EDUCATION. Parents of students and teachers at Marie-Rivier high school went through all kinds of emotions on Thursday. Following a letter which caused a real imbroglio, the management has rectified the situation and wishes to provide details concerning the cancellation of an additional group in its special educational program (PPP) sports-studies.
On Wednesday, January 28, several parents received a letter from the management of Marie-Rivier indicating that their child was not accepted into the sports-studies PPP, and that the school would keep “the applications of all students not retained on a waiting list in the event that places become available”.
Michael Bernier is one of many parents who were surprised and confused to hear the news. The latter contacted several regional media, including L’Expressin order to denounce what he thought was the cancellation of the sports-studies program.
Having been questioned by various media and parents, the school and the Des Chênes School Service Center sent, the next day, an erratum to the parents concerned by an additional group in Secondary 1 and 2 which was to open in the fall of 2026, specifying that an “error crept into the refusal letter” sent previously.
“This is a uniform letter template, and in this specific context, the situation did not apply. There is therefore no waiting list. We kindly ask you to accept our apologies for this confusion,” it is mentioned in it.
The erratum also specifies “that no additional group in Secondary 1 and 2 could be opened since the federations which represent the different sports-study and concentration programs have not recommended a sufficient number of athletes meeting the established sporting and academic criteria allowing the opening of this group”.
Not enough students
The director of the establishment, Julie Grisé, explained that everything stems from the idea of establishing a new group for the sports-studies program made up of secondary 1 and 2 students. “The Quebec basketball federation approached us to find out if we could open another group. We thought there would be enough demand, so we tried,” she recounts in an interview with L’Express.
Ms. Grisé specifies that it was necessary to reach the number of 28 students, the ministerial standard, to form the group. Six young people from secondary 1 and seven from secondary 2 registered and thus fulfilled the quota requested by the basketball federation. Six other students signed up for football, but other disciplines were also missing, she says.
“Basketball is a big sport, like soccer and baseball, and to fill these places in this type of group, you need lots of other small sports, and that’s what was missing. We were missing seven places and we only received three requests from parents who registered their children in other concentrations such as athletics, artistic swimming (or synchronized swimming), swimming, figure skating, table tennis, triathlon and tennis,” highlights Julie Grisé.
“It’s impossible for me, at the academic level, to create groups only with big sports because otherwise I will only have half-groups. Furthermore, I cannot take financial risks by counting on the fact that all the young people enrolled in basketball, for example, will remain in sports-studies until their secondary 5,” explains the director of the Marie-Rivier school.
The latter understands the disappointment on the part of the parents, but also of the federation, even if she does not regret her decision to have tried to open a 19e groupe.
A disappointing decision
Michael Bernier does not hide his disappointment with the high school’s decision. “I still find it very strange that they want to open a [groupe] to then close it some [mois] later”.
“We often talk about pushing our children to go to school and fighting school dropouts. This kind of program motivates young people to go to school and I find it a shame [qu’on les prive de cette opportunité]“, he maintains.
The basketball concentration coaches at Marie-Rivier, Raphaël Lessard and Carol-Ann Smith, also expressed their sadness in a letter addressed to students and parents, including L’Express was able to obtain a copy.
“This decision is very disappointing for us. Although the required number of basketball registrations was reached, the group could not be opened due to organizational considerations beyond our control. We understand your disappointment and we are experiencing the same emotions as your athletes and you,” they emphasize.
