Message to Grand Erie Students and Families

MONDAY, OCT. 31, 2022

We want to advise you of ongoing labour negotiations and a possible withdrawal of services by education workers on Friday, November 4.

On Monday, October 31, as part of ongoing central negotiations between the province and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Ontario government tabled legislation titled Keeping Students in Class Act. 

In Grand Erie, CUPE education workers make up 920 members of our staff including Educational Assistants, Communicative Disorder Assistants, Food Technicians, Clerical (school and central board staff), Library Technicians, Information Technology staff and Custodial and Maintenance staff. 

We acknowledge the impact this uncertainty has on families. The situation continues to evolve, and we will provide further updates as information becomes available.

Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room

Elgin Avenue Public School welcomed staff, students and community to the Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

On hand for this special occasion was Chair of the Board Carol Ann Sloat, Trustee Rita Collver and Superintendent Liana Thompson as well as several members of the community that contributed to the fundraising, and Elgin staff members.

Allie Richardson (teacher of students with autism), Lori Minarik (EA working with students with autism) and Samantha Nicholson (Principal) worked together for over three and a half years to fundraise for this $30,000 project. The Elgin community, parents, local charities and the Grand Erie District School Board all came together to make this project a huge success.

A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory environment that provides a controlled, safe, relaxing space for individuals with a variety of sensory needs. The room is set up to give individuals a positive space where they can meet their specific needs in a calming atmosphere. This atmosphere helps in reducing fear, anxieties, repetitive behaviour, self-abusive behaviour and aggressive behaviour so that students are better able to learn. Students at Elgin in both self-contained classes and in the regular classes will be able to access the room to help meet their sensory needs.

According to Seth, a student who accesses the room daily, “It is the best room ever!!!”