Wednesday June 13, 2007 ◆ PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR - 3 “A brand new school” Committed to ROB LEARN The announcement at AHSS was the first investment is an important one not just children's success Special to the North Star in a series Ms Wynne will be making over for Almaguin, but for all students in the the next little while as she makes public Near North board as it frees up money for ALMAGUIN – “I’m excited to say that allocations from a $700 million new school investments in other schools.” students here at Almaguin Highlands will fund that targets facilities identified as too Chair of the Near North District School soon benefit from a brand new school.” expensive to repair. Board (NNDSB) Alan Bottomley also gave And with that the John A. McDermott Asked why she kicked off the school credit to Ms Smith. Auditorium erupted with cheers, applause announcements in Almaguin, Ms Wynne “Thanks to Monique Smith, . who over and the odd tear on Friday. said, “It was a clear situation. It was clear the last year opened important political That one sentence from Minister of that there were deficiencies here and the doors in the government,” said Mr. Education Kathleen Wynne ended years of community and school board were united Bottomley. struggle to get a replacement for Almaguin in addressing them.” The announcement ends years of effort Highlands Secondary School (AHSS) and Ms Wynne said that there wasn’t one to secure funding for a new Almaguin high started the job of building it. item or deficiency that put AHSS at the top school, a struggle that dates as far back as Students, staff, trustees, local mayors of her mind. Mike Harris’ tenure as premier. and councillors and other community “It was cumulative. When you look at the An application for a new high school was members on hand for the semi-surprise kind of space and the repair needs, it was a turned down just prior to the election of announcement were on their feet cheering clear case in my mind,” said Wynne. the current Liberal government and a new at the news they had been waiting so long The announcement was Ms Wynne’s application was started in November of to hear. second to AHSS, which she credits Nipissing 2005. It was finally approved June 8, 2007. Ms Wynne told the capacity crowd MPP Monique Smith with organizing. During that time NNDSB trustees have Amy Quinn photo that $18.7 million will be coming from “When I was first appointed (Minister held off making large investments in the The book room inside McDougall school boasts hundreds of books for Junior her ministry to fund a new high school to of Education) I wanted to get out and see AHSS building, reducing repairs to those Kindergarten to Grade 3 students. The books were purchased for the school replace the existing AHSS. schools all over the province. Monique essential for safety concerns. as a part of the Ontario government's Turnaround Program. Linda Anne E.-Thompson, school board was critical to me coming to Almaguin. Ms Wynne and Smith said that another trustee representing the Parry Sound area, She specifically said that I needed to see reason for approving the new school are continued from front and answer better questions using was at an Ontario school board trustee Almaguin and the needs here,” said Ms plans presented by the NNDSB to make the The program is overseen by a better words." meeting when the minister was at the high Wynne. school a community facility, one that will steering committee, which includes Students are tested using school Friday, but later said the news was Ms Smith says that even though the be utilized by more than just high school representatives from directors of Development Reading Assessment "fantastic". actual school is located outside of her riding students. education, teachers, principals, (DRA) several times throughout the With the construction of a new roof on there was no doubt in her mind that she Negotiations have already begun with supervisory officers, the EQAO, the year, giving teachers an accurate the Parry Sound High School this year, she needed to help lobby for a new facility. Canadore College, for example, to bring Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat and up-to-date idea of student’s said Parry Sound would probably have to “The school serves students from the more training opportunities to this area. and Ministry of Education staff. literacy level. Struggling students’ wait some time before any possibility of a Trout Creek, Powassan and Chisholm Immediately after the announcement, “Our scores had been really names are then placed on a card, new building. areas which is in my riding, but it was also Mr. Bottomley said the board intends to low, we didn’t understand why our colour coordinated with their grade, "I would think we are on a list (for a new the clear choice for the Near North board. keep that community-minded mandate and scores had been so low,” said Ms and pasted on the Data Wall. The building), because we have mentioned it, As their local member I took it as my duty start public consultations on what the new Adamson. “We have really good Data Wall visually shows teachers but where on the list, I don't know," she to help them,” said Smith. school should look like. teachers, a good principal, a good where the student is in reading and said. She added, “I think the $18.7 million - With files from Sarah Bissonette community, but for some reason the writing skills within their grade and scores weren’t good.” where they should be. In 2003/2004 just 14 per cent of “Teachers have a good sense of McDougall’s Grade 3 students where the kids are because of the were at or above the provincial DRA and they (update the Data standard, based on EQAO testing. Wall) once a month. They can look However, since the program was at the entire primary division or implemented, students have steadily their class and pick out five or six improved. In 2004/2005, 53 per cent of kids that are at the same level, put Grade 3 students were at or above them together as a group and use the provincial standard and in the materials at that level and move 2005/2006, 73 per cent of students met them along that way,” said Ron or exceeded the standard. Chase, school advisor and former January 2006, the school was NNDSB principal. “Once they begin approved for the three-year program. Before it could be funded, the school We feel that every child can had to write an improvement plan progress, no matter what, for the Ministry of Education. “Dr. Joyce Castles, a Diagnostician everyone can succeed," from Brock University observed - Sue Adamson each classroom, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 for a half an hour,” said Ms Adamson. “Then she to move, it begins to compound.” met with us and gave us suggestions Each month Junior Kindergarten as to what could be happening within to Grade 3 teachers meet for our school. She gave us a written Turnaround Days, spending the report. Based on her written report, entire day talking about the school’s my staff and I came up with a School improvement plan, where they Improvement Plan for Turnaround. are, where they should be and The ministry decides what they’re brainstorming together on the going to fund and they give us students in the program. extra money to support that School McDougall School lead literacy Improvement Plan.” and special education teacher Amy Since 2005, McDougall School Quinn guides the group though has received between $60,000 and updates on students. Using a chart $70,000 annually from the province paper, Ms Quinn writes the child’s to support the program. name, the student’s observable Cody Storm Cooper/North Star “This is where much of the money behaviour, the teacher’s intervention has been spent,” Ms Adamson said strategy and instructional strategy. Happy sing song standing in a tiny room book room Monday morning, during the that boasts floor to ceiling shelves teacher’s monthly meeting, Grade 2/3 teacher Steve Krause updated Ricki and Julie Lamoureux, mixed humor and songs, for about 40 seniors, at Belvedere Heights Home for the Aged Monday afternoon. lined with baskets filled with books the group on his student Jane Smith’s The duo had the crowd laughing, clapping and singing along. available for classroom use. “In the past teachers would buy all (not her real name) progress. the material they needed for their “Jane seems to be effective in using classroom. You would get your meaning and syntax in her reading, (reading series), but everything else but seems to struggle with the visual in your classroom you bought and and what makes it challenging is it’s Funds to go towards hall of fame when you moved you took it with not consistent,” said Mr. Krause. “If you. So the new teacher coming in I go back and look at her running had nothing. What we’re trying to records, all of her errors are she’s not continued from front centre. do now is get resources that stay in being attentive to the word it seems "We all have a responsibility to contribute "We're going out to area municipalities, the classroom. They don’t belong to like. Her (reading) pace is pretty to our communities in whatever way we but it's not easy," Mrs. Patterson said.