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It Takes a Village…

A new postcard campaign has been launched and we encourage you to pick up one of these beautiful cards to send off to Minister Zach Churchill and/or others you feel should be a part of the solution.

We are still waiting on the result of the Judicial Review – regardless of the outcome, we need the Minister to know how important the local school is to our community. Tell him what it means to you as a community member, parent, business owner, student and/or visitor. Ask him how he will support your community. It doesn’t have to be a perfectly written note, just share what is important to you!

Postcards can be found at any of our supportive local establishments:

LaHave Bakery 

The Ploughman’s Lunch

West Dublin Saturday Market

Petite Riviere General Store

Fancy Pants Cafe

As a reminder, we also have a limited number of lawn signs available at the General Store for $10. You can find the yellow stickers there too.

Most of the postcards have labels for conveniently sending off to the Minister of Education.

And…as always,

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Call to Action!

As we enter into week 3 of waiting to hear the news of the Judicial Review, you may be wondering how you can continue to support Petite for the Future. We want you to know that while the ruling may not be black and white, our plan of action is crystal clear.

The Judicial Review is only one part of our Action Plan.  This is where you come in!

We urge you to share your feelings with the Minister of Education, Zac Churchill, so that he may have a better understanding of the value this school has in our community. Keep your eye out for a new postcard campaign that allows you to send your thoughts directly to the Minister.

Speak with and write to members of the SSRSB, sharing the value a school like Petite has on students.

Continue to attend SSRSB meetings. There is a board meeting this Wednesday, September 27th at 6:30 pm at Parkview Education Centre. Show your support by wearing your I love Petite shirt, a button, sticker or sign!

Put a Save Petite School sign on your lawn or a bumper sticker on your vehicle.

Write a letter to the editor – Lighthouse Now, The Chronicle Herald, etc.

We thank you endlessly for all the support you have shown!

#HoldFast

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Outpouring of support for GPACA!

Huge thanks to the Petite Riviere volunteer fire department for hosting the meeting & the Ladies Auxilary and community volunteers for providing refreshments.

The Greater Petite Area Community Association (GPACA) held their founding meeting on May 4th, welcoming close to 75 community members, to share information & updates, build membership and provide an opportunity to learn more ways to get involved in the community.

GPACA Chair, Stacey Godsoe, sharing updates with the community.

There was a buzz of optimism and positivity as people signed up to becomes GPACA members, purchase lawn signs and write postcards to politicians all in support of the Petite for the Future campaign.

Supportive community members signing up for a GPACA membership!

If you would like to become a member of the GPACA, please just send an email to petiteforthefuture at gmail dot com or connect directly with a GPACA board member.

Members will receive advanced notice of fundraising concerts & other special events. GPACA requests only your contact information and your support of the mission to support educational, cultural and community development initiatives in the Greater Petite Area.

We are so grateful for all the volunteers who offered to help out – Folks were signing up for tasks left & right!

Thank you!

This community is filled to the brim with incredible volunteers!

 

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Sample letter to the Minister of Education

Feel free to draw on this letter for facts / inspiration. Include your own personal story (a great place would be after the 1st paragraph) for why the school is important to you, your children, your community, your business, etc.

THANK YOU to Margaret from Petite, who volunteered to write this template letter!

Dear Minister Casey (CC. MLA Mark Furey),

I am a proud supporter of the vibrant community of Petite Riviere. I am writing to express my concern over the South Shore Regional School Board’s decision to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools. I am extremely dissatisfied with the way this decision has been handled by the Board, especially in recent months, and in particular with the events that unfolded at the meeting on February 22nd, 2017.

Schools are the heart of our communities. They influence where families choose to live and serve as vital community hubs. Petite Riviere is a growing community that is drawing countless young families and entrepreneurs from as far as Western Canada and outside the country. Petite is a model community for the revitalization of rural Nova Scotia. Closing our schools would represent a giant step backwards in a movement that is gaining momentum.

The board did not intend to leave these communities without a school. Their intention was to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools only when a new school was built for this thriving population. A new build has been rejected three times. Now the board is cobbling together an inadequate plan to bus 150 very young children up to two hours a day to an already overcrowded school.

A much better solution is already on the table. You have informed the board that there could be funds for an A&A if they request them. A recent report has shown that this is the best value for this community. Yet the board is failing to act in the best interests of the communities and the children.

I want to extend my appreciation to Mark Furey, our local MLA, for his dedicated support to our communities and to you, Minister Karen Casey, for providing leadership on this issue. We are working hard with the help of countless volunteers. I ask you to work with us to fix this mess and take every possible action to ensure our success.

The fact that the fate of 150+ students (and growing), their families and communities should hinge on a single legal opinion is unacceptable. The idea that this decision is beyond anyone’s control is unconvincing. This school board is paralyzed by poor leadership and poor advice. I ask that you either: repeal Regulation 20 retroactive to March 2013 so that the board feels they can rescind the original motion or direct the board to apply for an A&A and complete a new school review as required by the Act.

Countless people have invested in the community of Petite Riviere – we are only asking to keep what we have built. Please use all of your abilities to resolve this unacceptable situation.

Sincerely,

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Sample letter to SSRSB

Feel free to draw on this letter for facts / inspiration. Include your own personal story (a great place would be after the 1st paragraph) for why the school is important to you, your children, your community, your business, etc.

THANK YOU to Margaret from Petite, who volunteered to write this template letter!

Dear Chair Payzant and elected members of the South Shore Regional School Board,

I am a proud supporter of the vibrant community of Petite Riviere. I write to express my concern over the South Shore Regional School Board’s decision to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools. I am extremely dissatisfied with the way this decision has been handled by the Board, especially in recent months, and in particular with the events that unfolded on February 22nd, 2017.

Schools are the heart of our communities. They influence where families choose to live and serve as vital community hubs. Petite Riviere is a growing community that is drawing countless young families and entrepreneurs from as far as Western Canada and outside the country. This is a model community for the revitalization of rural Nova Scotia, and closing our schools would be a giant step backwards in a movement that is gaining momentum.

We don’t believe the board intended to leave these communities without a school or have four-year-olds commute two hours on a bus every day to a large, overcrowded school. The intention was to close Petite Riviere and Pentz Elementary Schools only when a new school was secured for this thriving community. A new build was rejected by the Minister three times.

Fortunately, we already have a wonderful school with incredible people behind it. The Minister has offered money for an A&A. A recent report has shown that this is the best value for this community. The solution is on the table. Request funds for an A&A. It is up to you to take action and do the right thing for the community and the children.

That the fate of 150+ students (and growing) and an entire community should hinge on a single legal opinion is unacceptable. The idea that this decision is beyond anyone’s control is unconvincing. You can rescind the original motion. Our community has secured a different legal opinion. It allows you to rescind the flawed motions and it directs you to fulfill a new school review to explore options. This is fair, transparent and responsible.

Sincerely,

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Petition Time!

sign-the-petition

Sign the online petition and share with your family, friends & community…near and far!

NOTE: It will direct you to sign in to change.org to complete your signature, which means you need to go to your inbox (within an hour of signing the petition) and click on the link provided. This important step will ensure your signature is added. You have the option to receive change.org emails or opt out of any further notifications from them. Thanks!