Big news for several schools as students head back to class this week

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/09/2016 (3356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Indigenous language bilingual programs will finally come to Winnipeg public school classrooms this week — in five classrooms so far, but a number expected to blossom into many more, and quickly.

There will be three classes at Riverbend Community School in Seven Oaks and a class each of Ojibway and Cree at Isaac Brock School in Winnipeg School Division.

“We’re thrilled,” said Seven Oaks superintendent Brian O’Leary.

The 60 kids will be in three classrooms covering some combination of kindergarten to Grade 3, he said.

O’Leary said there’s a shortage of teachers able to speak and teach Ojibway, and that has created competition that has cost some reserve schools’ staff: “We’ve drawn some teachers off First Nations communities,” O’Leary acknowledged.

Louis Riel School Division is also taking a serious look at launching indigenous language bilingual programs, and WSD has its first Spanish bilingual students taking classes this week at Earl Grey School.

“There are still some spaces available in each of the programs for children who will turn five by December 2016 — and interested parents should call the school directly to arrange for registration,” WSD school board chair Mark Wasyliw said.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers High School?

As for new schools, how about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers making space for a new high school?

No, seriously.

Pembina Trails is opening an alternative high school in September for 50 students who have been unable to graduate in a regular high school setting. It will be housed in the Investors Group Field in the Blue Bombers’ office space on the University of Manitoba campus.

“We’re on the second floor of Investors Group, right above the Bombers store,” said Pembina Trails superintendent Ted Fransen. “There’s phenomenal window space. Wade Miller (Blue Bombers president and CEO) and the Winnipeg Football Club have been amazing.

“We have been reviewing for some time now how we can improve our high school graduation rate. He was willing to make it happen for us.”

Talks got started when the division staged a human rights event at the stadium last year,” Fransen said. “We have a number of students who have not graduated on time. It provides a flexible schedule, flexible delivery.

“This is our effort to close the gap.”

French immersion continues to explode all over Manitoba

Even so, said O’Leary, “We surveyed for Filipino and Cree, and didn’t get enough interest. I honestly, given the makeup of our neighbourhood, thought we’d get more interest.”

This school year is as short as it’s possible to be, given when Labour Day and June 30 fall on the calendar — 193 days, of which 10 are professional development and in-service. Most divisions have their first classes Wednesday, a handful Tuesday or Thursday.

The continuing influx of Syrian students will continue — and heavily add to pressure on crowded schools schools, particularly in Winnipeg and Seven Oaks.

The Department of Education has told Education Minister Ian Wishart that 39 per cent of Syrian refugees will be school-age; another 1,500 to 2,000 refugees will be arriving soon. Another 20 per cent are preschool, a far higher percentage than those who will be leaving the school system in the next few years.

While WSD and Brandon anxiously await to find out if Wishart will pony up the tens of millions of dollars for the new schools they want in Waterford Green and south Brandon, Seven Oaks will open the new École Rivière-Rouge in Riverbend. Built for 400 students, it already has 380 enrolled in kindergarten to Grade 5, and will soon exceed capacity.

Seven Oaks opens a second MET school — it’s not short for anything — adjacent to Maples Collegiate. Most of the students were already enrolled at Maples, and had wanted to get into the established MET school adjacent to Garden City Collegiate: “It’s high school that puts an emphasis on the student/teacher relationship and real world experience,” O’Leary explained.

Ready for another sports academy?

“Churchill High School/College Churchill is kicking off its hockey academy this September,” Wasyliw said. “They have met their target of 24 students and have room for four more (including two goalie positions).

“It’s very exciting because the Churchill High School Hockey Academy was just certified by Hockey Canada as a Skills Academy. Tim Friesen, formerly of Kelvin High School, is moving over to Churchill High School to teach the skills portion, and students attend regular classes the rest of the time.”

WSD’s groundbreaking transgender policy now in effect

“Safe and Caring Policy — Transgender and Gender Diverse Staff and Students — provides clear direction and expanded information to help increase awareness and understanding… WSD will be providing a variety of communications and education opportunities for staff, parents and the community as the policy is introduced,” said the division.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca