New Westminster School district is moving ahead with discussions on how to proceed with the May Day ceremony, with plans to connect with the city early in the coming school year.
Superintendent Karim Hachlaf presented a report on May Day 2018 at a committe meeting Tuesday, with costs and the effect on New Westminster schools, including instructional time.
The total costs, including Royal Suite expenses, staff hours, transportation and more came to $26,690.
His recommendation is that dance lessons for the Grade 3s and 4s take place during extra-curricular hours and not during school time, while the schools continue to hold May Day assemblies and students attend the event in Queen’s Park.
“As for the actual May Day ceremony at Queen’s Park, I believe we need to continue with our collaborative efforts for the 2018/19 school year,” he states in his report.
Trustee Kelly Slade-Kerr had questions about the next step in the process of making a decision, speaking with the city. Hachlaf responded that the district has connected with the city and is planning to set up a meeting between the board and council.
Teachers are not given enough resources or information to teach children about the event, according to Trustee Mary Lalji.
“It’s a history lesson, is what it is, right here in our own city,” she said, adding it is a 150-year tradition.
Parents were on hand as well to give their opinion on how any May Day changes should be handled. One parent related a negative experience with the dancing lessons held during instructional time.
Mona Boucher’s daughter was in a Grade 3/Grade 4 split classroom, with dance instruction taking place at different times for each grade.
“How her particular teacher has addressed this has been that the Grade 3s would be sent to a different classroom to do quiet written work while the grade 4 class was dancing, Boucher said, explaining her daughter has a learning disability. “My daughter had no access to her computer or things during that time.”
During the eight-week period, Boucher’s daughter would be sent home with sheet work from this instructional time, because she did not have the resources to complete them at school.
