More classrooms for R.F. Morrison

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This article was published 18/03/2014 (4328 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Garden City area kindergarten to Grade 3 students are set to get more one-on-one attention from their teachers.

On Wed., March 12, Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum announced funding of $12.4 million to build or expand 21 classrooms in eight schools across the province, including a three classroom addition at R.F. Morrison School (25 Morrison St.).

“It will give us the ability to essentially have one additional Grade 1, one additional Grade 2 and one additional Grade 3 class in the Garden City area and that should be enough so we can get our class sizes down to 20 or fewer throughout the Garden City community,” Seven Oaks School Division superintendent Brian O’Leary said.

The investment is part of the province’s initiative to cap classrooms from kindergarten to Grade 3 at 20 students by September 2017.

“This investment in smaller class sizes will give students more one-on-one time with their teachers, which will help to build a strong foundation for future learning and ensure students can succeed academically,” said Allum in a press release. “Smaller class sizes in early grades enrich and enhance learning, and the benefits last throughout a student’s educational path.”

O’Leary said more individual attention in early school years makes a big difference down the road.

“It’s a huge issue,” O’Leary said. “If kids aren’t reading by Grade 3, they’re going to struggle, because the curriculum shifts from learning to read, to reading to learn, and if kids can’t make that shift they will really struggle. We see it (small class sizes) as a good thing and something that is a significant benefit for kids, and this (funding) just enables us to have the facilities we need to do it.”

O’Leary said he’s pleased with the funding from the government and that Seven Oaks is working with the province to determine future funding in the division.

“We’ve had two new schools approved, one (Amber Trails) will open middle of next year and another one (Riverbend) in the fall of 2016, so we wanted to watch enrolment trends next fall and have discussions with the province about further capital needs,” O’Leary said.

“Part of it is just wanting to be certain of where and what the need is to move forward.”

O’Leary anticipates the additions to R.F. Morrison will start being built in fall 2016.