School open house.
Queen Elizabeth Public School held an open house which showcased their programs, student and teacher dedication and to help answer any parent's questions about the school their children will be going to in the fall.
Michelle Nash
Parents and kids came to Queen Elizabeth Public School’s
open house to find a school unlike any other.
Rideau-Rockcliffe parents will be sending their children to
Queen Elizabeth Public School for middle French immersion starting Sept. 2011.
An Ottawa Carleton District School Board decision made in Jan. 2009 confirmed
new east end boundaries for the French program. For the neighbourhoods of Manor Park,
Rockcliffe and Lindenlea, Queen Elizabeth is the new middle French immersion
school for their area.
During the school board’s review process of where
Rideau-Rockcliffe children would go for middle French immersion, concerns were
raised by the surrounding communities about sending kids to a school located on
St. Laurent Boulevard. Some parents also noted they worried because they had
heard of the school having a questionable history. But as many parents poured
through the doors on Feb. 9, they found not only a welcoming school but one
that their children can not wait to go to.
“We really hope this open house shows the parents all that
we are capable of here at Queen E,” vice principal Mark Cruise said.
The open house offered parents and their children a chance
to get familiar with the school, where a group of students stayed to showcase
the programs on offer as well as display their appreciation for the school.
“We don’t have the issues people claim we do,” science
teacher Dana Hall told the parents attending the open house.
“You do hear things, but I do think this open house went
really well,” Peggy Ainslie said. Her son, Mickey Ainslie, agreed.
“I liked it. You can tell the kids really love it here,” he
said.
Ainslie wanted to get the feel of the school and said she
now feels very comfortable sending her son there next year.
Parents of the children affected don’t have much of a choice
about the move – unless they are willing to change boards or send their child
to private school. Queen Elizabeth will be the east end middle French immersion
home school for the area and although it is not a choice for parents, the
teachers really wanted to ensure parents felt comfortable with the arrangement.
“I think we have come a long way and the programs we offer
are unlike any other school in the area. Something I think the parents will
really be happy to see their kids take part in,” Cruise said.
The school offers music, drama and art classes currently
unavailable through other schools in the area.
Drama teacher Shaz Tyndale and a group of her students put
on an improv and hip hop dance presentation for the visitors, something that
really impressed Mickey Ainslie.
“It was really cool,” he said, adding that his friends, who
were sitting near him, liked the presentation, too.
Tyndale credits drama as an opportunity to shake the shyness
right out of new students.
Maggie Knaus’ daughter, Ellie, will be going to the school
next year. Knaus at first was hesitant about the school, but all that changed
at the open house. She was impressed by the dancing routine and appreciated
Cruise getting into the act, with the vice principal dancing along on the
sidelines.
“It shows you what kind of school it is, he let his guard
down a little and was having fun, it was great to see that,” Knaus said.
Cruise hopes that the open house accomplished its goal: to assure
parents that this is the best place for their kids to go.
“Everybody put a lot of work into tonight and I really
believe it showed,” Cruise said.
And for the parents leaving, it did show. Most of the kids
had excited smiles on their faces and so, in turn, did the parents.