Grade 8 Parents' Night at PECI

This past Thursday night, Kevin and I took Alison over to the high school for the grade 8 information night. It was terrific! Kevin and I are very big on going to school in our own community. Many, many parents we know send their kids off to Belleville for high school. There are Christian and Catholic high schools, plus the "specialty" schools (arts and dance, IBS, etc.) They have significantly more more resources (supposedly). And the high school in Picton has a bad reputation for quality of academics.

And yet I am privileged to know a number of substitute teachers, who tell me that PECI is their very favourite school to sub in within the district. One friend actually felt "unsafe" in a school in Belleville (supposedly one of the best). We learned last night that PECI has the largest library holdings in Prince-Edward Hastings; that there is more scholarship money available to graduating students here than in any other area school as well. Kev spoke at length with the principal, who upon hearing his name, responded with "OH! So you're Kevin Stenhouse! It's good to meet you; I've been praying for you. I'm a UCB listener." Ken also informed him that the reason he took over as principal two years ago was the incredible community support and relationships that the high school has with business, industry. He said EVERY DAY there would be a phone call from a local business owner, offering finances, words of encouragement, or jobs for students.

I love that Alison already knows a significant number of the students; through 4H, church, and theatre, she has friends through Grade 12. I love that one of her 4H leaders works at the high school; that one of our church friends is a special resource teacher there and also subs in the library, and that the music teacher is one of Kev's good friends from County Theatre Group. I love that her old junior youth pastor is now the Campus Life staff for PECI and is very involved with the students, and I love that he has a Bible study on site for the teachers and has great attendance. I love that 25% of the teachers are "county kids" themselves, who come back to invest in the community that they grew up in. As well, the staff are YOUNG and very energetic and inspired ... I've heard that since Ken has taken over there has been a real turn-around in morale and vision, and I was privy to that last night.

And the proud mama in me (blush) loves that Alison is already on the radar; the high school visited Sophiasburgh last week, and Ken informed Kevin last night that he came back to the school already having identified Alison as a good candidate for the Ventures program in Grade 9/10. This is a goal Alison has; she has a lot of work to do to get her portfolio prepared to submit on March 25th. Apparently there is quite the competition to get in. In the Ventures program, the kids have the same class for 5 subjects, only taking physed, french and an option with the regular stream. By grade 11 they are set to take AP English and other subjects. They also take strings and can become members of the string ensemble, which is a huge plus for Alison who has been taking clarinet only as filler for grade 8 :-).

It is a shame that a lot of the "good" kids get funneled off to Belleville, but the buck stops here. I've already joined parent council, and we're looking forward to some significant family involvement.

Eeek. Must leave to take Alison to work. Not dressed. Oops.