METROVANCOUVER // GET THE SCOOP ON DAYCARES AND SCHOOLS

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Maggie:

I'm trying to decide on an elementary school to send my son to in the Hastings Sunrise area. I have lots of schools to choose from but each seem to have its pros and cons. There's the large Hastings Community Elementary that offers French Immersion, then theres AR Lord, the smaller Garibaldi Annex, Matthew Begbie, Lord Kitchener, Sir Franklin and Our Lady of Sorrows which is a Catholic run school. Does anyone have kids that go to any of these schools that can share their experiences?

 5 REPLIES [ Login or register to post comments ] 12.05.10 5.12PM
Christine:

Our child goes to Garibaldi and I can highly recommend it. There is a very strong sense of community among the parents, including a very active PAC, which has meant all the difference for this school. As an example, last year, the parents pulled together and built a new playground for the school. Just this past weekend, we had a very successful fundraiser that was well attended by parents and supportive neighbours in the area.

I especially love that the kids all play together - and it doesn't matter what grade you're in. My child knows all the kids in the other grades, which makes for a very connected neighbourhood. Overall, I can't say enough about this school.

 [ ] 12.05.10 11.19PM
galatsea:

I worked at Garibaldi for a year during the time when they were planning on closing it down. I agree with the person above, it is a close knit, intimate community. The staff were also great then, but I know that all the staff I worked with have now moved on. The only thing I would say is that the school was at the bottom of the list of schools to be seismically upgraded and that it was in the papers again recently with a threatened closure. A shame, it is a very happy place.

 [ ] 12.06.10 3.38PM
adminkyc:

The most recent news is that there will be no Vancouver school closures considered until at least March 2012

 [ ] 12.06.10 10.18PM
adminkyc:

http://theshortylist.ca/elementary-school/dr-r-lord-elementary Check out posting on AR Lord here.

 [ ] 12.14.10 10.24PM
Elaine:

My daughter goes to Franklin and we love it there. It's a small school where everyone knows each other, and the principal is fabulous, as are the teachers we've encountered so far. They really create a sense of community at this school with after school classes, community events, and integration among the older and younger children. We had contemplated French Immersion at Hastings, but after earning a spot in the lottery, decided on our neighbourhood school. Franklin has a new Intensive French program that starts in grade 6; I'm looking forward to putting my kids in it when they are old enough.

 [ ] 01.08.11 5.58PM