Improvements to SCI would make school more attractive to Clearview youth

Not to jinx it but at first glance this ARC looks like it is going to be much more productive and functional than the last one convened to decide the fate of Stayner Collegiate Institute.

We were in the trenches during that process and it wasn’t pretty. Not only did it pit community against community, it lowered morale at SCI and made the school community unsure of its longevity.

We hope SCI will emerge from this process with some assurance that it will be around for the long term and will have the resources it needs to be a complete education facility.    

Moving on, with an open mind and new policy guidelines, this ARC could finally see Stayner Collegiate Institute overcome its hurdles and become the high school this community deserves.

The ARC – the accommodation review committee – is reviewing enrollment at three Stayner schools and what space is needed to accommodate them. Hopefully, in the end Stayner will have a homegrown solution that works for the local community but the rest of us shouldn’t become idle bystanders because the decisions made during this ARC will have an impact on students at Nottawasaga and Creemore Public School and every other elementary school in Clearview that feeds into SCI.

It’s about more than bums in seats.

A school’s main focus should be on preparing students for post secondary education in whatever form that may take – a trade, college or university. Success starts in a child’s earliest years, even before a child gets to school but high school is the last chance to prepare students for the launch. It’s a highly competitive world out there and Clearview’s youth need to be well armed with base knowledge and strong learning skills.

Clubs, music programs and athletics are an important factor in making for a high quality of life and overall enjoyment of the school community and definitely help with student retention. They sometimes lead to careers but they are not, generally speaking, what will set students up for academic success.

If SCI opens to Grade 7 and 8 students in Stayner they will share in the reinvigorated school spirit. And if that happens it would be wise to invite Grade 7 and 8 students from the feeder schools to participate in some way so that by the time they are making a choice about where to go to high school they are already looking forward to attending SCI as long as they can be assured of a top rate education.

There are concerns about integrating Grade 7 and 8 students into a high school where they will be exposed to the behaviours of older teens but there is also an opportunity for older students to be positive role models for the younger set.

There are so many great kids in Clearview, who understand the importance of community and have bright futures ahead, we owe it to them to have every advantage.