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New K-5 school brings catchment changes to district

South Yorkson area elementary school to open next fall

When the new South Yorkson K-5 elementary school opens in the fall of 2013, it won’t be full, said Langley School District assistant superintendent Gord Stewart at last Tuesday’s board meeting.

“We were mindful when choosing South Yorkson because of the amount of building permits in the area,” said Stewart in a presentation about the new school’s catchment area. The downside is to the southeast of the school is farmland so there is no draw of potential new students from that area.

Several condo developments are expected to go up in the area. The school will be located at 20965 77A Avenue (at 209 St.)

The chosen location of the new school has been met with some speculation as to why a new school wouldn’t be built in the busy RC Garnett Elementary area, off 200 Street, which is bursting at the seams. RC Garnett has numerous portables, and had to be reconfigured to a K-5 this year to relieve the pressure at that school.

In the meantime, Langley school board is looking for feedback on changes to school boundaries and catchment areas for Willoughby Elementary and the new school. The change would affect only the eastern boundary of Willoughby Elementary.

The changes will put 30 RC Garnett and 30 Langley Meadows students in the new school catchment area.

Those students are able to stay at their schools if they like, or move to the new school, said Stewart. The public is asked to provide feedback at seyorksonfeedback@sd35.bc.ca. The board will consider the proposed catchment boundaries at its Nov. 27 meeting.

New School

Needs A Name

The Langley School District is now accepting submissions from the public for the name of the new school. Names should reflect the geographical area or names of prominent persons, including deceased persons. Deadline for submissions is Oct. 29 and can be sent to the school board office. The website address to submit a naming form is http://www.sd35.bc.ca/Pages/news.aspx?IID=288. Submissions may also be faxed to 604-532-1401 or sent to Laurie Mason at the following e-mail address: lmason@sd35.bc.ca.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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