Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Simon's First Swim Meet

I thought he was going to be asked to pee in a cup after this rookie performance.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Letter to Fellow Rosslanders

Dear Fellow Rosslanders,

The Neighborhoods of Learning Committee is on the cusp of creating something remarkable in Rossland, Grade K-12 education for the 2013/14 school year.

As a community we have adamantly expressed a demand for what the NOL has now actually produced, this is an exciting time.

The new Independent School will be partially Government funded.  There is an extra tuition fee of $1000 ($100/month) to attend this school.  However the intention of NOL is that this venture is in no way exclusive.  This fee will be waived to students with financial need.

This education will be provided in the Old Firehall or at the Red Mountain Conference Centre (as a temporary measure).  The School will offer a full grade 8-12 curriculum in an highly supportive and professional learning environment.  It will be a place where full potential will be realized.

The Red Mountain Academy has committed to enrolling its 9 international students in this new school.  However, the Red Mountain Academy needs to be assured that this School is confirmed by June 25.  The enrolment of the Red Mountain Academy students into this new school can make this a financially viable venture for NOL.  To move forward this school needs a minimum of 33 grade 8-12 students enrolled by June 25.  This school is open to any grade 8-12 BC student.

Rossland can make this happen (now) if the Red Mountain Academy contribution aligns with the expressed community interest.  This is a call to action.  The NOL is presenting us with an opportunity to create a community asset with an enormous potential to enhance Rossland's strength and spirit.  Let's make this happen!

Contact Aerin Guy of the NOL for more information aeringuy@gmail.com

Mark Impey
Chair-Red Mountain Academy

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Independent School Update

What a crazy time for education potential in Rossland, tonight I had the choice of attending two emergency meetings, one with the Red Mountain Race Club and the other with the the Rossland Neighborhood's of Learning committee, both meetings focused on continued education in Rossland.  I was at the NOL meeting.

At the meeting tonight the Red Mountain Academy communicated to The NOL Committee that the Academy's mandate is to provide athletic training and coordination of that training with an educational provider, but not to actually be that Educational provider.  The NOL is now taking charge of working with the timeline that the Red Mountain Academy has set out.  The Academy has set a deadline of June 25 for a school to be in place to serve the 12 international student/athletes that are coming to Red Mountain and Rossland to train and go to school for the 2013/14 term.  If an educational option is not in place by that date the Red Mountain Academy will have inform the international students who are registered that they will have to find an education alternative.  The NOL is taking charge of working towards this deadline.

To make this vision grade k-12 viable in Rossland for the 2013-14 school term the NOL needs a minimum of 26 grade 8-12 students to register for school in Rossland this September.

A lot of things need to happen but the task is not insurmountable.  We will see how this unfolds.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Independent School in Rossland

I have been involved with a project here in Rossland where a group of us are trying to establish an independent High School in Rossland.  I thought this would be a great thing to blog about.

I have been involved in the Red Mountain Academy for 9 years as a Free-ski coach and as a Board member, I am currently the Chair of the Board.  As of 2013-14 school year the Rossland Secondary School has been closed to grade 10 to 12 students.  This basically means the end of the Red Mountain Academy Free-Ski program, not to mention the Alpine, Nordic and Snowboard programs.  So the Red Mountain Academy has partnered with Neighborhoods of Learning committee with a goal of continuing the offering of grade 8-12 education in Rossland.

The potential for this project is huge and I am excited to be part of it.  The new Red Mountain Academy School at this point can be anything, we have blank slate.  We have a certificate to run an Independent School and are also trying to partner with an existing Independent School.  Both options seem viable, and local interest is high. 

I will try to use this blog as a means of tracking our progress.  Stay tuned.