Dear Extended Hawthorne Community,
On Thursday, October 16, at 7:30pm, there will be a meeting at Hawthorne, for
those interested in informing the development of the Hawthorne Middle School
(HMS). Please pass it on and come en masse
In April 2006, the TDSB granted Hawthorne Deux Bilingual the denomination of K-8
school, extending our offering to grade 7 and 8. At the time, those involved in
the application process wished that the Middle school program be thoroughly
alternative, with continued Extended French. The idea was that this program
would be distinct from the K-6 stream, having its own teacher and without a 6-7
split.
The time of year to offer this program to prospective students is approaching
very fast. We would like to engage the extended community in developing a
framework for the program between now and the end of November, so we may have
something to offer Middle School prospectors come January 2009. The process
would not end then, and possibly the offering wouldn’t be available until
January 2010, but some of us hope to give it a go for this year and at the least
get started on “Phase Two”.
A capable facilitator has joined our effort as a dedicated volunteer. With her
help, we feel we can see this process through. As we imagine and design our
Middle school program we hope to involve: the current Hawthorne students,
families, staff, feeder-school graduates, and other alternative and French
Middle schools.
Ultimately, what the program will look like depends on those involved in its
design. If you’re interested, please join us at the kick off community meeting
on October 16, at Hawthorne II Alternative, 50 Essex St.
This is a great opportunity to create a Middle school that reflects our
community’s vision of a child-centered, bilingual, arts based, ecologically
aware, alternative education. We strongly encourage you to participate.
If you please, RSVP to hms-committee@hawthorne2.org. Thanks.
Eagerly yours,
The interim HMS Committee