The kids return to class, and the schools are ready for them
By Bill Rea

Janet Ferlisi is starting her first full year as principal at St. Mary Catholic School in Nobleton.

As the song goes, "Where did the summer go to?"

Another summer vacation has come and gone, and the kids are back in the classrooms again for another academic year.

The schools in King Township have all been spiffed up in anticipation of the crowds expected.

There will be some changes in a couple of the local schools to greet the kids, and in two cases, there are new principals.

Janet Ferlisi is now in charge at St. Mary Catholic School in Nobleton.

The Pottageville resident actually took over the helm in May, replacing Joyce Lowerison. Ferlisi has 30 years experience in education, including serving as viceprincipal at Our Lady of Fatima in Woodbridge and Father John Kelly in Maple.

This is her first posting as a principal, and she announced last week that things have been going "great" so far.

"The community's fabulous," she added. "Extremely helpful. very supportive of school initiatives."

Nancy Redman is the new principal at Nobleton Public School.

She added the school council, headed by Liz Cameron, has been doing a lot of good work. She cited their raising money for solar blinds, currently being installed, which will cool the classrooms.

She observed there have been changes in the way children are taught over the last 30 years.

"We are more in tune to students' needs," she remarked. "One size doesn't fit all any more. Students learn differently and we have to tap into that."

Ferlisi said said last Wednesday that 371 students had been registered for the school year, and more were expected. She was predicting they would be at a little less than 400 by Tuesday.

There will be a couple of new faces on the faculty to greet the students, including French teacher Valeria Greco, Maria De Franco, who will be teaching Grades 4 and 5, education assistant Graziella Borden and itinerant physical education teacher Diane Facca, whose services will be shared with Holy Name Catholic School in King City.

Nobleton Public School's students are also breaking in a new principal, although she is no stranger to the area. Nancy Redman was the part-time vice-principal there last year, dividing her time between Nobleton and Roselawn Public School in Richmond Hill. She's been a teacher for 14 years, spending the last three and a half years as a vice-principal, frequently at two schools at once.

She has assumed the helm at the two Nobleton campuses, taking over for the retired Jan Vernon.

She is the mother of two sons, who were both schooled in the York system.

"I'm thrilled to be here," he declared, adding it will be nice to be in one place for a change. "We've got an awesome staff here."

She agreed having to divide her attentions between two buildings will be a challenge, but having a part-time viceprincipal, in the person of Cathy Martino-Porretta, will help. She added her experiences splitting her own vice-principal duties have helped her become more organized.

"Both schools are looking awesome," she declared.

Redman said they will be continuing this year with the literary focus which is being followed at all the schools in the board. As well, she pointed out the Ministry of Education has mandated there be anti-bullying committees established, and she said she's excited that students will be represented. There will also be a continuation of the work of the healthy school committee. The work includes the installation of a milk vending machine in the senior campus, as well as the availability of hot lunches and healthy alternatives. "We've really had a focus on healthy snacks," she remarked.

There have been no physical changes to either of the buildings, as Redman said everything is in good shape on that score. There are no other additions to the staff, apart from Susan Beasley, who has returned from maternity leave to teach Grade 4.

"We're ready and we're eager to get going," Redman declared.

The other schools in King were all ready to receive the kids too.

"We've been doing a lot of work. Things are looking good," commented Vickie Longo, principal at St. Patrick Catholic School in Schomberg. "We're into it."

A couple of new faces have joined the faculty, including St. Patrick alumnus Marco Donato, who will be teaching at the intermediate level. Colin Wilke will be teaching Grade 6 and Lisa Santone will be in the junior kindergarten class. A new portable has been added to the grounds this year as well.

Longo said a little more than 300 students were expected.

"I think the school looks good to open up," she declared.

It looks like there's a bit of growth in the enrollment at Schomberg Public School, according to Principal Evelyn Crocker, who said they were expecting about 170 students.

"We seem to be getting some new families, which is great," she remarked. "It keeps changing every day."

There are a number of activities that she said she's looking forward to seeing the school get involved with, including Safety month activities in September, the Terry Fox Run and other community projects.

There are some new staff members to greet the students, including special education teacher Scott Monahan, Susan Brown, who will be a part-time Grade 1 teacher, and Jennifer Tarrant, who is filling in for a teacher on maternity leave.

Crocker added there have been some areas of the building retiled over the summer, as well as repairs in the playground. "There's been some fresh paint added here and there," she said.

"We're looking forward to an exciting year," she remarked last week. "We're all set for Tuesday and looking forward to greeting those kids when they get off the bus."

About 170 students are expected this year at Kettleby Public School, according to principal Kathleen Mantle- Barkel.

She said the main renovation to the school has been with the library, complete with carpeting and flooring. There have also been repairs to the playground.

"Things are all spiffed and ready to go," she declared.

There are a couple of new staff faces ready to greet the roughly 265 kids at the two campuses of King City Public School.

Principal Karen Goan said John Arnold will be teaching primary students, as will Lisa May and Kelly Maybury. Neil Draper is joining the staff to teach in the junior section and Anita Warman is an educational assistant. As well, Terri Benson is the new caretaker at the King campus.

"We're ready for Tuesday and another exciting year ahead," she declared.

There have been some changes to King City Secondary School.

There were a couple of new teachers to greet the 284 students arriving Tuesday at Holy Name Catholic School in King City.

Principal Beverly Coles reported Eleni Oprea is teaching French and Diane Facca is teaching physical education.

As well, she said a new primary classroom has been added to comply with the mandate for smaller class sizes.

"We were off to a smooth start today," Coles said Tuesday.

Principal Teresa Micone said they are expecting a little more than 1,000 students this year, which is up a bit.

She said there are two new programs at the school; one dealing with autism and the other with ASD (autistic spectrum disorder). She added the new science wing is complete.

Micone said the ROC King Camp orientation will be taking place for the Grade 9 kids. As well, she said they will be continuing the empowering students program, which will deal with such issues as bullying prevention and peer mediation.

"We're all set to go," she said. "We're keen to get started."

Things are also all set to go at the local private schools.

Rod Berg, principal at Holland Marsh District Christian School, reported five new families have joined the school community, and he was pleased that the same faculty will be on hand to greet them and the other 350 students

"We're blessed with a lot of stability," he remarked. "That means a lot to us when the same crew comes back."

There aren't many changes with the school, as Berg said efforts are being concentrated on fund-raising efforts for the new school. he couldn't say for sure when that will be reality, but speculated it's about a year or two away.

Country Day School in King City is getting more into the electronic age this year, according to Communications Director Brenda Castle.

The school will be issuing The Back Pack, an electronic newsletter which will be sent out to more than 500 families.

"We can reduce a lot of paper use," she commented. "So we're going to save some trees by using The Back pack."

Castle also said the school has redefined its cell phone and personal digital assistant policy. these devices are no longer allowed in the hands of senior students during school hours, and intermediate and junior students are not allowed to have them at all.

"We just really view them as a distraction to students," she commented "We think it's a positive move."

The school has been working on a new gym, and Castle said it will be opening sometime in the fall. "We're really excited about it," she remarked.

there will be some environmental initiatives at the Montessori Country School campus near Nobleton.

School Administrator Greg Dixon said the effort is aimed at making the facility green.

"We're really working on making an environmental difference in the community," he commented.

Close to 200 students are expected at the local campus (one of five operated by the school). Another elementary classroom is being opened this year. As well, the porta-pack on the campus has seen renovations, complete with the addition of a deck which offers a great view of the property, as well as a place to get some fresh air.

Paul Paradiso, principal at St. Thomas of Villanova College near King City, reported a couple of changes coming to the school.

Construction is to start on a new athletic facility, complete with a triple gym, running track, fitness room, medical room, etc. He added the hope is to have construction complete by early spring.

The existing athletic facility will be retrofitted into an 8,000 square foot library and 10 new classrooms. Paradiso said that should be ready by next September.