News

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Grand Erie returning to the semester model

FRIDAY, DEC. 10, 2021

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eginning February 4, 2022, all Grand Erie secondary schools will be returning to the semester model from the current quadmester model.

What this will mean for high school students is a move to four classes a day from February to June, instead of the current two, 150-minute classes running through the quadmester.

The Ministry of Education recently gave school boards permission to make this move, pending consultation with local public health units. Grand Erie consulted with the Brant County Health Unit and the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit and received the green light for this change. We believe this return to a more balanced semester model supports wellness and consolidation of learning for students and staff.

This represents a sequenced progression of change and improvement to learning environments over past months, from online only, to the quadmester model for in-person learning, and now an opportunity to move back to what educators and researchers believe is a better model, and what parents and students have been broadly asking for across the province.

The quadmester model was intended to be a short-term solution with a goal to limit contact between students. With low levels of COVID-19 cases at secondary schools and a high vaccination rate among secondary students, the transition back to a semester model marks the achievement of another milestone on the path to creating a more normal secondary experience for students. As we move into 2022, the board will be engaging secondary students to provide input on ways this transition could be made as positively as possible. We are consulting with our Student Trustees on the best process to receive this input.

While many students and families are eagerly anticipating this change back to the semester model, we know for others there is apprehension. Safety remains our top priority. We continue to work with our public health partners to ensure health and safety measures and school protocols are responsive to keep students and staff safe.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this global pandemic and support student engagement and learning.

Get Out / Get Active - Colour House Event at Mohawk Park

The whole school participated in our Get Out/Get Active day on Monday, April 24th at Mohawk Park. Students played together in multi-grade Colour House groups as they rotated through 6 stations (scavenger hunt, parachute games, obstacle course, mural painting, play structure and snack). The weather was perfect for some exercise, team building, and co-operative learning.


Pink Shirt Day - February 22, 2017

The students of Echo Place School participated in several activities last month to educate and inspire our students to stand up against bullying and create a welcome, inclusive and safe school environment. Classes worked together to create posters that are now proudly displayed in our hallways.

They also worked in Colour House groups to create a welcome tree at our front entrance. Each student traced their handprint on coloured paper and wrote how they make this school a safe and kind place for everyone. On February 22, our school participated in Pink Shirt Day and classes presented stories and pledges at our school assembly, to share their understanding of the impact that bullying has, and why we will stand up against it.


The Amazing Math Race

On Tuesday, November 29th several families gathered in the gym to participate in our first Amazing Math Race.

 

Each family was given a passport and travelled from room to room solving fun math challenges. Each page of the passport was given a stamp when the challenge in that room was completed. When the passports were filled, the families returned to the gym for their prizes.

 

 

Everyone enjoyed cake, juice and coffee and all families received valuable resources to support their child's math learning at home. It was a great event.


Echo Place News for October 28, 2016

By Mr. Roberts Grade 6/7 class

Click to View the Echo Place News Report


Missing – Sound system

The sound system we use at assemblies for our microphone and to amplify our slide shows has gone missing from the stage area in our gym. The last time it was used was at our last assembly, on Sept. 30th. We have looked high and low, but have be unable to locate our system. It consists of a large amplifier, with multiple knobs and two large speakers. It is a Fender Passport 150 Pro. We are hopeful that if this system has been take out of the school, someone will spot it and let us know. The staff and students are all very sad that our only system has gone missing.

 

If you have any information about our sound system, please call 905-753-2931


Let's Chalk!

Echo Place Students participate in Let's Chalk Event


Friendship Bench

Our Friendship Bench is created in memory of Mrs. Linington and Mrs. Kauk, who were friends to everyone at Echo Place. This bench will be placed outside in our school yard, and will be used as a place for children to go when they need a friend. Several students from each classroom helped decorate the bench by supplying their painted handprints.

Golden Dustpan Award

At the end of each month, Ms. Reading (Custodian) will award the cleanest classroom with the Golden Dustpan Award. This month, Ms. Mancini and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class was the winner. They will proudly display their trophy in the classroom for the following month.

At the end of the school year, the classroom that won the Golden Dustpan the most times will win a special surprise.

"We Believe In Clean"

September 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winner: Mrs. Wainwright's Grade 4/5 Class (below)

February 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms Mancini (in for Mrs. Springett) and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK Class (below)

January 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)

December 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Woodley's Grade 2 class (below)

November 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Springett and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class (below)

October 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms. Barrett's JK/SK class (below)

September 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)