Hillcrest School opened in a different form earlier this month.
The new Wabanaki School opened in September for grades 6 to 8 students, and Bessborough was converted to Kindergarten to grade 5.
Students were integrated into those facilities, while Hillcrest School on Parlee Drive has now been turned into an Alternative Learning Centre.
“Previously, we had a great program called the TESS program located at Edith Cavell school. But with the growth we’re seeing downtown, we needed space,” says Anglophone East School District Superintendent Randy MacLEAN.
He adds that a committee made up of principals, staff and consultants started to work on this over a year ago, to figure out what alternative learning could look like in the District.
“Some of the great work we were doing at the previous site comes with it, but we are looking at students who leave school, and how to repatriate them back into school. How do we work with our parents who choose to homeschool their students? How do we provide service and support to them? Also, for students who are medically fragile and can’t enter school, how do we support students, and what does that look like? We’re looking at some really, really interesting pieces,” MacLEAN adds.
MacLEAN says they are broadening the services and opportunities.
“As we grow, we’re seeing greater needs for different things. This city and the region have changed over time. With that, we need to evolve as a school district.”
Currently, the Alternative Learning Centre is for students in grades 9 to 12, but MacLEAN expects it will expand over time.
“We’re going to take a success-based approach, and we will expand as we move forward,” MacLEAN adds.
