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Zone 1 South Schools:

Rideau Valley Middle School

 
Box 100, 6680 Dorack Drive, Kars  K0A 2E0
Telephone (613) 489-2024        Fax (613) 489-4254
Principal Roger Lee; Vice-Principal Denise Gagnon-Lebrun
Morning start time 8:15 a.m.; afternoon dismissal 2:40 p.m.
Regular English Program 6-8; Early French Immersion 6-8; Late French Immersion 7-8
Rideau Valley M.S. school website: http://www.rideauvalleyms.ocdsb.ca/
  6-8 Regular English program Boundary Map.
  6-8 Early French Immersion Boundary Map.
  Gr. 6 Middle French Immersion Boundary Map.
  7-8 Late French Immersion Boundary Map.

Located near the centre of Kars, Rideau Valley Middle School is a public elementary school offering the regular English and Early French Immersion programs for Grades 6 through 8, and the Late French Immersion program for Grades 7 to 8.  In September 2010 the Middle French Immersion program will also be offered, beginning with Grade 6.  The Rideau Valley attendance area for the English and Late French Immersion programs covers all of Rideau Township, as well as parts of Gloucester, Nepean and Osgoode adjacent to Manotick.  The attendance boundary for the Early French Immersion program includes the village of Osgoode in addition to the main attendance area.  The attendance boundary for the Middle French Immersion program covers all of Rideau Township, southwestern rural Gloucester, part of the western Osgoode area and the southeastern corner of Nepean.

Built in 1975, Rideau Valley M.S. is well equipped with specialized facilities to support programs in Grades 7 and 8.  Several years ago, a new computer lab was created adjacent to the school library.  The school supplements its extensive grounds, shared with Kars P.S., with the use of the nearby Kars Recreation Centre.  In addition to a full range of instructional programming, Rideau Valley provides a good mixture of extracurricular sports and other activities.

Rideau Valley Middle School follows a Balanced School Day schedule, in which the day is organized into three large blocks of uninterrupted instructional time, with two breaks for nutrition and recess (in late morning and early afternoon).  Schools following a Balanced School Day schedule in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board have found it provides more uninterrupted learning time for students as well as better opportunities for extracurricular activities during the two longer breaks

In January 2008, the Ministry of Education announced funding of $3 million in recognition of the fact that the on-going cost of repairing and replacing major systems and making Kars an accessible building would be more than the value of the school building.  Following extensive consultation with the Kars and Rideau Valley school communities, it was decided to build an addition to the Rideau Valley Middle School building, large enough to accommodate all the Kars Public School students.  The addition incorporates a small gymnasium as well as 8 classrooms and 5 kindergarten rooms.  At the same time, renovations are also being undertaken to the Rideau Valley library and computer lab area.  Kars Public School students and staff are expected to move into their new space at Rideau Valley in January 2011.  The existing Kars Public School building will be demolished in 2011.  Thanks to the cooperation of the Kars Recreation Association, representatives of Manotick Legion Branch 314, and city councillor Glenn Brooks, the Cenotaph that stands in front of Kars Public School will be relocated to a larger space in front of Rideau Valley Middle School associated with the bus loop off Rideau Valley Drive.  The old school bell will be moved to a suitable place near the entrance to the combined Kars and Rideau Valley school building

The 2010-2011 school year is the last year for registering students in Late French Immersion (Grade 7 entry), as the program is nearing the end of its phase-out.  Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 entry) is being phased in, beginning with Grade 6 this year.

On completion of Grade 8 at Rideau Valley Middle School, most students are directed to South Carleton High School in Richmond for Grades 9 through 12 in regular English and French Immersion programs.  Students from Osgoode are directed to Osgoode Township High School in Metcalfe, but those from the Rideau Forest area have the option of attending South Carleton High School.  Students from the southwest Gloucester area have the option of attending either South Carleton High School or Merivale High School.  Special education students who have been identified as gifted may choose to attend the secondary gifted centre at Bell High School in Bells Corners.  Students may also apply to attend a specialized program such as a vocational program (Sir Guy Carleton S.S.), a fine arts program (Canterbury H.S.), or an International Baccalaureate program (Colonel By H.S.).

Page last modified 16 August 2010
Copyright © 1996-2011 Lynn Scott