OWEN SOUND ACCOMMODATION REVIEW
WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING – JANUARY 25, 2016
COMPARISON OF GRADE 7-12 MODEL VERSUS SINGLE SECONDARY SCHOOL
SUMMARY OF FACILITATED DISCUSSION
GRADE 7 – 12 MODEL
PROS
SINGLE GRADE 9-12 SECONDARY SCHOOL
CONS
Exposure to possibilities
Exposure to possibilities
Part of the family sooner
Sense of community
Elementary kids get lost in the shuffle
Would produce transitions for grade 6
students
Two panels and two unions in same
building
Elementary nutrition breaks
(flow of the day)
Easier transition to secondary
More students in single grade classes
(both models)
Grade 7 & 8 program and facility
advantages
Extra-curricular advantages
Specialized rotary staff (i.e. Phys Ed,
Music, French)
Mentoring of grade 7 and 8 students
by senior students
Larger inclusive community
Less disruptive as it maintains two
secondary schools
A 7-12 school could become a K-12 in
the future if need be
Retains heritage
Easier to combine 2 secondary
schools in short time period than
elementary/secondary
Daily timetable challenges
Competition for staff assignments
Combining grade 7 & 8 students with
secondary students
Building not designed as segregated
(i.e. common areas, entrances)
Secondary students may not like it
PROS
Programming improved
(specialization, variety, options for
timetabling)
Part of a big family
Combines expertise in teaching
opportunities
Variety of teachers
Create a new era for alumni –
accommodating new school
communities
Expanded programs
CONS
Competitive sports opportunities
decreased
Transition for grade eight students
Possibility of five period classes
Larger school – relationships less
strong
Current students may not be able to
have certain opportunities – i.e. the
greenhouse
Space short-term, use of portables
Students not competing for co-op
placements
Same courses could be offered in
multiple sections
“Re-culturing”
Double lunches
Pooling of resources
Draw from periphery for program
options
Traffic/bus issues
Teachers teaching in subject areas
Less “close-knit
Parking issues
Money needed to retrofit schools to
accommodate grade 7 and 8 students
All students can play all sports
No one to compete against with only
one city public secondary school
Who pays for playground equipment?
No stress for students choosing a
high school
Over capacity
GRADE 7 – 12 MODEL
PROS
SINGLE GRADE 9-12 SECONDARY SCHOOL
CONS
Fewer transitions
Start/end of school day
More walking
Primary/Junior students lose their
grade 7 & 8 mentors
Lose specials and teachers
More responsibilities for grade 7 & 8
students
No middle school experience
One recess
Grade 7-12 students mingling
No physical separation for older
students
Parents anxious about grade 7 & 8
students in the high school setting
Twelve and thirteen year old students
very impressionable
Fewer courses
Dress code, what younger students
will witness
No benefit to secondary students
program
PROS
No students will need to switch
schools in order to get certain courses
Less need to sacrifice certain courses
Higher occupancy could result in
more funding
Graduation experience and
leadership opportunities would
continue for grade 7 & 8’s in
elementary
Greater variety of sports, especially
non-conventional sports
Expertise of coaches
Large, full teams
Bussing not an issue due to proximity
of both schools
CONS
Seven elementary schools into 2
Have to pass a Catholic school to get
to a public school