FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Belleville school receives national recognition in Today’s Parent magazine
12 October 2005, Belleville, Ontario—The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has received national recognition in Today’s Parent magazine. “Mixed Blessings” is the feature article of October’s Education section. Its focus—split grades—describes the positive aspects of mixing children of different ages in the same class. Even more, the article draws attention to misconceptions about mixed curricula, academic progress, and age gaps. Special recognition goes to Belleville’s Queen Victoria School and its Adventure Class.

In the article, Primary Adventure Class teacher Sheryl Parker is quoted as asking where else in life do we work only with people who are the exact same age? Parker teaches a split-grade Grade 1 to Grade 3 class at Belleville’s Queen Victoria School. The Adventure Class delivers the standard Ontario Curriculum in an innovative and alternative format. The program emphasizes hands-on learning and real-life discovery through a mix of ages, academic levels, skills and interests, enriched by family and community involvement. Parents are involved in the program by volunteering in the classroom, serving on committees, attending monthly parent meetings, fundraising or developing classroom resources.

Reference to the Belleville school is credited to Gina Brak, a parent whose son Jake is now in Grade 4 in the Junior Adventure Class. Brak was online at the Today's Parent Web site last April and responded to a question posted by one of the magazine's editor's asking about parents’ experiences with split-grade classes. Brak emailed in her response about her positive experience with the Adventure Class and the editor emailed her back within minutes. That was followed by an hour-long telephone interview after which the editor contacted Sheryl Parker, teacher of the Primary Adventure Class.

According to Brak, the editor was so impressed by what she heard about the Adventure Class she lightheartedly commented about wanting to relocate to Belleville just for the class!

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 54 schools serving 18,400 students, employing 1,070 teachers and 705 support staff. The Board covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south, and Quinte West to the west.

For information, contact:
• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, (613) 966-1170, or 1 800 267-4350, ext. 2354