The Family Was Confused When The Youngest Child Said He Could Not Go To The Same School As His Siblings

Middlesex Center parent Mike Engelhardt and his family found out the hard way.
“We were a little dumb,” Engelhardt said.  “You would think that keeping five brothers together in one school would make the most sense.”
He told CTV News that the family was upset when they learned that the youngest, four-year-old Dylan, could not attend Louise Arbor French Immersion School when he entered kindergarten in September – even though all four older siblings are already attending.
Instead, he should go to the Wilberforce Elementary in Lucan, Ont.  The two schools are located in opposite directions, at a distance of 27 km.
Four-year-old Dylan Engelhardt.  Mike Engelhardt’s father is upset when he is told that his youngest child could not attend the same French immersion school as his four older children.  (Source: Mike Englehardt) Worried about his logistics having to travel back and forth, but most importantly Dylan’s emotional well-being.
“Dylan has been a product of COVID, these lockdowns for the last two years, so she will not benefit from these relationships, as a result of having to go to a different school.”
It is a lesson of frustration for some families who do not know that the school board does not guarantee entry into French diving for children with siblings already attending.
The school board said those applying before the February deadline are selected at random.
Those who do not win the so-called lottery are put on a waiting list.
TVDSB Deputy Human Rights and Adviser Andrea Marlowe said they were trying to make access fair to all.
“We have to have a fair process and we have to make sure that each of our students has the opportunity to attend a program that we offer in French immersion schools or in any environment,” Marlowe said.
As for the Engelhardt family, they have contacted the school ombudsman and their case is pending.