David Thompson Catchment

I am not able to attend the meeting tonight but I am so excited for this. We do have one area of concern. We live at the corner of Orcrest and Westsyde road and the big trucks and traffic are barreling through there worse than ever before. You will even notice a cross on the telephone pole adjacent to our home where someone on a motorcycle at extreme speed lost control and crashed into the pole killing him instantly.

I worry about the number of children that would be around that area and the increase in traffic with parent, daycare and school bus drop off. Our suggestion is a flashing light be installed at the corner of Harrington and Westsyde or some sort of speed bump to slow traffic coming from the 2 lane to the 4 lane roadway. I realize a roundabout would probably not be suitable with the large trucks but if it could work would be our first suggestions.

I realize that the roadway from Harrington on would have to become a school zone but I am very very concerned around the children’s safety.

Hey friends,

Great work on getting Westsyde Elementary back up and running. 

I love the changes that the new school trustees have always made.  Do not be like the last group that set Kamloops Schools back 40 years.   They failed this town.

Any support you need on getting this moving – give me a call.

You are going to probably receive emails from some Westyde people suggesting that Westyde become middle school. Please do not consider that an idea... it is nice for Westyde to have a good school in our neighbourhood... so please disregard emails asking to change what is a good school 
Thank you
Concerned Westyde citizen

Danica C. 

Sheila M.

I believe that sd73 should consider opening Westsyde Elementary as a K-3 school, and having David Thompson 4-7
This would save doubling up on resources, and allow a better use of space.
As well, one principal could oversee both, and each could have a vice principal. 
Since the schools are so close together, this would not cause parents undue hardship and maybe even encourage older students within close proximity to ride or walk.

Hello, my name is Sarah. Our family moved up from the coast in Sept 2005. Our oldest daughter had the privilege of attending David Thompson elementary for her grade 4-7 years. I can tell you that she benefited from attending DT. Our family experienced a health crisis when she was in grade 6. I can without a doubt tell you that had she not received the support from her teacher, she more than likely would have had an extremely difficult year and subsequent school years. Our middle daughter had similar experiences at DT. Our family yet again experienced traumatic health experiences. She had the support of her teachers and school staff as these health issues continued for our family during her entire time at DT. She was shown compassion, love and support. Our whole family was. Finally our youngest daughter, who had been experiencing the chronic health issues, began kindergarten. Because of her medical treatments, she began school visually & hearing impaired and later on suffered from chronic fatigue. Despite all of these impairments, she continued to thrive, in thanks to the amazing staff and the support our whole family received. David Thompson elementary is more than a school. It's more than just a place of learning. It's a beautiful community, that supports the students and their families. It is a family. Sadly our youngest daughter passed away May 31 2015 while in grade 2. It was a shock to the entire school. The students and staff grieved the loss. They supported each other at such a difficult time. 

I attended the information session on Jan 30 2019 and I am in full support of the decision to re-open the elementary school.

Sherrly D.

I have a student at David Thompson who will be going into gr. 7 next year.  If Westsyde is re-opened, she would have to switch schools this fall, and then switch again for grade 8 the following year.  I think this is too much change.  It would be preferable to let gr. 6 students finish their last year at David Thompson for their gr. 7 year rather than making them move twice.  Please give some consideration to having an option for these students finish elementary school at DT.  Thank you.

Yes, but subject to district policy.
Policy 300.1 School Boundaries and Transfer Requests.
(from the policy) 4. Application for Transfer Requests a) Each year students and parents will be given notice that commencing on March 1st of each year they may request transfer to another school for the coming school year. Such notice shall be publicized in school newsletters and on the School District 73 website.

There is a designated area for student pick-up and drop-off at the front of the school. There is also ample drop off area off of Sage Drive, which is adjacent to the field at the rear of the school. We din't foresee this area to be a conjested as of the 175 students projected to attend Westsyde Elementary next year, 67 will come in on the bus, and the majority of the others are within walking distance, so we expect more children will be walking to school that being dropped off. 

Will the speed limit on Westsyde Road in front of the school be lowered and become a school zone?

We are working with the City of Kamloops Engineering department to reinstate the school zone speed limit for the area. We expect to have an answer by March 11.

Will there be consideration for another crosswalk north of Sicamore across Westsyde Road.?  

We are discussing the need for an additional crosswalk with the City of Kamloops Engineering department.   We expect to have an answer by March 11. 

This option is being given careful consideration. No decision has been made at this time

The parking lot is not fenced at Westsyde Elementary, but the playfields are fenced from the parking lot. Students will not be permitted to play outside the fenced play area. 

Is there any consideration given to the possibility of doing things as one school? For example, sports teams. 

No details regarding joint activities between the schools have been worked out at this time, but specific arrangements can be made as needed.  

Will the strings program be offered at Westsyde?

The School of the Arts has been made aware of the request and they will follow up with the strings teacher to see about availability. 

Can the school bus pick up time in the morning be later so children are not at the school 20 minutes before the doors open especially on Westsyde Rd.? 

Bus scheduled are synchronized across the district leaving us unable to drop students off later at their schools. The play area where children will gather before school opens is fenced. 

Although we live in the catchment area our child is currently enrolled in a school outside of the catchment. What is the process if we  want them to attend Westsyde elementary? 

For students who live in the Westsyde Elementary catchment area and would like to attend Westsyde Elementary next year, please register at DT as soon as possible  so we can add them to the school numbers for organizational purposes.