Ted Spear, head of Island Pacific School (IPS), says he is excited about the number of applications for the incoming Grade 7s but he's also cautious. "We currently have 18 students registered in Grade 7, with a waiting list of about six to eight," he said. "rather than increasing the Grade 7 class beyond 18 students or creating split classes, the IPS board is considering to create two sections of Grade 7 that will likely have 12 to 14 students each."
But having a double Grade 7 cohort will result in increased staffing and operational costs, says Spear. To him, the emphasis is on "making sure it can be done right." And that not only requires a cost analysis but also looking at school culture. He says, "A double block of Grade 7s would bring lots of extra energy and that is great but it has to happen in the context in what we are trying to do. We have a nice small school that works well and we want to retain that," he says. Since Spear opened the school in 1995, this is the second time he has encountered enrollment numbers like this. In the previous situation, the board opted not to proceed with a second class but this year, Spear is more optimistic.
"We are always conservative in our projections and that has worked well," he says. "But people are banging on the door. On the one hand, I'd say, 'Let's go for it.' On the other hand, I'd like to see how we can pull it off."
Accepting all the students would mean committing to run the double cohort for three years. "We have to look at the impact on the school and school excursions. Currently we have Grade 6 and 7 participate together in a SALTS [Sailing and Life Training Society] trip where they learn to sail a tall ship, we'd have to re-think that. And we only have five teaching spaces."
As the classroom space would be maxed out, there can be no additional double cohorts. For students entering Grade 6, that would mean that they have to sign up early because the classes are capped at 18 students.
Spear says that this surge of interest has something to do with the programs IPS offers: the excursions, the Duke of Edinburgh's award program and the International Baccalaurete program. But what it mostly boils down to is academic engagement. "Middle school can be a waste of time," Spear says. "Or it can set kids up for their lives."
Tiffany Howard, head of the North Star Montessori School in North Vancouver, has visited the school and has been impressed with the school culture. "I witnessed older students help the younger ones. I saw them take responsibility for themselves and their actions, for instance tidying up after themselves," she recalled. "What resonated with me was the belonging to a collaborative and cohesive learning community very much like ours." Howard says that the fact that IPS is a middle school also appeals to her and to North Star Montessori parents.
"I found IPS to be warm and welcoming and our students who visited had a great experience and came back inspired," she said. North Star Montessori is an elementary school and students graduate in Grade 6. A few of this year's graduates are on the waiting list to enter Grade 7 at IPS.
Spear said that the families are waiting to hear back about the Grade 7s. The IPS board has set a deadline of April 27 for applications and will consider the viability of an additional class at that time. One student's family is considering moving to Bowen from Pender Harbour if the second class goes ahead. "The 27th is coming up fast," Spear says. "It's only nine days away." He adds that if the minimum number of students is there, additional spaces might open up.
