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	World Teachers’ Day Near North District School Board Celebrates World Teachers’ Day, October 5, 2008 The Near North District School Board proudly supports World Teachers’ Day celebrated annually, worldwide this Sunday, October 5, 2008. The theme for World Teachers’ Day this year is ‘Teachers Matter.’ Teachers are the pillars of education. The world of tomorrow depends on the worlds that teachers open up for our children today. Teachers guide students in developing values that are essential to peace, tolerance, equality, respect and understanding. Teachers help children, young people and also adults develop character and essential social and life skills, such as trust, confidence, dialogue, critical thinking and self-esteem. The ongoing commitment of our exceptional teachers to educational experiences for students in the classroom and in the community, and the ability to encourage learning through dialogue with and between the students is appreciated and celebrated. The Near North District School Board congratulates all teachers on World Teachers’ Day, October 5, 2008, and everyday throughout the school year.


THE Accommodation Review Committee NEEDS YOUR INPUT As many of you may know, the Trustees of the Near North District School Board, under direction of the Ontario Ministry of Education, have developed ARCs (Accommodation Review Committees) for several groups of schools in and around North Bay to resolve their dilemma of declining elementary and secondary school enrolment and major operational/repair expenses for several schools. The French Immersion and Extended French ARC, comprising representatives from each of the four schools, has been asked to listen to the public and report their input and alternative proposals to the following Board of Trustees proposal: "THAT THE NEAR NORTH DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD CONSIDER THE RELOCATION OF FRENCH IMMERSION (FI)STUDENTS FROM PINEWOOD PS, LAURENTIAN PS, SUNSET PARK PS AND THE EXTENDED FRENCH (EF) STUDENTS FROM W. J. FRICKER TO THE CURRENT CHIPPEWA SECONDARY SCHOOL SITE AT THE END OF THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR. Through the course of three public meetings, many conversations and ARC organizational meetings, the ARC has heard and reviewed both the pros and the cons regarding the NNDSB proposal to accommodate FI and EF students at Chippewa. While many are excited about how an immersion center could enhance the educational programming offered our children, there are equal concerns about the proposed idea and location of such a facility. There seem to be four predominant issues: trust in NNDSB (fear that secondary students will remain at Chippewa with elementary FI/EF students, history repeating itself...); costs and time for transportation and renovation; safety in and around the site (Chippewa Creek, High Street and the number of exits in the building...); and the loss of the family and community aspect of their schools. The ARC believes these are issues that can be addressed should this proposal come to fruition. However, there are a few questions that require your thoughtful input. While keeping the NNDSB proposal in mind, we are requesting YOUR FEEDBACK before we make our final presentation to the Board. YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE EDUCATION is our mandate and we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE your opinions. ONE survey will be sent home today [Monday, October 6th ] Please review the following questions and return your responses to school no later than Friday, October 14, 2008. Your feedback is essential and the results of this survey will be discussed openly at the next PUBLIC MEETING. Please note two things: first, the ARC believes that the time frame of this decision is not realistic (the NNDSB cannot implement this decision by the end of the current school year...they can however, delay implementation; and second, there will be one more public meeting—date to be announced. Your attendance and participation in the ARC process is invaluable. It is also important to know that no decisions have been made. We will not know the outcome of this process until we hear from the Trustees (no earlier than February 28, 2009). The French Immersion ARC of Laurentian, Fricker, Sunset and Pinewood thank you for your input. It is essential to know your thoughts as we prepare to make a presentation, on your behalf, to the Trustees of the NNDSB at the end of November, 2008.