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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 11, 2008 - 3 Boundary issue divides north and south Catholic community Continued from page 1 north, so it is common sense to build another school in the north." Abbey Gorial echoed her husband's sentiments, but noted that if one of the options had to be adopted she would prefer option two, which would still allow her child to go to Loyola as opposed to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School. "It makes no sense when we live up here for them to be bussed all the way down there," she said. The parents of St. Thomas Aquinas students were of a different opinion. "The outcome I would like to see is St. Thomas Aquinas being rebuilt. Its facilities are crumbling now and from a construction point of view it needs attention, and it's been decided by the experts, not me, that it needs rebuilding," said Linda Peluso. "The sad thing about rebuilding means we've got to bus some students in from north of the QEW, but for these students who are bussed in, they'll have new facilities and they'll have a great community. Putting myself in their shoes it is tough to divide neighbourhoods up north of the QEW, but in the grander scheme of things we have to do this." At 7:30 p.m. the formal portion of the meeting began with an overview of the boundary review process presented by committee member Andrew Maxwell, who listed the three options currently being considered by the committee. · Option one: Holy Family and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Elementary Schools school attendance areas are redirected to St. Thomas Aquinas. · Option two: Pope John Paul II and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Elementary Schools school attendance areas west of Bronte Road and Holy Family Catholic Elementary School attendance area are redirected to St. Thomas Aquinas. · Option three: St. Bernadette and St. Michael Catholic Elementary Schools school attendance areas are redirected to St. Thomas Aquinas. "This committee is an advisory committee only. We come up with the scenarios based on the criteria and the mandate," Maxwell pointed out. "The board of trustees are going to make the final decision." The purpose of the boundary review, which Maxwell noted was to ease the congestion of the Catholic secondary schools in the north and fill the underutilized St. Thomas Aquinas in the south, was discussed. The boundary review's criteria was also discussed. This included such considerations as the optimization of school facilities, the minimization of porta- bles, student distribution, parish boundaries and transportation. In the end, Maxwell said the boundary review committee concluded the redirection of approximately 400 students from Loyola and Holy Trinity to St. Thomas Aquinas was not feasible without significant impact on the Oakville Catholic secondary school communities and their respective elementary schools. It was also concluded that the board should consider an eight to 10 classroom addition at Loyola to accommodate its projected student enrollment growth and that students who would be sent to St. Thomas Aquinas would not be moved until the school is rebuilt. This announcement brought a brief round of applause from some members of the audience. However there was little praise for the decisions of the boundary review committee when the meeting moved into the question and answer period. Kevin Corcoran, who has a son in Grade 2 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, expressed fears that children in the West Oak Trails area would have their sense of community destroyed by going to a school so far away. "When you bus a kid three transfers south, how can you build a community?" he asked. "How are you going to address the issue of extracurricular activi- ties? I'm a PhysEd teacher in an elementary school and I've got kids playing sports. They're off the streets, they're off of drugs, and they're not involved in violence. My son thinks that a two-hour bus ride to practice soccer at the school is too long. He's not going to join." For Corcoran, the solution to the boundary review situation would see St. Thomas Aquinas rebuilt for its existing capacity. "Why not build a school that would house those numbers in the south?," he asked. "The question is where are most students going in the south? Private schools. So, if you build a beautiful brand new school, build it to capacity." The private school statement brought applause and cheers from the parents of students in the northern schools, which in turn brought scowls and booing from St. Thomas Aquinas parents. In response to Corcoran's statements, boundary review committee member Amanda Cudmore said schools are built to accommodate 1,000-1,200 students. Building a smaller school would make certain school programs unavailable to the student body. "Every Catholic student in Halton should be able to get access to the same set of courses," she said. St. Thomas Aquinas parent Patrick Hennessy expressed concern about the school's future, since the committee was no longer recommending that 400 students be moved from the north to the south. "Some students will have to be moved down because they are not going to rebuild a school in the south end with just 800 students in it. The process is ongoing," responded Maxwell. These words were not welcome news to Heidi Murray, chair of the St. Joan of See Comments page 7 JUNIOR or SENIOR KINDERGARTEN Program We look forward to welcoming your child to school! Junior Kindergarten 2008-2009: Children must be 4 years old by December 31, 2008. Senior Kindergarten 2008-2009: Children must be 5 years old by December 31, 2008. Note: If your child is currently attending one of our schools for Junior Kindergarten, you do not need to register for Senior Kindergarten. To determine your designated home school, access our website www.hdsb.ca and review our on-line boundary maps or use "School Locator" (click on "School Information", then "Find a School"). Call your designated school to find out which dates have been established for Kindergarten registration. Parents/guardians must be public school supporters. Please bring the following original documents with you*: · your child's immunization record · proof of address · your child's Ontario Health Card · proof of your child's age (birth certificate or passport) *If you are not the child's parent, please bring proof of custody (court order). Please ensure that your child is registered by February 8, 2008. For further information contact 905-335-3663, ext. 3271 (Milton and Halton Hills and West Burlington), or ext. 3294 (East Burlington and Oakville). It's time to register for IN WITH THE NEW! 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