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Ontario Street P.S. says it in French

Mar 30, 2006
By Samantha Reid

BOWMANVILLE -- For the past seven years I have been going to Ontario Street Public School. Even though this is my last year here, I will always carry the memories of Ontario Street with me throughout senior public school and high school.

Ever since senior kindergarten, I have always looked forward to coming to school. Our school goes from senior kindergarten to Grade 6. We have fun fairs, Jump Rope for Heart, laps for lungs and so much more.

Things about Ontario Street Public School that kids will love are the sports teams such as harrier, soccer, volleyball, basketball, three-pitch and track and field. This year, we also had the ski/snow boarding club which I was part of. We would go every Thursday night to Kirby and ski or snowboard until 7:30 p.m. and be back at the school for 8 p.m. Your child will enjoy the sports teams we offer.

The staff here are great too. We have about two or three teachers for each grade depending on the number of classes in that grade. This year I must admit there is only one little problem. This mostly concerns the Grade 6 students but might also mean trouble for the Grade 5s. We have nowhere to go for Grade 7 and 8.

Last summer we had it all figured out that we would go to the senior public school for Grade 7 and 8. Now they are saying that they will be closing down the senior public school. That is the only problem I have with my school this year. Other than that, it is perfect.
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Ontario Street PS speaks in a strong French voice


Apr 24, 2007 By: This Week staff

BOWMANVILLE -- Jean Marchand has seen a lot in his 16 years at Ontario Street Public School.

Now principal of Ontario Street, Mr. Marchand is at the helm as the Kawartha Pine Ridge school celebrates 30 years of French Immersion teaching.

Mr. Marchand was a young instructor at Ontario Street from 1981-88. He returned for stints in 1992 and from 1994-98 before settling in as principal in 2002, the position he has held ever since.

Therefore, when he speaks about the goings-on and the community at Ontario Street, he talks with authority. Four stints covering more than a decade-and-a-half will provide that.

"We have a real great sense of community at this school," he says. He indicates that, because Ontario Street students are bused in from all corners of Clarington -- except Courtice -- parents get heavily involved in activities and events there.

"Parents make a conscious choice to have their children come here and they provide us with terrific support for all activities."

The school, which has 426 students from kindergarten to Grade 6, had expanded to include Grade 7 and 8 students in 1997-98. But the popularity of Ontario Street and increasing enrolment meant the facility became overwhelmed and had to cut back to kindergarten to Grade 6 for the current school year and beyond.

The students consistently achieve solid numbers on tests and exams administered by the Province.

That's borne out by the excellent results Ontario Street students rack up in EQAO tests year after year.

And the Kawartha Pine Ridge board is full of French teachers who have graduated from Ontario Street, says Mr. Marchand.

The 30th anniversary is being marked in a fairly low-key way with a celebration at the school on May 6. Past administrators will be invited to come along and share in a barbecue and cake. There is also an old black-and-white film of the building of the school in 1949 which Mr. Marchand has transferred to DVD and says he plans to show on the anniversary. There will be a guest registry to sign, and undoubtedly, much catching up to do in the reunion-style event.