To meet the demand for French public education in the Blind River area, the Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario (CSPGNO) developed a partnership with the Algoma District School Board (ADSB). With this new partnership, parents and students will have the opportunity to access French public Kindergarten to Gr. 8 programming.
École publique de Blind River will be located at 147 Woodward Avenue and the partnership between the ADSB and WC Eaket Secondary School will officially begin in September 2021.
The school welcomes its new principal Hélène Rancourt, who brings over 15 years of teaching experience and seven years’ experience as a guidance counsellor.
She says, “I am a resident of Blind River and excited to be a part of the team at CSPGNO and principal of the new École publique de Blind River. Our teachers and staff are excited to welcome new students in the fall.”
Rancourt answers some key questions related the Blind River’s newest French public school.
What are the benefits to both boards and students?
Sharing culture, traditions and state of the art learning spaces will be beneficial for all. Ultimately, the Blind River community is one large family regardless of whether a person is Francophone or Anglophone. This partnership will enable all youths and families to flourish.
When will the new facility open and where will it be located?
The location for the new facility has been secured. Located off Togo Street and Youngfox Road in Blind River, the school will also connect to Birch Street. Construction of the new facility will begin soon.
How will CSPGNO make a difference in the community?
An innovative board, the CSPGNO provides multiple sporting, cultural and pedagogical services. As well, the CSPGNO is a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) leader in the francophone education community. Regardless of school and community size, all programs and services are equally accessible to all students under the CSPGNO umbrella.
What makes the new school unique?
With a small student to teacher ratio, students will benefit from personalized learning paths; our focus is to ensure that students shine in where their passions lie, be it sports, technology, math, science or arts. With the CSPGNO and its innovative programming, we can offer state of the art learning opportunities, robotics competitions and tournaments where students will meet other students from all over Northern Ontario.
What are some of the challenges due to the pandemic?
COVID-19 and its variants are making it slightly more challenging to promote and host in person registrations during the springtime. The usage of technology will remain for a little while longer to prepare for the upcoming school year.
When it comes to her personal integration in the school community, Rancourt says that the CSPGNO team has given her a warm welcome. “The team was extremely helpful and readily available to offer support in all facets of this new endeavour. Even though all our meetings have been virtual thus far, the various members of the CSPGNO team have created a positive and inclusive environment. I look forward to “going” to work every day.”
She adds, “This is an exciting time for the community of Blind River. I look forward to welcoming our new families and offering them an opportunity to be a part of the school’s dynamic environment.”
Ready to register? Visit the CSPGNO website or call 705-356-3333 to schedule a virtual appointment.