.

Watch the council web site for a picture gallery from the feast.

(Photo by Francis Moran)

Tulips

To celebrate spring and help the kids experience the miracle of life,Shari Manchur's class planted tulips this winter, with support from the council. The flowers have now burst into bloom and can be seen in the main foyer of the school.

Individual Education Plan

The school board will be holding an “Individual Education Plan (IEP)” Workshop on Tuesday, May 13th, 2003 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Confederation High School on Woodroffe. This is open to all parents but will be particularly interesting to parents of children with special needs. To register, call Pam Lindsay at 596-8211 #8713 by Wednesday, May 7^th.

Outdoor Education Centres (Macskimming)

The “Friends of Lasting Outdoor Education” is running a letter-writing campaign to try to stop the closure of the MacSkimming and Bill Mason Outdoor Education Centres. Information letters are available outside the school office or on-line at http://www.ladyevelyn.ca.

EQAO

Grade 3 and Grade 6 testing is quickly approaching. While these tests are mandated by the provincial government, they do conflict with the Alternative approach to education and have been criticized by many educators. Unfortunately, only students who are absent from school the week of the tests will be exempt. Several families took this option last year.

Upcoming Events

We have reserved pool space at Clifford Bowie Pool for Lady Evelyn's annual swim party! Mark your calendars for Saturday June 7, 2003. From 3:30 to 4:30pm. Details to follow.

As well, the school council is paying for the fabulous Blues-in-the-School programme to return again this year. The school will be alive with the sounds of blues for two weeks from April 28^th to May 9^th.

On-line Version Available

As always, this newsletter, along with breaking news, background material, minutes and an activities calendar is available on the council web site (http://www.ladyevelyn.ca) in multiple languages.

Co-Chair's Message

I think it is extremely exciting that one of my favourite authors, Jane Healy, will be speaking at St. Paul University in May. She is a long-time educator who has a truly alternative approach to learning. I believe she will be emphasizing how the medium should not be the message. The talk will be on May 8^th at 7:30PM in the Main Auditorium of St. Paul University. Tickets are $10 and can be obtained from Elaine Hopkins at 596-4013. I will also have a limited number of tickets available, so please give me a call at 234-0377.

I was going to say something upbeat about Spring, but I'm starting to fear that I missed it this year.

Arlene