Ecole Mill Bay 'clearly working'
Cowichan Valley Citizen
February 8, 2008
Letter: Shari & Russ Cronk, Shawnigan Lake

Dear Editor:

We are parents of a student of Ecole Mill Bay. Some of the main reasons we chose to send our child to this particular school is that it is a single track French Immersion school, it has an on-site daycare for its students …

It seems more than unfair now that the school board is proposing to close Ecole Mill Bay and cram our students into another elementary school. If they ask any parent of Ecole Mill Bay, the program is clearly working so well for so many families to have their child attend an amazing single track French immersion program, run by dedicated teachers and staff; and the saftey and security of an on-site daycare for those families who must work.

In this area where daycares and vacancies for children in daycares are at an all-time low, if next to impossible to find, we are more than angry and frustrated to hear that, due to the possible closure of Ecole Mill Bay, we would also lose our in-house Among Friends Daycare as well. We have heard that if Ecole Mill Bay closes and is moved to another school such as Cobble Hill Elementary, which is already over capacity, they will also lose their daycare just to squeeze in our students, whose enrolment numbers are growing each year! How can this be fair to both schools as well as all of the kids and families who depend on them each day?

If there is no daycare available for students, how can parents continue to work, purchase property and develop the south Cowichan Valley?

Obviously, when opening a new school and facility, the school board must have known that it would take a few years to develop and grow to reach its full potential. There are more and more families moving to this area who are in need of quality schooling and daycare. We urge you to please support our students and families of Ecole Mill Bay and Among Friends School Care.