A new alternative school on the South Shore of Montreal

Delson - For the start of the school year, enthusiasm was palpable among the students of Les Cheminots school in Delson. This year, this school on the South Shore of Montreal is turning into an alternative public school. " It's a dream for me! »Exclaims Monique Fournier, the director of the Cheminots.

“The teachers and the parents of the students created this school for a common interest, that of the education of their children. Our goal is to promote the same values in the classroom as at home and to enhance the learning pace of each child, considering the parent as a co-educator, ”explains the five-year-old. years principal of another alternative school.

The concept of Les Cheminots school is to offer several choices of tasks to the students. All these activities have a pedagogical intention and the learner selects those he wants to perform.

“You need a lot of structure to allow this organization in the classroom,” explains Monique Fournier. For example, the teacher promotes work in sub-groups and helps the child to build his autonomy. Sometimes the whole class participates in the same workshop; sometimes it's one by one, depending on the child's abilities and pace. "

Therefore, the student must take ownership of his learning and in doing so, he develops his motivation for his school career, she adds.

Parents' initiative
The idea of an alternative school in the neighborhood was born from the desire, on the part of a parents' committee of the school board, to get involved in the school life of their children. This is the case of Sophia Plante, whose daughter Malyah is entering her 2nd year at the Cheminots.

“I heard about the project in the regional newspaper,” she says. My daughter is shy; my partner and I thought that an alternative school could help it develop. We attended the information meetings and the selection of parents, which was done on the basis of their motivation. "

In fact, this school does not make any selection in relation to schoolchildren - the specialized services offered there are moreover the same as for other public schools. The school asks parents to devote at least three hours per month to volunteer work for the school.

Sophia Plante is already looking forward: "I want to get involved at the communications committee level, and my partner is already preparing workshops for Malyah's class!" "

Parents are present
It is this presence of the parent in the school environment that motivated Pierre Ragot to enroll his two sons in the alternative school. “My wife and I wanted our children to attend a school that values their unique identity, where they can move as they need to and we wanted to give more for their education. I hope to offer theater workshops in the classroom and thus spend time with my boys, ”he describes.

The objective of the new alternative school for this first year: to develop the strengths of each child, and to build his education on these successes. “Our school is a plus for the public system,” says Monique Fournier. We are fortunate to be able to offer this variety in the region. "

For its first start, the alternative school Les Cheminots has 150 students, ie its maximum capacity, divided between kindergarten and 4th year, including a few multi-age classes.

“I tip my hat to the parents who gave birth to this project,” concludes the director of the establishment. Children, parents and teachers have confidence in this school. "

See photos of the new school on Facebook!

To find out more read this article by Cybepresse

In addition:
www.repaq.qc.ca: the official site of the Network of Alternative Public Schools in Quebec, which explains its mission to parents, students and teachers.

By Viviane de Repentigny