Dear Trustees, 
It has come to my attention that the foreclosure of Rideau High School is being considered, and the decision rests solely in your hands. Even though I left that school in 2006, it shook me to my inner core to learn this tragic news. 
I will be the first to admit that prior to attending Rideau High School, I was very afraid; many people had told me of its big, bad reputation. But, what I came to learn in my first week there was that this was a school with an incredible amount of school spirit, a diverse body of skilled teachers, and an immense outlet for students searching to flourish their creative talents.
I am very disappointed that the main argument is that previously introduced programs failed to entice new and prospective students. The simple truth is that printing a program on paper is not enough.  In the media jungle that we live in, students are drawn to what will catch their attention.  Generic black & white print does not suffice; students need to become excited about the possibilities that lie in their future, and the current program advertisements are not providing that opportunity.
I myself was enrolled in the French Immersion Program. I do not think that enough was done to promote this program, considering that we were a class of ten. Many students did not, and I am assuming that they still do not know what the program is for. Perhaps if they knew that they would have a much higher chance of getting a job over their monolingual competitor, the French Immersion enrollment would have been higher and would not have been forced to be shut down.
Yes, I recognize that the dwindling number of students at Rideau High School is costly, but the foreclosure of the school would bring forth a much higher cost: the students’ intimate educational setting. Because of the low population, class sizes are much smaller than the average over populated school. Rideau’s small class sizes provide an opportunity for teachers to pinpoint their students’ strengths and weaknesses much more easily than with a class at full capacity; they are able to cater to students’ individual needs. What this leads to is a better teaching technique, a better sense of trust between students and teachers, and an overall better learning experience.  
The sense of community at Rideau High School is something that I have not experienced at any other high school. That sense of community accompanied by the teachers’ earnest and genuine interest in each individual student’s personal and academic growth is what makes this school so unique and appealing to those who have or are currently experiencing it. 
And so, dear trustees, I urge you to reject the motion to foreclose Rideau High School. Failing to do so would mean losing such a precious gem in our community.
Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Beyer