ROSSLAND SCHOOLS NOTEBOOK – April 2012
The Survey Results are In
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osslanders have spoken, 468 of them to be exact, and overwhelmingly Rosslanders view RSS as a very important element of our community. 75% of Rosslanders indicated that maintaining grades 8-12 in Rossland is very important to them, while 15% indicated it was important. 85% of Rosslanders indicated that, assuming we cannot keep both MacLean Elementary and RSS, K-12 at RSS is their first choice for educational configurations.
Key reasons for wanting to keep RSS included concerns about the effect of the closure of RSS on the ability of Rossland to attract and keep families, the loss of key community spaces at RSS and concerns about sending their children out of the community for grades 8-12 education. Many respondents expressed their concerns strongly. “I feel that having the schools in Rossland is vital to the wellbeing of all Rosslanders.” “The main reason we came here was to have our kids in a smaller school.... I have heard this from other families as well.”
2.2% 2%
3%
6.3%
45% of respondents would consider moving if RSS were closed. 90% of respondents would consider an independent school if RSS closed, but want more information regarding the potential costs and types of programs that would be offered. 42% of Rosslanders would accept a $200 annual City tax increase to support maintaining the community spaces at RSS or support an independent school at RSS, while 33% were unsure and 25% did not want to see a tax increase. Thank you Rosslanders for once again letting us know how you feel!
6% Support for RSS as a K-12 school
Importance of maintaining grades 8–12 in Rossland
15% 75%
■ Very important ■ Important ■ Somewhat important ■ Not very important ■ Not important at all
19% 72%
■ Strongly supportive ■ Supportive ■ Mildly supportive ■ Not supportive
Greatest concerns about potential closure of RSS for Rossland residents (in order): 1) The effect of the closure of RSS on the ability of Rossland to attract and keep families .........................................88% 2) The loss of community spaces in RSS including the auditorium and gym ..............................................................66% 3) Having to send my children out of the community for grades 8-12 education ........................................................62% 4) Economic impacts of not having high school students in the community during the day .......................................60% Ranking of Choices for Rossland residents: CHOICE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th K-12 at RSS; Maclean closed 85% 4% 3% 8% K-10 at RSS; MacLean closed 5% 78% 13% 4% K-9 at RSS; MacLean closed 6% 10% 77% 8% K-7 at MacLean; RSS closed 8% 6% 3% 83%
ESS Update
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COLE DES SEPTS SOMMETS students recently participated in a French School District-wide writing contest. Francine Weigeldt, a teacher at ESS, shared some details of the contest. The contest, called the Plume d’Or, runs from late January to mid-March every
“Tell the government to stop tearing at the fabric of our community.” “If the schools close, simply put, we’ll move to a new town to be near schools.” “Having K-12 education in the community was one of the main reasons that brought us to Rossland.” — QUOTES FROM ROSSLAND SCHOOLS SURVEY (2012)
year. Winners are selected in all of the individual schools and forwarded to Vancouver where the grand winner is selected. Teachers can guide the students in their writing, but they are not allowed to correct the work. Students can be given suggestions and can ask their peers to edit their work.
This year the title of the contest is “souvenirs inventés,” which loosely translated means invented memories. The work has to be accompanied by a visual component. Winners at ESS were Talia Symington-Krus and Peter Grant. Next month the overall winners will be announced. We wish Talia and Peter the best of luck!
ROSSLAND SCHOOLS NOTEBOOK – April 2012
International Students at RSS
DID YOU KNOW? Robin Hethey and her daughters Devin (14) and Ellie (11) have embarked on a Central American adventure in Costa Rica and Guatemala. They will volunteer in different communities, learn Spanish and attend the Cloud Forest School. Steve Knox, Robin’s husband, will join his family in a few weeks. They’re blogging about their trip at: www.ourcentralamerican adventure.com
RSS is part of the District International Student Program and international students are a key part of the fabric of RSS. Students come and stay in Rossland for a year in a homestay environment. Rossland Schools Notebook talked to Paul Hattig, an international student from Germany. Hattig said, “I have loved being in Rossland. The town has so much character. The people are friendly and the skiing is great.” Hattig added. “I am happy to finally have spring.”
New Families in Rossland
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
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avid Klein, Amber Ashenhurst and their children Jane and Rowan moved to Rossland from Kimberley in July 2011. Klein and Ashenhurst have lived in many places in BC, Alberta and the Northwest Territories until they finally selected Kimberley as the place to raise their kids. They came to Rossland because Ashenhurst got a job as the Environmental Manager at the Waneta Dam Expansion Project.
When asked what they liked best about Rossland, Klein and Ashenhurst responded, “The fact that our kids can walk to their K-12 education, and how close all the outdoor activities are to our front They chose Rossland to door. There is good sense of live in because as Klein community with neighbours observed, “We wanted helping neighbours and to live in a mountain great community events. environment similar to what Also there are many likeminded individuals who we had in Kimberley.”
Grant for Red Mountain Academies
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ed Mountain Academies recently received a $45,000 grant from Southern Interior Development Trust to help spread the word across Canada and around the world about what a great program we have here in Rossland.
realize it takes a village to raise a child. Jane and Rowan have their own opinions on what makes Rossland a great place to live including, “all the POW POW and Whoopdee-dos at Red, the two local summer pools with slides, swimming out to the dock at Nancy Greene Lake, and biking and hiking around Rossland.”
In May, CBT and the Neighbourhood of Learning Committee will be hosting a Community Directed Youth Funds community meeting to determine how CBT’s $100,000 grant should be directed for the youth of Rossland. Watch for details and the final date if you want to participate.
DID YOU KNOW? RSS opened in 1952, which means that it turns 60 this year. Come and celebrate RSS’s 60th birthday in June. Details to follow soon!
“I am becoming extremely frustrated by the lack of concern the government places on education in this country. If RSS is closed I have no problem uprooting my family and moving to another town (or country) where the quality of a child’s education is deemed important.” — ROSSLAND SCHOOLS SURVEY (2012)