WQSB Commissioners vote unanimously to maintain choice for Wakefield Elementary Students

1/28/2020

On January 28, the WQSB Council of Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the resolution that maintains choice for Wakefield Elementary School students regarding enrolment and transportation to St. Michael's and Philemon Wright/Hadley High Schools. It was a very quick agenda item where the WQSB Director General, Mike Dubeau, thanked all communities for their feedback in the consultation. When it came to voting on the resolution there were no questions, and the Commissioners voted unanimously in support of the motion.

As reported in an earlier post, the resolution as recommended by the WQSB Planning and Review Committee, includes the following enrolment criteria for St. Michael’s and Hadley/PWHS:

Queen Elizabeth Boundary to St. Michaels’
Chelsea and Greater Gatineau Boundaries to Hadley/PWHS.
Wakefield & Poltimore Boundaries choice of either St. Michael’s or Hadley/PWHS each school year (no transfers during the school year unless approved by both schools and complementary services)
Establish Transportation Hub in Wakefield with more efficient uses of transportation resources
Grandfather all existing affected students who are currently enrolled at St. Michael’s or Hadley/PWHS
Prioritize Siblings for Cross-Boundary Transfer request
For siblings, if a cross boundary is accepted, transportation may not be available after 2023-2024 (or when the last grandfathered student is no longer attending school)

The new enrolment criteria and transporation boundary will come into effect for the coming school year (2020-2021). We also confirmed with the WQSB that it will be ongoing to future years. Please keep in mind, however, that these criteria are periodically reviewed and hence could change in the future. You can read the letter to parents attached below outlining the criteria.

WEHSA would like to take this opportunity to again thank the WQSB for undertaking consultations on this important issue and for making a decision based on the feedback they received from our communities.

updated_transportation_and_enrolment_letter_to_parents_january_29_2020.pdf
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1 Comment

Kelly

1/28/2020 09:08:23 pm

Hi:
Thank you for the update and everyone’s hard work. Well done.

If I understand this rule correctly, does this mean that our children will not have a choice if they are in grade 4 this year? My son will be graduating wakefield school in 2022. My other children in 2024, and 2025.

I know this may seem quite away in the distance but the idea that children will attend elementary school with the same friends from K4 only to be forced apart come grace 7 defeats any benefit of living in a small community. If the boundary placed them at Wakefield school, they should not be determined to be in a different boundary from their classmates for junior high and high school. I really hope Wakefield school remains the one school where choice continues to be the option.

I would be interested in learning what the numbers are for Wakefield school. How many children at wakefield school per graduating year fall within the St. Mike’s catchment versus the Hadley Catchment area?

Thanks for your feedback. I really like both schools. I just prefer to keep it a choice given junior high is such a volatile stage for so many children. The right school for the right child is a factor. Splitting friends up who have been together since they were 4 years old, especially for a child with anxiety or other challenges is a recipe for much heartache and disappointment.

WQSB Commissioners vote unanimously to maintain choice for Wakefield Elementary Students

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