The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is asking residents to help choose names for three new elementary schools.
A new Alcona school will be located at 1206 Corm Street, while an Orillia school is being built at 3001 Bass Lake Sideroad East. A third school will be located at 210 Dean Avenue in south Barrie.
The SCDSB says a school’s identity is an important source of community pride and contributes to a positive school culture. The identity also influences the school’s branding, logo, and mascot.
Residents submitting name suggestions are encouraged to consider the environmental setting, geographic history, and diversity of each school community.
For the Alcona school, the board highlights the area’s ecological significance, including its lakeshore environment, wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife habitats. Lake Simcoe is also an important stopover point for migrating birds, including the common loon.
In Orillia, the new school is being built in the West Ridge community, an area recognized for its forests, wetlands, waterways, and rolling landscape. Located between Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching, the area maintains a strong connection to the water that has shaped Orillia’s history and identity.
Meanwhile, the south Barrie school is situated within the Hewitt’s Creek corridor, a natural feature connected to the Lake Simcoe drainage system. Despite significant urban growth, the creek and surrounding natural heritage features continue to provide wildlife habitat, support water quality and contribute to the area’s ecological character.
Residents can submit name suggestions for each school through the respective online forms:
The submission deadline for all three schools is November 27th.
The School Naming Committees will review the suggestions and include parents and guardians, students, SCDSB representatives, a member of the respective municipal council, and a community member.
The names of the three schools will be announced following approval from the Ministry of Education.
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