New French immersion school further delayed?

The Sault's new junior-kindergarten-to-Grade 8 French immersion school will be named Francis H. Clergue French Immersion Public School.

That's about all that's known for sure about the school that was scheduled to be started this fall and ready for opening in September 2010.

In September, the Algoma District School Board was still waiting for Ministry of Education approval of its design drawings so it could tender the project.

That pushed things from a planned opening in September 2010, possibly to January 2011.

At a meeting in September, Superintendent of Education Asima Vezina said it was hoped the board would get approval within a few weeks and immediately send the project out to tender by the end of October.

Last week, school trustees were advised by Vezina that the ministry had still not approved the drawings.

"We're hoping it will be any day now," she said.

In the meantime, the board is moving ahead with the task of creating an identity for both of its new Sault Ste. Marie new schools.

The full text of a board's media release on that subjectfollows.

************************* New schools update

Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School

Francis H. Clergue French Immersion Public School

Now that the names for the two new schools being built by the ADSB in Sault Ste. Marie have been determined, the process of deciding on team names, team colours and mascots can begin.

Once again, this process will see an opportunity for involvement by the whole community as the board works to build an identity for the two new schools.

Superintendent Asima Vezina was confident that the new school names, Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School and Francis H. Clergue French Immersion Public School, would generate wonderful discussion about colours, logos and mascots and she provided an overview of the process that is being proposed, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and input into the process.

The process will be similar to what was followed for naming the schools.

School identity committees have been established for both schools.

For Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School, the committee will consist of:

- 2 Sir James Dunn students

- 2 Bawating students

- 2 school council parent representatives

- 4 teachers (two teachers from each school)

- 1 superintendent

- 1 principal

- 1 vice principal

For Francis H. Clergue French Immersion Public School, the committee will consist of:

- 3 Rosedale students

- 1 FH Clergue student

- 2 principals

- 2 school council parent representatives

- 4 teachers (two teachers from each school)

- 1 superintendent

Entry forms will be developed and distributed to school communities and the community at large.

A number of activities are being planned by staff and students to promote the School identity campaigns in their schools.

These include, but are not limited to the following:

- Development of posters in art/computer classes

- Student radio advertisements

- Morning announcements

- Student council activities

- Class projects

Entries will be collected and short-listed by the committees who in turn will submit them to ADSB’s senior administration.

A ballot will then be distributed to all school communities, allowing students, parents and staff to vote on their favourite team name, colours, and mascot.

It is hoped that the school team colours, name and mascot for Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School and for Francis H. Clergue French Immersion Public School will be announced by early to mid-December 2009.

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