The École Banting Middle School Neighbourhood Learning Centres (NLC) is online and ready for students, parents, staff and community members to have a voice in the next École Banting Middle School.
Please start the survey here:
This Survey is open until Tuesday, January 20th, 2015 at 11:59pm.
Background Information:
The information gathered from the following survey will be used to help guide discussions around the Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) development at École Banting Middle School.
In approving the replacement school for École Banting Middle School, the Ministry of Education has committed to the inclusion of NLC space within the building. The idea is to find unique and innovative ways to design schools with community use in mind. Schools with a NLC component could include services such as: enhanced curricular spaces, Programs and Clubs for parents and children, Sports and Recreation Programs, Cultural Programs, or Family Resources Centres, to name a few examples. The intent behind this initiative is for school and community organizations to partner together to create opportunities where people can access educational and community services under one roof.
There are many possibilities for the NLC space at École Banting Middle School. Some specific examples that have been included throughout the province for both school and community use are: enlarged curriculum spaces for classroom and community learning, enhanced gym facilities, community offices and meeting spaces, theatres and improved band facilities for both the school and community, medical facilities, and community kitchens.
Within our District, the NLC space at École Pitt River Middle School was used for increased space in the gym, library, multipurpose room, and explorations rooms to improve the program for students and allow the rooms to be used in the evening by the community. There is also an Aboriginal Reception Centre and a Sports Alliance (including offices and classroom space) to support services for our district students and community. Eagle Mountain Middle has included enhancements to curricular spaces as well as a daycare. Moody Middle will have enhancements to curricular project spaces and additional arts spaces. James Park Elementary has offices for Fraser Health, classrooms for early literacy initiatives and family support programming. These are just some examples of opportunities to include NLC space in a school.
In building the school, the Ministry of Education would provide the funding for the extra space to host these other services. To gain a better understanding of community needs, we are circulating this survey with École Banting Middle School staff, families, and community members to determine how best to bring together community services and the school community.
The following website offers more detailed information from the Ministry of Education.