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LETTER: Parent 'very disapointed' by UGDSB's decision to reorganize classrooms

Parent urges the board to rethink its decision
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GuelphToday.com received the following message and letter from Sonja Bosshard regarding the recent school reorganizations:

Yesterday I sent the below email to the UGDSB trustees. I wanted to communicate my displeasure with the recent school reorganizations that are taking place under the guise of re-entry points or learning model changes available for students. Paisley Road will now have fewer teachers with more students per class.

This had nothing to do with a change in learning models but more to do with funds not being available to support the smaller class sizes and a convenient point to make this switch. This is not something that should be done so far into the school year. This is happening to the majority of classes at Paisley Road School.  How this is justifiable during rising COVID numbers and rising mental health concerns I'm not sure. But it's another example of the Ford governments poor handling and support of public education.

"I was greeted by my two weeping children after school today. They both attend Paisley Road Public School in the FI program (Grades 4 and 6). They received their new class reorganizations today.

They reported that children were weeping in class and teachers were crying due to the changes that will be taking place on Monday, Nov. 30. 

Why is this necessary? Have they not gone through enough over the last eight months? Strikes followed by Covid and "home schooling", I feel like they didn't have an education last year. 

Finally, they get a chance to go back to school, be with their friend, build a routine, make connections with teachers and friends.  I could see major improvements in their mental health, they were happy, feeling like a piece of normalcy was back in their lives. 

Today, all of that was shattered. My son will be getting a new teacher, he is nervous about changing routines and expectations with a new teacher.  My daughter is in a 5/6 split. Most of her friends in Grade 6 are moving to a new class and Grade 5s are moving in. With the cohorts, she will be isolated from the friends and connections she has made since the start of the school year. Plus, her class of 18 will now have 25!

I know my kids will adjust, but for some I'm sure this will be devastating. Please, I urge you to rethink another entry point and change in learning models to avoid any further disruptions and reorganizing of classes for the rest of the school year. 

This change greatly influences the continuity of learning. Amid rising COVID numbers and transition to higher alert levels, this is not the time to mix up all the students and teachers! Why do the changes of a few need to influence the outcome of the majority? Why not make changes going forward on a case-by-case basis.

I am very disappointed by this outcome. The TDSB cancelled their plans for a re-entry to limit the disruption to students. Why can't the UGDSB do the same thing and put their students first?

- Sonja Bosshard