My name is Carol Chau-Wong and I'm reaching out to you as a concerned parent who has a son in gr. 7 (Russell Wong) at Tom Baines (TB). And I'm Russell and I'm asking for your help as a friend. I know many of you have a child (ren) or friends attending TB or will in the near future. The upcoming Engagement and Community meeting on Thurs. Oct. 27 (at TB) between 6:30-8:30 pm will have a direct impact on our children's lives, but we have an opportunity to affect change.

Russell and his friends came home on Monday, Oct.  17, 2016 extremely upset that there's a possibility that they may need to transfer to Simon Fraser next year. Sadly, Tom Baines may be negatively impacted by the opening of 16 new schools and the fact the Edgemont School is currently operating over capacity with 100 students overflow in Captain John Palliser (CJP). Three scenarios have been proposed by the Calgary Board of Education with scenarios 1 & 2 resulting in TB being designated as gr. 6-9 for Edgemont students only.  The students living in the Hamptons will be bus to Simon Fraser.

There are currently 650 students attending TB, with roughly 450 students from Edgemont and about 200 from the Hamptons. The proposed plans will mean that current gr. 7 and 8 students will not be given an opportunity to complete their junior high years at Tom Baines. 

CBE Guiding Principles for School Planning are as follow:

• Youngest students go to school closest to home
• The best use of space for learning/programming
• Responding to programming needs
• Minimal student transition points; generally moving from school to school with their classmates.

CBE Actions:

• Potentially gr. 8 students may have the opportunity to finish gr.9 at TB, while current gr. 7 are not guarantee space in Scenario 1 & 2. We urge the CBE to uphold its first principle by allowing our youngest students go to school closest to home.  
• It baffles and frustrates me to learn that TB can accommodate up to 800 students, so there are currently 5 empty classrooms. This is NOT the best use of space.
• Yes, Edgemont is over capacity and students have being bus to CJP.  However, many families I know have chosen to attend CJP to give their children stability.  Displacing over 200 students to make room for 100 students is NOT responding to programming needs.
• In the past, Hamptons students were bus to North Haven and CJP for gr. 4-6.  Now the CBE is proposing to transfer the current 200 Hamptons students to Simon Fraser next year.  This clear violates its last guiding principles of minimal student transition points.   

 

CBE's 3-year Education Plan  for 2015-2018 include the following goals: 

1. Support, practice and benefit from open and responsive communication

2..Actively recognize public education as foundational to a democratic society

3.  Identify and create the conditions for success for students as unique learners and as members of their school and home communities

4. Evidence-informed, research-informed and job-embedded professional learning

5.  Extend the role of student voice in educational decisions
 
CBE Actions

1.  Parents were informed of the 3 scenarios being considered which will directly impact their children, but no democratically elected person was involved in this decision or scenario choices.
 
2.  Parents are invited to a one-way conversation (Thursday's Engagement meeting) meant to inform.  Open communication should be 2 way, where both parties are sincerely interested in a win-win outcome.
 
3.  The decision to bus Hamptons students out contradicts the CBE’s own statement of home community. Not to mention, it'll cost more money to bus 200 student to Simon Fraser.  This is not a financially responsible or time efficient option when space is available for Hamptons and Edgemont students at TB.  
 
4.  Mountains of evidence will support the continuity of education is essential to success.  Moving students to different schools every 2 years contradicts research-informed decisions. 

5.  Hampton students have benefited from the quality and professionalism displayed by the Administration and teaching staff of TB. Our students will band together to ensure their voice will be heard on their passion and commitment to stay as part of the TB School for their Junior High School experience. 
 

My older brother and l have met and made many good friends from Edgemont over the years through soccer, basketball, and school. It's fun walking or biking to school with my friends.  It makes me feel great to know that I'm reducing my carbon footprint, getting exercise and saving money.  I have cool teachers and it makes me sad that I may not see my new friends or teachers next year.  I WANT to stay at Tom Baines!   Please Mr. Brant Parker (Area 1 Director), Ms. Karen Drummond (Manager Community Engagement) and Ms. Joy Bowen Eyre (Board of Trustee), help us keep TB as it is.

Our communities are very closely connected physically and socially. Let's save money, reduce the stress, limit the number of transitions our children have to endure and promote community spirit. Our children should stay with their cohort. They need continuity and stability.

We propose Tom Baines remain as gr. 7-9 school for all kids living in Edgemont and Hamptons. 

 

TOGETHER, we can make a difference!