District preparing for student lunch program expansion, provides update on Carleton North school
As parents and students gear up for a new school year, work continues to advance the Anglophone School District-West.
Developments such as the expanded school lunch program are being introduced to schools this fall.
“New this school year, there will be a provincial school lunch program available in every school in the province,” began Superintendent of Anglophone School District West (ASD-W) David McTimoney.
“Basically, it allows for lunch to be purchased at a subsidized cost, … $5 for Grades 9 to 12 and a cost of $4 for Grades K to 8,” McTimoney told the River Valley Sun in August.
The best part of the new program, according to McTimoney, is that if students and their families are experiencing financial hardship, then lunches can be fully subsidized.
“It’s a great investment in the health and well-being of our students… knowing that if students were hungry, that could impact learning, so it’s a really good investment,” said McTimoney.
The program aligns with recent statements by MP Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, who said that having access to nutritious foods in schools not only improves students’ health but also lays the foundation for their success.
School food programs can boost our children’s physical and mental well-being and serve as a launchpad for them to soar to their greatest heights.
“I’m excited to see how it will roll out, and I know that it’s something that will be watched carefully, and I believe [is] a real nice benefit for a family,” added McTimoney
The superintendent also commented fairly extensively on the new K-8 school to be built in Carleton North.
The school, which is set to replace Bath Community School, Florenceville Middle School, Florenceville Elementary School, and Bristol Elementary School, was last projected to open in Sept. 2030, according to a statement earlier this year from provincial Minister of Education and Early Childhood Claire Johnson.
“At the earliest [the school] would open in September 2029,” said McTimoney when asked if he had any comments concerning the project.
He did, however, state that there was a possibility of a delay.
The last thing McTimoney thought those in ASD-W should keep in mind for the upcoming year is the continued calendar changes in Carleton North.
“This will be the second year of the school calendar pilot for the six schools in the Carleton North catchment area.” said McTimoney.
The calendar is part of a larger provincial pilot that gives teachers additional personal development days and assesses whether that time translates into improved instruction, learning, and student achievement.
“So far, we are feeling good about it so far in hearing from the staff. They are certainly making good use of that time. However, it’s still a little early through examination [of] data with just one year behind us,” concluded McTimoney.
He concluded his remarks by asking people to be patient as bus routes are sorted out and teachers and students settle into school, and by saying he feels optimistic about the upcoming year.
