A final boundary review report on the new Rockwood public school has suggested French immersion will be offered at the $6.2-million, 34,000 square-foot school.
The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) announced the Rockwood French immersion program in November, but did not declare at that time where it would be offered – at Rockwood Centennial Public School or the new public school in the village’s south end.
The final boundary review report on the new school, though not yet approved – it was to be presented to the business operations committee on Jan. 14 and voted on by trustees on Jan. 28 – has been posted to the UGDSB)website: www.ugdsb.on.ca/rbr.
The purpose of the boundary review, which began in September, was to establish the boundary for a new 308-student school on MacLennan Street in Rockwood and to establish the location and boundaries for a new French immersion program. The final report recommends that:
– the new Rockwood elementary will house both French immersion and regular-track students from junior kindergarten to grade 5; and
– Rockwood Centennial Public School will house regular-track students from junior kindergarten to grade 8 and French immersion students in grades 6 to 8.
A set of maps appended to the final report show the proposed attendance areas.
The new school’s proposed French immersion boundary roughly follows (clockwise) Jones Baseline, Wellington Road 22, Wellington Road 26, and Highway 7 continuing along the Eramosa-Milton Townline to include Eden Mills.
The regular-track attendance area for the new school would be the residential streets in the south end of Rockwood, south of Harris Street.
The board intends to launch the French immersion program in Rockwood with grades junior kindergarten to grade 1, growing the program by one grade each year going forward.
The report recommends that the Rockwood French immersion students graduate to John F. Ross CVI in Guelph. It will be 2022 before the first students graduate to Grade 9 and the boards may conduct a review of secondary accommodation before that time.
While public input to the staff boundary review committee closed on Dec. 18, members of the public are still welcome to make presentations to trustees at the UGDSB meetings on Jan. 21 and 28, after pre-registering as a delegation. Details are on the board website.
