Overnight trips restored for students at public school in Ontario town

A parent group at an Ajax elementary school, upset over a school’s abrupt decision to cancel all overnight student trips, is celebrating a solution that reverses the edict and “restores these important experiences” for students.

The reversal – which came two months to the day from when the letter from the new administration at Southwood Park Public School went home to parents – happened, not after angry marches or raging on social media, but from “thoughtful dialogue, shared problem-solving, and a mutual commitment to student success,” said Erika Hill of the Southwood Park Parent Coalition.

Hill called it a “truly collaborative effort” between the school’s new administration, the School Community Council and the parent coalition.

“Our goal was always to ensure students didn’t lose these milestone experiences. We’re thrilled we reached a solution collaboratively,” said Hill, who also thanked the media for giving the story coverage “to help ensure parent and student voices were heard.”

Families and students at Southwood Park Elementary School were frustrated and angry after school administrators made the call to cancel all overnight school trips – including a much-anticipated traditional year-end trip for the Grade 8 students – in a letter sent home to parents by incoming principal Sarah Mitchell on Oct. 1.

Mitchell cited inclusiveness and liability issues as the rationale behind the decision. Still, when parents asked for any data to support the change, there was “silence,” said Hill, a mother of a Grade 6 student at the school.

Mitchell later issued another letter to parents acknowledging the feedback she had received from parents – more than 100 parents are collaborating on a “unified strategy,” Hill said – and said she was committed to “listening, learning, and working together” to find a path forward.

“Your feedback has been heartfelt, passionate, and deeply rooted in the value these experiences have brought to many in our community over the years,” Mitchell said in her letter. “Our original decision to explore alternatives to overnight trips was made with the best interests of students and families in mind.”

Mitchell admitted she did not fully appreciate the “depth of connection” many in the community felt toward these trips, nor the “sense of loss that such a change might bring.”

“As such, we are holding off on making any final decisions on overnight trips until we’ve had an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue with members of our school community.”

Two months later, the decision has been reversed, and Hill said the process has helped build a stronger working relationship between families and the new school administration – “one rooted in respect, transparency, and a shared belief in meaningful learning opportunities beyond the classroom.”

That’s a sentiment shared by Southwood Park Parent Coalition Chair Denise Langevine.

“This outcome shows what can happen when families and the school work together. We’re grateful to the new administration for engaging with us so openly and helping restore experiences that matter to our kids.”

What’s been approved is a one-night overnight trip to Claremont in late winter (February/March) for Grade 6 students, a full-day trip with a coach bus, including experiential activities such as a Toronto Blue Jays game for Grade 7 students and a two-night graduation trip to Camp Muskoka in late spring (May/June) for Grade 8 students.

The next steps, Hill said, will include more details, including confirmed dates, costs, student expectations, information nights and permission forms, which will be shared with families in the coming months.