Summer is over and the kids are back for another year of school
By Bill Rea

Debbie Dea is the new secretary at King City Public School.

It may be a sad time for kids, but the people who actually run the schools have been anticipating this week for some time, and have been getting their various facilities back in shape to receive the rush of returning students for another year.

Most of the schools in King are reporting expected enrollments roughly in line with what they had last year.

That is the case at King City Secondary School. Principal Teresa Micone announced last week she was expecting 960 students, "and it could be growing."

There's been an assortment of work carried out over the summer on the school plant itself, and Micone said she had been in and out a lot over the last couple of weeks, worrying if everything would be ready for the start of classes. New lighting and ceilings have been installed, and there's also been work on the washrooms. And there's still work to be done. Micone said they will be getting a new science wing over the course of the school year.

As well, she said there is a new video surveillance system installed at the school for security.

Dave Ruggeri was applying a new coat of paint to the halls at King City Secondary School last Monday.

The school is welcoming several new members to the faculty, including two new department heads. Bryna Kay is now in charge of special education, and Jeff Masterson is the new head of physical education.

There will be a couple of new faces to greet the roughly 250 combined student body at the two campuses of King City Public School, although secretary Debbie Dea said last week that number could grow too.

Dea is one of the new staff members who will be at the school, along with vice-principal Fiona Allan, according to Principal Karen Goan.

She added there have been no real changes to the building itself, although she praised the work of the caretaking staff to get everything ready.

"We look forward to another exciting year," she remarked.

About 200 youngsters are expected to grace the halls at Kettleby Public School this week. Principal Kathleen Mantle-Barkel said there will be a new educational assistant there to greet them. "Everything else is pretty much stable," she remarked.

Maria Wilcox was helping to serve the food last Wednesday at the annual family barbecue that marks the advent of the school year at Holland Marsh District Christian School.

There haven't been a lot of changes around the site either. She said there were some new games lines painted on the tarmac late last year.

Like many others, Mantle-Barkel is amazed at how fast the summer has gone.

"It went quickly," she said. "It was a lovely summer, but it's awfully nice to be back."

The students heading to Holy Name Catholic School in King City will likely notice a number of new faces among the staff, including the person running the place.

Beverley Coles has arrived to take over as the new principal, and she said last week about 291 students had signed up to that point.

"Children are still registering this week," she commented. They tend to register right up to the first day of school."

Coles said there are a couple of other newcomers joining the faculty. Lisa Taylor will be teaching one

of the primary classes, Erica Salvatore is an intermediate teacher and Margaret Zaramba will be busy teaching kindergarten.

Irma Montag received some help from Grade 3 teacher Cathy Milioto as they got the Grade 1 classroom at St. Mary Catholic School in Nobleton ready.

As far as changes to the site are concerned, Coles said the school has all new pavement at the front and back, and plenty of new games lines have been painted.

There's been a lot more work done over the summer at St. Patrick's Catholic School in Schomberg. Principal Richard Amos said part of the roof has been replace. As well, there are new windows in the portable and washrooms and halls have been painted in the original section of the building.

And there's been lots of activity lately inside the building too.

"Staff has been very busy preparing for what is sure to be a very active and exciting year," Amos commented.

He said about 300 youngsters are expected to walk down the halls this week, although he added that figure was still tentative. "Things can change, even in the last few days," he observed.

Among the new staff is Lino Fera, who was temporarily assigned to the school last year and is now there permanently to teach Grade 7, Mary Alfano, who has returned to teach French, and Education Assistant Sandra McLeod.

Amos also said the focus of the school will again be on the vision of maximizing student learning, with Jesus as the inspiration.

This will be Evelyn Crocker's first full year at the helm of Schomberg Public School. She said she's expecting to welcome about 165 students back this week; "pretty much the same as last year."

The staff will be the same as last year, and she said they are all "looking forward to engaging all the students and bringing out the best in them."

She added they are looking forward to incorporating more technology in the school. The school council has bought two more Smart Boards, which will be integrated into the program. They will also be continuing with the Safe Schools program, as well a following up on a Ministry of Education directive to have vigorous daily physical activity in the schools.

Crocker reported there had been repaving carried out at the rear of the building over the summer. As well, old carpet has been taken out of the office and the front office has been painted.

"Everything looks brand, spanking new," she declared.

"It's a brand new school year," observed Jan Vernon, principal at Nobleton Public School. "The whole thing is exciting."

There will be about 240 students back at the senior campus, and roughly 100 attending the junior campus.

Vernon said there will be some new faculty faces to greet the kids, including a

new vice-principal, Nancy Redman. Also joining the staff is Andrea Skeath, who will be teaching Grade 6, Amanda Loan in Grade 1 and Helen Konstanteos in kindergarten. Barb Miller is also returning to the staff.

There were no major renovations at Nobleton over the summer, Vernon reported.

"Our caretaking staff have the school looking super," she remarked. "Thanks to them, we're raring and ready to go."

Things are getting off to a great start this year at St. Mary Catholic School in Nobleton.

It has been listed as one of the top 30 schools in Canada in the September edition of Today's Parent magazine.

The school was nominated by Rose Kimber, whose son has autism and requires the assistance of a dog guide.

"St. Mary stepped up to the plate," the article stated.

"Principal Joyce Lowerison says the arrival of the black lab at the school has led to the development of a board-wide protocol for personal service dogs," it added.

As well, Lowerison was delighted that the school's Peace Garden was the winner in the public building class in the Township's Fabulous Fronts contest last month.

She is delighted to be starting the year "with two accolades from the public."

About 370 youngsters are expected back at St. Mary this week, down a bit from last year's figures. They have a couple of new staff members to greet them, including Grade 4 teacher Valeria D'Orazio, Grade 6 teacher Mary-Ann Liegghio and special education instructor Anna Guistizia, along with itinerant primary physical education teacher Katherine Murphy.

There are a couple of changes around the property, such as the addition of another portable.

Lowerison also said they will be concentrating on implementing the ministry's call for 20 minutes per day of physical activity. This is in accordance with studies that show daily physical activity leads to social, academic and health benefits; improved memory, concentration and communication; increased problem solving, creativity and leadership abilities; attitude, discipline and behaviour improvements; and enhanced future health and well-being.

Lowerison was also enthused about plans to make St. Mary a "peaceful school" this year. Over the last couple of years, there has been emphasis on antibullying and addressing things people shouldn't do. There will now be more attention paid to things that can be done to make things safer.

One method that will be employed is a writing assignment for all students from Grades 1 to 8.

"Now we want to continue our efforts to make St. Mary Catholic School a peaceful school," Lowerison wrote in a letter to the older students. "How we do it will largely depend on you."

In addition, she said there will be changes in the student government structure at the school, with the youngsters having more involvement in decision making.

As far the local private schools are concerned, there are lots of things in the works for Holland Marsh District Christian School in Ansnorveldt, although the big event, namely it's proposed relocation, is still some time off.

Principal Rod Berg said they are continuing with their "Stepping Out in Faith" campaign to raise money for the project. He added things are progressing in terms of getting the necessary permits for the move. The hope to have the ground broken at the new site, slated for the area of Bathurst Street and Graham Sideroad, in the next nine or 10 months.

As for the start of the school year, Berg said they are expecting close to 250 students, which is roughly what they had last year. He called it a "good steady count."

In terms of faculty, not much has changed on the marsh.

"We have maintained our same staff," he commented. "We've had a very stable staff for the last five or six years."

Things are growing at the Montessori Country School. In fact, Principal Jack Rice said they have expanded to four campuses; in Bond Head, Alliston, Whitby and the one in Nobleton.

"There's four of us now in the family," he declared.

Enrollment at the Nobleton facility is up to about 190, and Rice said they have had to open a fourth Casa classroom.

"We're just really excited about the school year," he declared, observing there is a waiting list to get into the elementary classes, with a few vacancies still in the Casa and toddler programs.

There have not been many changes to faculty. Rice said a new Casa teacher has joined "the same cast of characters who were there before."

There's plenty of new things happening at Country Day School near King City.

Communications Director Brenda Castle said they are introducing a new softwear in the middle and senior schools called Blackboard, which will give them better access to course materials on line.

There's a new library resource centre at the north side of the senior school, Castle said, and they expect to have experts in learning styles and strategies working to maximize the learning abilities of the students.

In terms of athletics, Castle said they are getting a new gym with a double court. "We've outgrown our existing gym space," she remarked, adding this facility will allow the school to expand the house league programs, along with giving the competitive teams more practice time.

The arts are going to play a big part in life at the school this year. Castle said the middle school students are going to put on a production of MacBeth in November. The senior school is going to be presenting a comedy entitled The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of MacBeth. That will be in March. The play put on by the junior school will be Dear Edwina Jr., and it will be in April.

St. Thomas of Villanova College near King City continues to be a work in progress, according to principal Paul Paradiso.

He said they are expecting about 580 students, about 50 more than last year.

He also said they are hoping to have construction of the last part of the facility starting in the spring. The

new construction will be about 30,000 square feet and will house a gym, as well as team and fitness rooms. They will also retro-fit the current gym building to create 10 more classrooms and a library.

Paradiso said they are hoping to have that work completed by the start of the next school year.