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French students being sought Canadian Parents for French wants to hear from people who were in Langley French Immersion programs. French programs have been in Langley since 1978 and the parent-led organization has launched Where Are They Now? to reconnect with them. The summer project involves attempts to connect with many students from Langley. More online at
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NEWS
Local senator named in report Two of B.C.’s most prominent political personalities, including Langley’s Gerry St. Germain and former Olympic gold medal-winning skier Nancy Greene Raine, were named Tuesday in the report by auditor general Michael Ferguson into inappropriate Senate expenses. One of the events that got both into hot water was their decision to effectively bill taxpayers for their involvement in St. Germain’s 50th wedding anniversary at the Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club in Surrey in 2011. More online at
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THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 | Page A3 EDUCATION
Lochiel program moves to Simonds The new site in Langley City allows for growth. HEATHER COLPITTS hcolpitts.langleyadvance.com
Members of the gallery clapped when the Langley School Board voted to close Lochiel school in rural South Langley. It’s a far different reception than the district has received in the past when it closed facilities. Last fall the board examined closure of Langley Secondary, and has closed underutilized elementaries such as County Line, Otter, Aldergrove, South Carvolth, Bradshaw and Murrayville. The reconfiguration of H.D. Stafford from a high school to a middle school was also controversial in the community. The specialized program at Lochiel, 224th Street and 15th Avenue, will be moved to Simonds Elementary, 20190 48th Ave. “I think overall most communities think this will be a win,” district principal Gord Stewart said. The board announced
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Langley School Board trustees such as David Tod and Rod Ross voted June 9 on recommendations to close the Lochiel site and move the U-Connect program. its plan to look into the closure April 7 which launched a 60-day consultation process, as set out by district policy. “Two factors that really triggered this,” he said. The board had decided not to convert Simonds into a middle school. The elementary has about 240 students but capacity for more than double that. The move of the program will put Simonds’ population at about 300 but not all U-Connect students are present at all times. “We’re not talking about amalgamating programs,” noted Rob McFarlane, the school board chair. “If nothing
happens at Simonds, it’s a vulnerable school. In my mind, it’s a great win to both.” The other factor was expansion of the Lochiel U-Connect program. UConnect is a blended school/home school program for children with anxiety and other issues who can’t handle traditional classroom environments. The program is kindergarten to Grade 10 but could expand to all grades. “Certainly if they wanted to do that, it was going to be very difficult to do that at its current site,” Stewart said. Trustee Shelly Coburn said the input of staff and parents was taken
into consideration but what about the students at U-Connect. “I’m wondering if they are happy about this or if they have any anxiety about going back into a mainstream school or if they’ve even been consulted,” she asked. Lochiel principal Sarban Sangha said the older students are excited about the new opportunities this affords, including volunteering, leadership, buddy opportunities and more. “Some of the younger ones are a little bit apprehensive,” he said. They like the small setting but the school will work to make their transition as smooth as pos-
sible and provide a sense of security. Stewart added that the U-Connect students can interact with the Simonds students as much as they feel comfortable or not at all. The Lochiel program started in 1997, the first B.C. school to blend face to face instruction with home schooling, site based and online learning. It attracts students from Langley as well as Surrey and beyond but its remote location made it inaccessible to some. Trustee Alison McVeigh noted her children went to Lochiel. “What’s going on out there is absolutely magical,” she commented. She said she’s determined to help the program be sustainable and help Simonds have a stronger future. Trustee Rod Ross said the schools win and the district sees a fiscal benefit, noting the “budget is only so big.” Former City councillor Rosemary Wallace, now a school trustee, noted there is another benefit. “I’m sure the City of Langley is going to be quite happy that this is happening and therees not going to be a school closing in the city,” she said.
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Police gang raids included Langley home
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A Langley home was one of four raided as Delta, Surrey, and anti-gang police cracked down on Lower Mainland gang violence. On June 4, four search war-
rants were executed at three homes in Surrey and one in Langley, said Acting Sgt. Sarah Swallow, of the Delta Police. More than 50 officers from Delta, the Surrey RCMP, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, and the
Langley RCMP took part. The searches turned up a large amount of cash and illegal drugs, said Swallow. Two men were arrested and were expected to make court appearances last Friday, with charges recommended to Crown
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counsel. The raids are an attempt to disrupt and suppress gang violence in Surrey and North Delta. There were 28 shootings over an 11-week period this spring, mostly in Surrey’s Newton area and into North Delta.
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