Durham Catholic District School Board - Grade 7-12 model for Pereyma

Just back from the PTA meeting for John XXIII and it is a done deal. We either accept it or we change and that's what my family will be doing as I will not be having my son attend grade 7 in the south end of Oshawa. When I questioned why there wasn't a school to be planned with so much growth in North Oshawa, I was told they couldn't open a school with declining enrollment (odd that there are 3 elementary Catholic schools opened/opening just north of me) They have a reason for wanting to keep the school where it is....I just can't believe they are going to invest MORE money into it?

I think this is the worst idea. you are taking innocent children and forcing them to grow up. I thought the all day kindergarden was bad but this is worse. I am contaplating moving because of this. I as a parent have worked hard to keep my children grounded and young.

I do not agree with mixing 11-13 yr olds with 16-18 yr olds. They say that they will be separated but you can't tell me that they will never see eachother or be exposed to what they are doing. At least when they closed all the schools before they were up-front about it. They pretended to care what we had to say, this time they just went behind our backs and tell us after the fact what they are doing. Enrollment will be down, especially when there will be a nice new school on Grandview. Why bus your kids to a school that you do not agree with when you can walk to a brand new school? It's not like they teach the kids anything in religion class anyway. It is November and my kids have yet to have a Religion class. Needless to say, we will be looking very closely into switching schools.

We have concerns as well, specifically...

As a parent of 2 children in the Catholic School system, i have grave concerns of putting 12/13 year olds with 17/18 year olds. My husband and i have already started discussing transferring our kids to the public system. We have been strong supporters of the catholic board and felt it was

mixing 11-13 years old with 16 -17is wrong, and being done behind parents and students back just down right uncalled for,, i may be changing my tax support to public

This is a terrible idea.

BIG MISTAKE!!!

We disagree with this proposal as it will affect our grandchildren in a negative way.

We have an 8-year old currently in Grade 3 and a 2 ½ year old who will be starting Kindergarten in the 2015-16 school year and we have no second thoughts about pulling our children out of the Catholic School System and switching them to the Public School System, or at the very least to a Catholic School that is not part of this Grade 7-12 Model. We too are within walking distance of two brand new, state-of-the-art Public Elementary schools and a Public Secondary school that between them offer FULL music, art, performing and theatre arts, culinary arts, electronic visual arts, cabinet making, welding, auto-shops, computer studies and more, and yet we have chosen to keep our children in the Catholic School System because our Catholic faith is so very important to us and an integral part of our daily lives. Decisions like this cannot be made without parent involvement and not expect negative consequences to result. As noted by the other concerned parents, the welfare of our children is not something we are willing to gamble with and, if push came to shove, we would find another way to ensure that our children are getting the best education possible, the education they deserve, and still ensure that our Catholic faith remains an integral part of our daily lives…..unfortunately, it just won’t be through the Catholic School System.

I have 2 children affected by this. The parents should have been included in all decisions.

http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/4965003-some-oshawa-students-to-head-to-high-school-in-grade-7/

I have many concerns regarding this decision.

The Board will understand that they cannot make these kinds if decisions to us and not with us. As united parents we will show them that you cannot preach in your Strategic Plan 2020 the inclusion of the opinions of your parent and student community are fore front in the way you do your planning and then ask some people's opinions and not everyone's. The welfare of our children is not something that we are willing to gamble with. Not to mention the fact that the real issues as to why enrolment in Catholic Education is not being addressed. It is very sad that instead of focusing on the needs of our children and their success we have to deal with blindsiding and less than a year timeline for such a major change to be rolled out. Very sad that the first point if contact was our children and not even the parents.

This model should have been a discussion with all parents of the schools involved. I too would take my girls out of Catholic and switch to Public. This isn't a well thought through idea and grade 7 is far too young.

None of the people making these decisions are affected by them. We, the parents from the family of schools, were not consulted at all. I understand that declining enrolment means something should be done, but being a mother of 2 children, my opinion is that this decision is short-sighted and not in the best interest of the children. Our Board needs to adopt policies, similar to other Ontario Catholic Boards, and allow non-Catholics who due to proximity or a desire that their children attend a faith based school be allowed to do just that. Once these two grades are removed from our schools, how long will it take for the Board to tell us that we no longer have the enrolment numbers to remain viable and will have to close; once again throwing our families and young children under the fiscal bus. We are being told about the wonderful amenities that will be made available to our children but our parents need to be educated about the public schools that are in the areas and what they offer. Personally I am within walking distance of both a Public Elementary and Secondary that between them offer FULL music, art, performing and theatre arts, culinary arts, electronic visual arts, cabinet making, welding, auto-shops, computer studies and more (with an arts and vocation wing that is easily larger than the whole of Pereyma) over and above the complete secondary streams offered. A comment was made that “a grade 7 has more in common with a grade 12 student than a three year-old coming into Kindergarten”; I would like to know what information, study or even reality this is based in!?!?!? Jr/Sr Kindergartners are still segregated from other Elementary students so this is an insulting and irrelevant statement designed to confuse or defuse this thoughtless back-door deal. The bottom line is that it is safer to have that grade 7student, who is still emotionally immature, remain with their younger school mates than to throw them in with 16-17 year olds. The board has made p

This is not appropriate... this will increase and expose these young children to experiences that is beyond their maturity level. This is negligent on the boards level looking at their needs as oppose to our young children's.

Not impressed at all ! I have already removed one of my 3 children from the Catholic School board ..I will do it with my other 2 if need be.

i have 2 children who would switch to public school. grade 7 is to young.

grade 7 is way to young for kids to go to high school. Your asking for problems!!