QECVI

This will be the last year for students at Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

The Limestone District School Board has confirmed it will be closed and demolished starting this summer to make way for its new intermediate and high school.

School Board chair David Jackson confirmed the plans after city council rejected reconsidering the Memorial Centre site.

Jackson says many people preferred the Memorial Centre for its location – but it would have been a much more challenging site to develop.

Jackson says the QECVI property is a better location because of its size.

It is also owned by the board and is already zoned for a school.

Student Scores

Less than half of the students in grade six in Kingston schools are at or above the provincial standard for math…and results of the provinces annual assessment show their scores have steadily declined over the past three years.

The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board says it is a problem right across the province and improving the results is a priority.

Data from the Education Quality and Accountability office shows improvements in the scores for reading and writing in grade six for both the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and Limestone District School Board…but…only 48% of catholic students and 47% of public school students are at or above provincial standards in for math in grade six.

www.eqao.com

Assault – Standoff

Kingston Police executed a search warrant at a home in Kingston’s west end yesterday following a standoff with a man in the home on Tuesday.

Police arrested a man following a three hour standoff on Vanguard Court that started when a woman suffered serious injuries.

A 22 year old man appeared in court yesterday charged with two counts of assault, uttering threats, assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

Police say more charges may be laid.

The man was remanded to the Quinte Detention Centre and will appear in court by a video link today.

Beer Sales

Beer sales are coming to 60 select grocery stores in Ontario.  Thirteen stores in eastern Ontario will be allowed to sell suds.  The locations of those stores won’t be announced until they’re approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

Grocery stores that can apply to sell beer in Kingston are Farm Boy, Loblaws, Metro and Walmart.

Operation Red Nose

Kingston’s Operation Red Nose is returning after a year off.  Organizers announced yesterday it will start providing rides to people on November 27th.

Organizers hope to provide 500 rides over nine nights through to New Year’s Eve and they are looking for 275 volunteers.

www.kingston.org/rednose