It was a different kind of morning for Ben Adams. He was up early, helped his mom make lunches for himself and his sister and even took the dog out for his morning business, even though his sister Brooke usually did that.
“Yea, he was excited for school,” said mom Jennifer. “I was quite shocked with Ben. Usually it’s Brookie who helps me.”
The Burns family, like many other families throughout Renfrew County, was preparing for back to school.
Ben is entering Grade 4 while sister Brooke is in Grade 5 French Immersion, both at Cobden District Public School. Sister Brianne is too young to go to school yet, as she’s just turning three later this month.
Throughout July and August, the children spent hours playing outdoors and Ben and Brooke even spent two weeks at a summer camp.
While they are both looking forward to going back to school, Brooke moreso than Ben, they both know they will meet up with friends they haven’t seen since school let out in June, but, could also make new friends, as new students could be coming to the school.
Lifting her backpack, Brooke says inside are two binders, shoes, pencil case, lunch kit and a few other odds and ends.
“I have to take it every day,” she said. “It weighs more than my baby sister.”
However, that’s no concern for her, as she helped pile the winter’s supply of wood over the summer.
Heading out for the school bus, mom and Brianna accompany them, which isn’t always the case, but the first day of school is special. And besides, on those cold, wintry mornings, Ms. Burns can see them through the bare trees as they wait for the bus.
For those students walking to Cobden’s school, Karen Wilkins is again on the job, entering her sixth year as crossing guard at Main and Crawford streets.
“I love the schedule, I love the kids,” she said Tuesday morning. “I see them every day. I watch them grow. You do get attached to them.”
Ms. Wilkins does notice if a student doesn’t come to school.
While most drivers are respectful of her large, red, hand-held STOP sign, there have been instances where the police have been called, she said.
“One driver almost him me and one of my boys, who was walking with his dad,” she recalled. “The police dealt with that one. He was so disrespectful.”
Michelle Salvati was walking her three girls to school – Emma, in Grade 4, Erianna in Junior Kindergarten and Elena in Grade 1.
Elena couldn’t talk fast enough about how excited she was to be going to school.
“I’m in Grade 1. I’m going to have homework,” she said.
SCHOOLS
There is one Catholic and four elementary schools in Whitewater Region Township. Melissa Caroll-Dubeau is principal at Our lady of Grace Catholic School in Westmeath, Debra Metzger is principal at Westmeath Public School, Peter Burnette is principal at Cobden District Public School, Jody Kitson-Roy is principal at Beachburg Public School and Anita Martin is principal/teacher at Riverside Parochial School, which is also known as the Mennonite School.
There are about 60 students enrolled at Our Lady of Grace, said Ms. Caroll-Dubeau. There are four classes – Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten/Grade 1, Grades 2/3/4 and Grades 5/6/7. There are three teachers, three educational assistants, a French teacher and a music teacher who comes every fifth day, she added.
This is Ms. Caroll-Dubeau’s third year as principal and she’s looking forward to it. There are Smart Boards in every class, tablets for the students to use and Apple televisions, she noted.
“We’re doing a lot with e-portfolio,” she said. “I’m excited for that.”
Dan Fanning is chair of the school council, which is “strong and mighty,” she added. Father Bill Kenney is the parish priest.
Three events are already planned for September, Ms. Caroll-Dubeau said. The first is the Scholastic Book Fair which is Sept. 15 to 18. There is a Meet and Greet on Sept. 17 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the big event is the Terry Fox on Sept. 26. It’s been going on for about 15 years at the school and there is a one, three and five kilometre trail that students can walk or run, she said.
The school also participates in the Breakfast for Learning program, which means a nutritious breakfast is prepared for all students and a healthy snack is provided in the afternoon.
“We are a small school with a big heart,” Ms. Caroll-Dubeau said.
At neighbouring Westmeath Public School, principal Ms. Metzger said there are also about 60 students registered with 12 to 14 staff, which includes a custodian, secretary and principal; two Kindergarten teachers, two class teachers, two educational assistants, support counsellor and a music teacher. There are students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 at the school.
The first day back to school was a big celebration for the students and staff, she said. They all gathered and said the Westmeath pledge and new students introduced themselves and were welcomed by the other students.
Throughout the morning, the students spent most of it outdoors and were treated to homemade snacks from the teachers in the afternoon.
This year, the students will focus on mindfulness and self-regulation and perseverance, Ms. Metzger said.
The annual Terry Fox Run will be held in the afternoon of Sept. 24, she said.
Heading down the road to nearby Beachburg, Ms. Kitson-Roy is entering her second year as principal at Beachburg Public School where there are about 135 students registered so far this year in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. There are also nine teachers, two educational assistants, an early childhood educator in the kindergarten room, as well as a support counsellor, secretary, custodian, two nutrition break supervisors as well as the principal.
“We had a back to school assembly where we introduced new staff,” she said.
The students also watched the video Don’t Laugh at Me, which is about respecting each other’s differences, Ms. Kitson-Roy said.
On Sept. 10, the first meeting of the school council will be held and a chairperson will be elected, she said.
“All parents are welcome to attend and join,” she said.
The first Spirit Day is Sept. 12 and everyone is encouraged to wear the school colours of red and blue. There are usually about two spirit days a month, Ms. Kitson-Roy said. The students will be split into four teams in the bear family: Grizzly, Black, Panda and Polar. Each team will earn points and at year’s end the points are tallied up.
“It’s a lot of fun,” she said.
On Sept. 19, the first PA Day (Professional Activity) is held for teachers, Ms. Kitson-Roy said.
“It’s an opportunity to focus on staff learning,” she said. “It’s professional learning at the school level. It’s very crucial for staff to have those days.”
This PA Day is a focus on math learning and helping students learn math, because it’s learned from the grassroots up, she said. Teachers need to understand student thinking and know what the next steps are for their learning abilities.
Other PA days will focus on parent teacher interviews and assessment, which will be held closer to report card time.
Most teachers spend PA Days at their own schools, but there are times when teachers teaching certain grades may gather together at one place to focus on something specific to that grade, Ms. Kitson-Roy added.
A special event coming up is on the evening of Sept. 24 at Beachburg Public School, she said. The communities of Beachburg and Westmeath public schools are invited to participate in Family Night. The schools each received a $1,000 PRO-grant to host this event, which has a focus on mindfulness, Ms. Kitson-Roy said.
A mental health awareness counsellor will talk with those who attend for about 15 minutes, she said. Then, they will be divided into three groups to explore three different things: healthy snacks, healthy nutrition; outdoor play for families; and math games. Each group will participate in each activity, she noted.
“I think it will be a lot of fun and a great opportunity for everyone to meet each other and learn,” Ms. Kitson-Roy said.
There are about 330 students currently registered in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 at Cobden District Public School with a staff of 32, noted Mr. Burnette.
“We have a lot of students, a fantastic staff, and we all work together,” he said.
There will be a meet the teacher on Sept. 17 and a week later, the annual Terry Fox Day will be celebrated. He noted photo days are Sept. 23 and 24.
While no date has been set, parent council chair Anne Girard will most likely be calling a meeting for later this month, he said.
There are 45 students in Grades 1 to 8 at Riverside Parochial School, said Ms. Martin. There are two teachers, including herself. School for these students started Sept. 1.
CONTACT NUMBERS
Renfrew County District School Board: 613-735-0151
Renfrew County Catholic District School Board: 613-735-1031
Cobden District Public School: 613-646-2271
Beachburg Public School: 613-582-3528
Westmeath public School: 613-587-4596
Our Lady of Grace, Westmeath: 613-587-4837
