The parents at St. Rene Goupil Catholic School are concerned about the proposed consolidation of our school and Divine Infant into Prince of Peace, resulting in a mega school of over 500 kids at Prince of Peace Catholic School.   While we understand that keeping small schools open may not be ideal from a financial point of view for the TCDSB, we feel that the safety, before and after school childcare and well-being of our children is of utmost importance.

Prince of Peace is located in a very busy area, with 2 other schools, a library, a community centre, 2 churches, a daycare and a bustling shopping centre across the street.  Adding nearly 200 kids would just increase congestion at peak times and put the safety of our children and others in that community at risk, especially considering that portables will need to be added, which would significantly decrease play space.   Our school is located in a very quiet area and is walking distance for the majority of our families, many of whom have grandparents dropping off and picking up kids.  One of our major concerns if this consolidation happens is that parents will send their kids to one of our 2 neighbouring public schools (which are both less than a 5 minute walk away) for convenience, thereby preventing them from receiving a Catholic education.

Our school is also home to a day care centre with a newly created toddler room, allowing for affordable and available child care, which is difficult to find in Toronto.  The toddlers who enter this program will likely feed into our school once they reach kindergarten, thereby increasing our population, however, this program needs time to grow.  It offers in-house before and after care, as well as summer and school holiday care, which is safe and convenient for working families and also brings in revenue in the form of lease agreements and permit costs.

We are a very tight-knit community, with many students who are children of alumni who purposely chose to send their kids here as they have such fond memories of being students themselves.  Our graduates keep in touch not just with fellow students but also with teachers.  We have parents whose children went to the school over 20 years ago who still come back and want to help out.  The emotional and mental health and well-being of our children is also a concern, as they have become accustomed to a small school where the principal, teachers and all students, regardless of grade level, know each other and take care of one another.  Many are already quite upset about the prospect of their school closing. 

We humbly ask that the factors above be taken into consideration when deciding whether a school consolidation would be the best decision for our children and our community. 

Please help show your support by signing this petition.  Thank you.