September 2, 2014
Families and Communities Prepare for New School Year
Parental, Community Involvement Are Key to Student Success: Minister
With a new school year beginning this week, the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, is welcoming students and staff back to class; encouraging parents to get involved in their school, and urging all motorists to obey the safety laws around school busing and school zones.
“Over the summer months, we can fall out of the habit of watching for students in school zones and on school grounds. It is important to remind motorists to follow the speed limits around schools, and to be particularly mindful of children who are on their way to and from school, or boarding and exiting a school bus. Drivers must remember to stop, whether following or approaching an oncoming school bus, when the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended. We all have a role to play in ensuring student safety.”
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education
Minister King noted that school opening is always an exciting time. There is a new school opening in September – St. Teresa’s Elementary in St. John’s – and others expected to open in the coming weeks and months, including Corner Brook Intermediate (the former Regina High) and William Gillett Academy in Charlottetown, Labrador. There are new school construction projects ongoing in Torbay, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, St. John’s (Waterford Valley High, Virginia Park Elementary), Paradise, Conception Bay South, Coley’s Point and Gander. Major extensions and redevelopments are ongoing in St. John’s (Roncalli Elementary), Mount Pearl (St. Peter’s Junior High), Grand Falls-Windsor (Exploits Valley High), and Corner Brook (the aforementioned Corner Brook Intermediate; G.C. Rowe and J.J. Curling). It will also be a year of moving forward with finalizing further infrastructure plans to prepare for full-day Kindergarten implementation in September, 2016.
“A good school is, of course, more than bricks and mortar – it’s about the administrators, teachers, support staff, school council members, parents, caregivers and volunteers who create and promote a safe and caring environment where students can reach their full potential. It has been my experience that successful schools, and successful students, are the result of supportive school communities where everyone is focused on student achievement and finding positive approaches to the inevitable challenges which arise.”
- Minister King
For more information on the K-12 school system, visit: //www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/ .
QUICK FACTS
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, is welcoming students and staff back to class this week; encouraging parents to get involved in their school, and urging all motorists to obey the safety laws around school busing and school zones.
- Minister King said successful schools are the result of strong community partnerships where all are focused on positive approaches to improve student achievement.
- The 2014-15 school year will see about 67,400 students enrolled at 262 public schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
- For more information in the K-12 school system, visit: //www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu.
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Media contact:|
Heather May Director of Communications Department of Education 709-729-0048, 697-5061 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
2014 09 02 8:45 a.m.