Recorder and Times - Posted September 24, 2011

Megan Burke - Q&A

Don Lewis, principal at BCI for three years, has now has taken up that title at TISS.

The Recorder and Times spoke with Lewis to about what it's like to transfer to a rival school, major upcoming TISS events including the all-Ontario track and field championships that will bring thousands of athletes to the city next spring, and how he stays connected to students.

Q. What was it like to transfer to a rival school?

A. I don't like to look at it as rivals. We can be rivals on the athletic field, but certainly not in terms of what we're trying to do - provide the best education we can for all our students.

We do have some students who are moving from one school to another, maybe between semesters or maybe spend a year at one school. It's because we offer a lot of programs that complement each other.

It's a friendly rivalry from an athletic point of view. But from an academic point of view, we try to complement what each other is doing.

Q. Do you notice a big difference between the school communities?

A. Certainly the size of it, it was one of the things that hit me when I went to work with staff on a PA day at TISS. It's almost an increased energy or something. You can feel it really coming out of the school from the staff, from the students.

Q. Did you have to get rid of a lot of red clothes in exchange for purple?

A. That's one thing I've been joking with people. I don't have too much orange and black from when I was at Seaway, but I've had to put the blue and the red from Gananoque and the red and the black from BCI at one end of the closet.

My wife was quite good in helping me pick up some purple.

Q. When the Brockville Bowl comes at Thanksgiving, who do you cheer for?

A. Obviously I'll be cheering for TISS. I've been helping out with the junior football, which is something I've done at each school I've been at. It gives me a chance to connect with the kids.

Q. How have the first month been?

A. It's been excellent, I've had a lot of things going on. Academically, I've been really impressed. I've had the chance to get into quite a few classes so far this year.

One of the things that staff had done last year to make sure that kids were in class and not wandering the halls was the Take Back the Halls project, and I've been really impressed with how that's worked making sure kids are in class and not wandering the halls.

Q. What has been occupying your time most?

A. Right now, any day could be different. It's one of the things that I like about the job -the fact that you never know what's going to happen on a given day.

The beginning of the year was just making sure we had everyone hired.

We've also started to have a meetings around the Grade 7 and 8 students coming into the Brockville schools next year.

Q. What is the general consensus for bringing in the Grade 7 and 8 classes?

A. I haven't heard any negative comments, but I'm sure I'd be naive to think everyone was 100 per cent behind it.

There will be a need for some changes, but it will be a real opportunity to get those students into the building and to me, and I honestly believe this, moving Grade 7 and 8 into the high school is to provide better academic opportunities for those students.

There's a lot of research around the adolescent learner and providing a continuum from 7-8-9 and yet we kind of split them up into two different buildings currently.

Q. Is it easy to go into a high school as the new principal?

A. There's always a transition. You get a sense of what the differences are. Having done a couple of transitions before, you know some of the things you need to remember.

For me, it's about real positive relationships with the staff and students and that's the biggest challenge I've always felt. You can prepare a little bit ahead of time, maybe with the staff, but to really get to know the students comes with time once you get in the building.

Q. What did you think when Specialist High Skills Major programs were first introduced?

A. I think they are excellent. The nature of introducing those programs is recognizing something that is a strength of a school.

It's great because it provides an opportunity for students to really specialize in those areas and get recognized. It helps them when they are moving on from high school, whether going on to work, a trade, college or university.

Q. You have a joint program with BCI, how will that work?

A. The last few years, the schools have been doing a joint musical. Beyond that, there has always been a lot of sharing of talents and partnering between the two schools.

Certain courses that are offered at one school are not offered at the other school. They just get a greater number of course offerings that they can take.

Q. You have OFSAA track and field championships coming in June. What's it like to step into your position with that major event coming?

A. It was a challenge, but an opportunity, and I think Ron Hungerford and Jack Westrate have done a really good job positioning us and getting the word out about the impact this will have, not just on the school, but on the greater Brockville community and also the opportunity it is.

It is certainly the biggest athletic event of its kind to come to Brockville, and I think it really recognizes the strength built up through the track and field program over past decades.

Q. Are you nervous for it?

A. Not really. We've got some things we're still working on. We are getting some help with the board and there's fundraising going on to make sure we will get everything in place we want for it.

One of the challenges, given that you may have upwards of a few thousand people, was how are we going to look at running regular school days. St. Lawrence College has offered to help us out with running classes at the college for students that are not participating or helping out with OFSAA.