Students from St. Thomas and Our Lady of Fatima schools in Renfrew will be entering St. Joseph’s High School in Grade 7 rather than Grade 8 following a board vote Monday.
“On Jan. 27, the Board of Trustees voted to restructure some of the Renfrew/Arnprior family of schools as per the proposed plan shared with parents and various learning partners last school year,” reads a Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB) press release. “As a result, the RCCDSB will be transitioning Grade 7 students from Our Lady of Fatima and St. Thomas the Apostle to St. Joseph’s High School starting in September 2025. With this restructuring, Our Lady of Fatima and St. Thomas the Apostle will subsequently become Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 schools.”
All other elementary schools (St. Joseph’s, Calabogie; St. Michael’s, Douglas; St. Joseph’s, Arnprior) that feed into St. Joseph’s High School will remain Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 schools, except for St. John XXIII which will remain Junior Kindergarten – Grade 6.
“Students from these schools will have the option to attend Grade 7 or Grade 8 at either their home school or St. Joseph’s High School starting in September 2025,” reads the release.
Officials say it should be noted that this model, which was successfully implemented at RCCDSB’s Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke in 2023, as well as by many other Catholic School Boards around the province, offers several benefits:
- Continuation of Intermediate Programming: Students will experience a seamless continuation of the intermediate program within the 7-12 model.
- Enhanced Support: Students will have access to dedicated intermediate teachers, guidance staff, RCCDSB program support, and a school chaplain.
- Improved Facilities and Opportunities: Students can benefit from enhanced facilities, including new classrooms, a chapel, a cafeteria, a learning commons, a large gymnasium, an outdoor track, and various sports, clubs, and intramural activities.
- Seamless Transitions: The model ensures greater continuity and easier transitions for students moving from intermediate grades into high school.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Teachers across Grades 7-12 will have greater opportunities to collaborate on curriculum delivery and program implementation.
- Alignment with Ministry Initiatives: This model aligns with Ministry of Education initiatives, which often focus on Grades 7-9 or 7-12. The Board is confident that this transition will benefit students and provide them with a rich and supportive learning environment at St. Joseph’s High School.
(Sherry Haaima)