ADSBNot long after a decision by Algoma District School Board to close William Merrifield school in June,  it was announced on Tuesday that a Parent Information Meeting is planned for April 28th at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting will take place at the William Merrifield school gym for all families with children who will transition schools in the fall.  Staff from the Transportation Department will be on hand to answer questions on bus routes and schedules.  Staff from the four intake schools — H-M Robbins, Isabel Fletcher, Northern Heights and Kiwedin — will also be on hand for the meeting.  A ‘Transition Day’ for students is scheduled for sometime in June.  Affected students will have an opportunity at that time to spend a day at the school they will attend starting in September.

Algoma District School Board trustees received a presentation on a unique program on Tuesday night.  Students from F-H Clergue French Immersion School read poems and rhymes in French to demonstrate the ‘From 3 to 3’ program — aimed at improving a child’s language skills and literacy.  The initiative contains curriculum made up of three components:  oral storytelling, literature and retell.   One of the elements of the program is oral storytelling, where students use rhymes and poetry to promote the language and narrative.  The material eventually becomes more complex, resulting in building a child’s attention and working memory.  Social reasoning is where teachers and librarians are instructed on selecting books that assist in the development of social reasoning.  Representation and retell shows teachers how to encourage a child’s ability to represent ideas and thoughts for themselves.  Trustees also heard from Johnson-Tarbutt Central student Kyle McDonald on Tuesday.  The Grade 6 student presented an oral on ‘orals’ — a speech that has earned him a first place win at the school level.  He has also presented his speech at the district competition in Blind River and the regionals in Kapuskasing.  Kyle is now preparing to speak at the provincial orals competition in Sault Ste. Marie in May.