Parents voice frustration after Grade 9 French immersion students told they’ll be reassigned next year

Parents of Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary students are upset after learning their kids will have to attend a school across the city next year.

Randi Dias is “deeply concerned” for her son Madden’s future, after receiving an email from Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School informing families that he, along with 43 other Grade 9 French immersion students, would be “reassigned” next year.

“As of Grade 10 they need to be transferred to RMC,” she said.

Dias says the news came as a shock to several parents, and claims the decision was never brought forward at any parent council meeting prior to the announcement.

“It’s up to us as the adults to speak clearly and be the voice for our children and I just feel like everyone is doing the best they can,” said Dias. “But this should not have been thrown out on Nov. 10 and disrupt the school year.”

She says the impact on students would be significant.

“This is not just going to affect how they move forward in their schooling but it’s a bit of a setback for them,” said Dias.

She also says many families will take a “financial hit” as a result of the transfer.

“We’ve invested hundreds and hundreds of dollars into uniforms for our children to attend and now that we are being forced to send our kids to RMC [Regina Mundi College], is there going to be compensation for those uniforms?” asked Dias.

The two schools are also located approximately 22 kilometres apart, with Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School located in London’s north end on Sunningdale Road East, while Regina Mundi Catholic College is in the city’s south end, on Wellington Road South.

In a statement to CTV News, the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) said, “For the sixth consecutive year, the LDCSB continues to be the fastest growing school board in Ontario, with enrollment now surpassing 28,000 students. To meet this unprecedented growth and increasing secondary student demand for French immersion programming, the new Regina Mundi College will join Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School as the second secondary French immersion location in London for the 2026-27 school year.”

The statement continued, “New school construction and portables are helping with the rapid growth across our district. St. Gabriel Elementary School opened in January, the new Regina Mundi High School and a new elementary school in Kilworth are under construction, and plans are underway to build four additional new schools: two elementary schools in London and secondary schools in London and St. Thomas.”

Dias says the issue should have been addressed sooner.

“My response to that is that this isn’t something that happened overnight, they were over capacity last year,” she said.

Dias said the request is simple.

“Just let the Grade 9 students stay and graduate at their school,” she said.