As planned, Bluewater District School Board is keeping the community updated on developments involving the newly combined secondary school in Owen Sound to ensure a positive transition experience for students, their families, the staff and community in September 2016.
Recently, students at the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute (OSCVI) and West Hill Secondary School had a chance to choose from an expanded list of course offerings that became available as a result of the upcoming merger. The popularity of these options, especially with technology courses, has provided an opportunity to reopen and outfit a previously closed tech shop at West Hill. FromConstruction and Transportation to Hairstyling and Hospitality, the options are numerous.
Meanwhile, a Naming Committee has been struck to help facilitate the establishment of the newly combined school's identity. The committee will be reaching out to the public in the coming weeks for input and ideas regarding the new school name, colours, mascot and other items.
Collaboration between OSCVI and West Hill administrative staff continues to occur. This includes meetings involving department heads, assessing inventory at both school locations, reviewing curriculum, as well as planning for the best programming experience for 2016 – 2017.
Relationship building opportunities also continue to unfold within the schools among students and staff. The upcoming combined trip to Italy and Greece beginning on May 13, 2016 will further enable students and staff to come together and solidify friendships.
As announced last week, current Principals Lucy Hilts (West Hill) and Matthew Pickett (OSCVI) will each assume the role of Co-Principal at the newly combined school. This strategy was adopted to assist with the ease of transition for students from each school through providing familiarity in the leadership role,and to ensure that the views of both school communities are well represented in future decisions. Both principals are experienced and have developed longstanding relationships with students, parents/guardians and community partners within their respective school communities. The complement of administrators has been reduced by one vice-principal at that school to accommodate this arrangement.
Administrators are currently working on student and staff timetables for distribution in mid-late June,which will meet typical timelines. Revised exam schedules will also soon be communicated to the OSCVI and West Hill school communities.
Elsewhere within the Owen Sound Area Group of Schools, communication has taken place with each family from Derby Public School in Kilsyth regarding their preferred school options for September 2016.
More detailed transition meetings are planned for the near future, from which further information will be shared with students, families and the community.
