Francophone board sees big growth as school year begins

MonAvenir operates two schools in Barrie, including Frere-Andre on Cundles Road East and Nouvelle-Alliance on Anne Street

Barrietoday.com
Sept. 5, 2019

Over 17,600 students are expected in the 61 schools of the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (Csc MonAvenir) this morning, on the first day of school.

While growth predictions were estimated at 1.3 per cent, the greater number of students in the schools today actually represents double what was expected, that is an increase of 3.7 per cent compared to the number registered last year with the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.

“Our family keeps growing and we are proud to see the Francophone community increase year after year," stated Melinda Chartrand, Csc MonAvenir Chair.

The growth is evident particularly at the secondary level and the Csc MonAvenir is happy with the great interest shown for its French-speaking Catholic high schools.

“In York region, École intermédiaire catholique Renaissance is inaugurating a new campus in Maple this morning in order to meet the great demand and thus alleviate overcrowding in École secondaire catholique Renaissance that had gone beyond 150 per cent of its initial capacity. The present school has over 310 students in grades 7 and 8," stated André Blais, Director of Education.

In addition, Csc MonAvenir is presently working on two expansion projects this year: École secondaire catholique Sainte-Trinité in order to accommodate 1,890 additional student-places in the Oakville Region and École secondaire catholique Père-René-de-Galinée with 178 additional student places in the Kitchener- Waterloo region.

Because of such constant growth, the Csc MonAvenir is announcing an increased number of schools. Indeed, today, École élémentaire catholique will be opening its doors. This morning a press briefing was held at the new school with André Blais, Director of Education. The school will receive 308 students from kindergarten to grade 6.

Students will immediately benefit from modern facilities and spaces adapted and dedicated to learning in the digital era. The new school will also offer a Francophone day care centre that can receive 39 children.

This is a second school in the Milton region aimed at strengthening the presence of the Csc MonAvenir and entrench French-speaking Catholic education. As a reminder, last year École élémentaire catholique Saint-Nicolas had over 450 students and was at maximum capacity in the same region.

The pastoral theme "Together in hope" will accompany the board over the whole year. The theme is an invitation to celebrate the capacity to form a team, to work together, to join forces to build a better world together and be models of resiliency for the students. Faced with the challenges of tomorrow's world, it is important to be united and committed. The French-speaking Catholic community wants to be united: family, school and parish. Csc MonAvenir wants to be a model in this regard.

You can follow Csc MonAvenir back to school events on our Internet site www.cscmonavenir.ca, on facebook.com/cscmonavenir, on Twitter @cscmonavenir and on Instagram @cscmonavenir.

Staff and school board members would like to wish students and parents an excellent 2019-2020 school year!

This year, the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir will receive over 17,600 students, in its 61 schools: 47 elementary schools, one intermediate school, 11 high schools and two elementary and high schools on a territory covering over 40,000 km2 extending from the Niagara Peninsula to Peterborough and from Lake Ontario (Toronto) to Georgian Bay.

Through our vast network of French-speaking Catholic schools, every student can feel part of a great, faith-based Francophone school community and to benefit from a first class education in a rich, fair and inclusive learning environment.