New school will have its building in SouthFields Village

August 2, 2017 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
A new school year started Monday at Caledon’s newest school.
And even though it’s in the middle of summer, there were very few long faces.
The new Tony Pontes Public School is slated to go in SouthFields Village in Caledon, but until the actual building is ready, some 250 students and 28 staff are being accommodated in the new Countryside Village Public School in north Brampton (in the area of Dixie and Mayfield Roads).
Tony Pontes, after whom the new school has been named, is the retiring director of education for the Peel District School Board, and he was on hand for Monday’s inaugural assembly, along with his successor Peter Joshua.
“It’s weird saying ‘Tony Pontes Public School,’” he told the students at the assembly. “I’m so honoured to be here with you today.”
“I’m incredibly proud and humbled that the board would name a school after me,” he commented before the assembly, adding he found out about it at his retirement party. “My mom was in tears.”
Although the new school has opened in the temporary facility, Trustee Stan Cameron, Caledon’s representative on the school board, said construction on the new building in town is slated to begin soon. A minor variance was needed, and that was approved by Caledon’s Committee of Adjustment about two weeks ago. He said they have to go through a 20-day waiting period, and then “we will have shovels in the ground.”
“A year from now, we will be at the new building,” he declared, adding it has to be ready for next Aug. 1, “and it will be.”
The new school is following a balanced school year calendar, meaning the school year starts in August.
Principal Sheryl Johnston said there was an open house in June, so parents and families could get a feel for the new facility the students would be attending.
And while it’s in the middle of the traditional summer break from school, few of the students seemed to mind very much. They, along with staff and guests, were decked out Monday in bright red T-shirts.
One girl commented she was glad to get the task of getting back into school over with.
“I feel happy, so I’m not bored at home,” another said, while others were happy to be reunited with their friends.
Johnston said this is the third school in the board that adopting this calendar.
Cameron added the growth in SouthFields Village was the inspiration for looking at this different model. He said it will be beneficial to some of the students, such as those who are learning English as a second language. They won’t have their instruction in English interrupted by a two-month break.
Johnston added it will make the transition back to school life easier because they will not have been away from it too long, so they won’t have forgotten how to go to school.
She added there will be an opt-out school, should parents prefer the more traditional calendar. Cameron said it will be James Grieve Public School on Bramalea Road.
While students at Tony Pontes will be getting a five-week jump on their counterparts at other schools, they will also be getting extra breaks in the academic year. Everyone’s school year will end at the same time in June.
“We talk of it as paying forward,” Johnston commented, observing there will be a two-week break in October, an extra week off early in January, another week off heading into Family Day weekend in February and March break will be two weeks in length.
The new school already has a mascot — a wolf; and they will be known as the Wolf Pack. They also have a new school cheer: “Wolf Pack — Got your back!”
Johnston said the two schools will be sharing the same building, although staff and students from each will have their own space to occupy. She also said the two facilities will be getting together to jointly take part in certain events, like Terry Fox runs and Remembrance Day services.
She added a lot of the early efforts will be aimed at building a school community, and a “sense of belonging.”
Johnston was also impressed with the staff that have been assembled for the new school.
“The staff is amazing,” she declared. “They’ve been amazing from the beginning.”

Principal Sheryl Johnston welcomed everyone to the first day of Tony Pontes Public School.

Tony Pontes (second from left) was on hand Monday for the first assembly at the school named after him, joined by Peel District School Board Vice-Chair Suzanne Nurse, new Director of Education Peter Joshua, Trustee Stan Cameron and Superintendent of Schools Michael Logue.