Local residents will get to have a say in the name of a new public elementary school in Oro-Medonte.
A letter sent home to parents on March 7 by the Simcoe County District School Board is inviting residents to submit their name suggestions for the new school, located at 739 Horseshoe Valley Rd. W., next to Horseshoe Valley Memorial Park on Line 4 North.
“With the opening of a new school comes an opportunity for the community to get involved in the naming process,” Peter McLean, the board's superintendent of education, states in the letter.
“A school’s identity is important – it is a source of pride for the community and contributes to a positive and inspirational climate and school culture," he added. "This is something that can be felt when you walk into the school every day.”
A school’s identity also influences its image, including branding, logo and mascot, noted McLean.
Anyone making a name submission is encouraged to consider the environmental setting, the community’s geographic history and the diversity of the school community, states the letter to parents, which pointed out the Oro Moraine and the Copeland Forest as two “significant environmental features” that have been identified near the school site.
“These important environmental features include rolling upland areas along the Horseshoe Valley corridor, vast forest tracks and healthy wetland areas that support diverse wildlife communities and provide a multitude of recreational activities for residents," it says.
The submission deadline is Friday, March 28. All submissions will be reviewed by the board’s school naming committee, which includes parents/guardians, students, board representatives, a member of Oro-Medonte council and a community member.
The committee’s recommendation is scheduled to be presented at the May school board meeting.
The school, which is set to open in September, will accommodate 570 pupils. A recently completed attendance area review (AAR) included East Oro Public School, Forest Hill Public School, including the French immersion program, Guthrie Public School and W.R. Best Memorial Public School and the two Barrie schools currently holding students — West Bayfield and Terry Fox.
The high schools included Barrie North and Eastview, as well as Twin Lakes in Orillia.
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Schools are named after where they are but someone thinks we really need a "naming committee" for this one?
Let's avoid the clichès of naming this school after some politician, generic location like Central, Park, etc. School or worse suggest ownership by Horseshoe Vallet residents. This is a combo Township school and community centre. There is already an Oro-Medonte Community Centre in Guthrie. Maybe a naming committee can select a name other than an athlete or veteran, not to discredit those deserving recognition.
Possibly an inspiring name for the students and the township as a whole. How about that.
Schools can no longer have “names” because one day we may discover something in a persons past that upsets people. I suggest “School number 1”