Heather Latter
Grade 6 and 7 students at J.W. Walker School got a preview to what high school will be like when they move into Fort High this fall during a session held there Friday.
Bill Daley, System Principal/Transition Co-ordinator, indicated the activity day—planned by the FFHS student leadership council—is just one of the initiatives to help students with the transition to high school.
“The high school’s leadership council did an amazing job,” Daley enthused.
“Their planning, organization, attitude, and enthusiasm for having the Grade 6/7s was really impressive.
“They had a question-and-answer time, they talked to them about things at the high school, and shared with them about what it’s like at the high school,” noted Daley.
“And they took them on a tour, and took them out and played some games with them.”
He added Fort High’s hospitality class made lunch for all the participants.
“It was a good day; very well-planned,” Daley stressed, noting each of the Grade 6/7 students received a T-shirt designed by someone on the transition committee with the saying: With change brings opportunity.
“And that’s what we’ve been talking about—all the opportunities they are going to have,” he reasoned.
The Rainy River District School Board agreed to move Grade 7/8 students to Fort High to address over-capacity at J.W. Walker that currently is at 110 percent capacity, with three portables on-site.
When primary class size caps were introduced in the early 2000s, the west-end school began to experience accommodation pressures.
With the elimination of the OAC year and declining enrolment, the high school had available capacity.
“The Grade 7 and 8 students will have a separate area from classes, and follow the curriculum as they would have at an elementary school, while receiving the benefit of earlier access to high school amenities, such as better athletic facilities and a larger library,” noted a letter parents received about the change.
At the most recent parent meeting held April 19, the new Grade 7/8 area was unveiled.
“Parents were able to go for a tour of where they will be in the school,” Daley noted.
The Grade 7/8 classrooms and lockers will be located on the second floor at the north end of the school, where the English department is now.
“That department is moving,” Daley explained.
“They are going to be quite isolated,” he added, noting they will be contained, for the most part, to the area some refer to as the “hidden hallway.”
“There is going to only be intermediate kids in this area,” Daley stressed. “It just works out to be the best place in the high school when you look at it.
“It just makes sense—it’s like their own wing.”
Daley said the Grade 7/8 students will have their own designated entrance at the northwest corner of the school that won’t be used by anybody except them.
And they are going to have their own designated bathrooms, with a security key FOB to ensure it is only for the intermediate students.
“They’ll swipe a card to get in,” Daley explained. “Not that awful things happen, but we’re trying to make sure that the intermediate students are separate from the rest of the high school in some things.
“We’re going to try to integrate them where we can.”
Daley also noted parents are going to have a designated drop-off and pick-up site away from the rest of the high school students.
And the students will have a playground area at the north end of the football field for recess.
“They are still going to have a lunch hour like they do now—they are going to eat for part of it, they are going to go outside for part of it,” Daley said.
“So we’re going to install a volleyball pit and swings,” he remarked.
They also are going to put in a seating area with benches and tables.
“They are still considered elementary students at Fort Frances High School,” Daley stressed.
“We want to make sure it’s close to what they have now.”
But in addition to that, Daley said they will have a lot more opportunities, such as using the science labs, music rooms, large gym, library, etc.
“Anything they have now, they will still have,” he noted, referring to things like the Grade 8 Toronto trip and graduation.
“Just the opportunities are going to be enhanced of what they are able to do.
“They won’t be in solitary confinement but they will have an area of the school all to themselves,” Daley reiterated.
One of the rooms in their area will be set up as a lunch room/hub area.
“That’s going to be something they don’t have now—a place that will allow them some flexibility so if they want to eat with their friends, they can,” Daley said.
“It’s fun to eat with your friends and you’re not all going to be in the same class.”
Daley also stressed the students are very excited for all of the new opportunities.
“They are ready to start tomorrow but they still have to finished up [this] year,” he chuckled, noting the board currently is expecting 63 Grade 7/8 students at the high school this fall.
Staffing remains one of the few things yet to be determined, which likely will be announced at another parent meeting down the road.
“We’re going to have another day for the students to come over and see a little more of the school, maybe during exam time when the rooms are all available,” Daley said.
“I think that we have addressed all of the concerns parents have brought up,” he added.
“And any other concerns that arise, we will address.
“This is something we are committed to making sure works perfectly the first time,” Daley pledged.
