Latest news with #parentcouncil
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
C.B.N parents and students face uncertainty heading into back-to-school season
Some Conception Bay North families already worried about whether they have a home to return to are now facing another uncertainty as September approaches. Some schools in the area are being used as hubs for people evacuated from, or responding to the Kingston fire, and another school — Cabot Academy in Western Bay — was destroyed, along with at least 100 homes and other buildings. "When we officially got the word, it was heartbreaking. That school is just such a main artery of the community," said Scott Chandler, a member of the school's parent council. The school was small and held around 60 students, said Chandler's spouse Robyn Dwyer. Their 7-year-old son was supposed to be start at Cabot Academy in September. "It's almost equally as painful as when we found out we lost our home," said Dwyer. "This was the one safe place left for our child and for the children of that community." The couple is worried that students will be split up, and their son is worried he won't see his friends again. "Please don't separate these kids. Keep them together. They need each other," said Chandler. WATCH | Evacuated parents are devastated by the loss of a school to wildfire: Earlier this week, the Town of Carbonear welcomed evacuees from Grades 1 to 6 to join a summer day camp at the Carbonear Recreation Complex, across the road from the evacuation centre. The town's recreation programmer, Amanda Brady, says children are starting to ask questions about school as the camp comes to an end. "The children are asking me like, 'are we going to be online?'" said Brady. Students at Carbonear Academy, which is currently functioning as an evacuation centre, are also wondering if they'll get their school back. But Brady is trying to keep them positive. "I said, you know, we're going to figure this out," she said. No delays anticipated During the government's fire update new conference Friday morning, Education Minister Bernard Davis said right now, they're not expecting students and staff will be delayed in returning to school. "We understand that many of the families and individuals have been affected by these fires and many are staying in other communities temporarily," said Davis. "Rest assured, all students and staff will have a place in a classroom or a position at a school this upcoming school year." He said the province is developing plans for the different situations schools may face due to the fires. "If a student is in a different community or an educator or staff member can't return to their home, we will welcome you into a school community that is convenient for you," said Davis. If parents and students have questions, Davis said they can call 709-729-2489 or email 2025fires@ Displaced teachers and school staff can also call 709-729-2547 or email hravalon@ Davis also said that the province will be reaching out to the Cabot Academy School with information in the coming days. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Borders village of Heriot seeks families to boost school roll
A small village in the Borders has issued a call for families to consider moving to the area to help boost pupil numbers at the local - near the region's northern boundary - has about 160 community has made the plea after pupil numbers at the village primary fell below 26 - the number needed for two classes - for the first time in Williams, who chairs the parent council, said pupils benefited from "really personalised attention from great teachers" and there was also plenty for parents to do. The village is about a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh and also close to the Borders railway station at a number of family homes up for sale, locals hope they can be sold to people with school-age Williams said Heriot's Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels compared "very favourably" with other local said his family moved to the area about five years ago as they felt the children could "thrive in a small school" and also benefit from its "incredible outdoor facilities". "But it's not just about the school's scores: everyone says Heriot children are special," he said."The values the school instils in them and the way the school is embedded in the local area as a hub for events and gathering means that children tend to grow up with a real sense of community spirit and togetherness."He said there were "lots of things" for parents too."Beautiful hill walks are on your doorstep, while the cafes and boutique shops of Innerleithen and Peebles, and the mountain-bike trails at Glentress are just down the road," he said."In Heriot itself there's lots going on too, with a newly refurbished village hall, community cafe, ceilidhs, music nights, Bonfire Night event, pub nights, and an annual sports day to enjoy." Community council secretary Gavin Whittaker said it was hoped people currently living further afield might be drawn to the area."Heriot is located in a beautiful part of the country, with immediate access to some fantastic walking and cycling routes," he said."We'd encourage people living in Edinburgh, Midlothian and elsewhere in the Scottish Borders to come and take a look and see what Heriot can offer you and your family." Scottish Borders Council education officers have met both the community council and parent council in recent weeks to hear their concerns about reducing the number of Pirone, who holds the education portfolio, said: "Heriot is a great school and we fully understand the concerns, but we have to work with the numbers that are in front of us."If the numbers change, we will come back and look at the classes again."Heriot is like many rural areas where there are now a lot less children than there used to be."We have not been very good at taking a joined-up approach at tackling this, and whether it's allowing more houses to be built or finding ways to encourage more families into the area then that is what we should be doing."
