Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a collection of Questions and Answers known as a Faq. We have created this document in order to assist former students and staff who have either attended in the past or might consider attending the Alumni reunion.

note: these are not listed by subject and are not in any particular order.

What is the OSB/WRMS Alumni association?

The WRMS/OSB alumni Association is a Association for former students and staff who meet every two years to catch up on old friendships create new ones or just because they like visiting with others.

How does one qualify to attend?

any person who was either a student or a staff member at either the W Ross Macdonald School or when it was known as The Ontario School for the Blind is an alumnus.

What if I didn't graduate or didn't retire from the school?

If you attended the School or worked at the School that makes you an alumnus.

Isn't this really just a school event?

Absolutely not! This event while taking place at the school is Not managed by any currently working staff member and is funded by money raised by or donated to the OSB/WRMS Alumni Association.

Any staff member who is currently working at the school but who is on location during the reunion is there for one of several reasons.

• that they are being payed by the Association.
• They have Volunteered there free time to help the Association for that weekend. Volunteers are essential to the ongoing survival of the reunion.

Does the school provide linens and pillows?

No the school does not provide Linens or pillows. Each person is responsible for there own.

I have attended in the past and it was frankly boring. Can I suggest changes?

While we regret that you found it to be an unpleasant event, we hope that we have made changes that would make it a more interesting weekend. While we of course can't give everyone exactly what they might want, we have tried to keep an open mind to any suggestion that would improve things. For Example:

• We changed the rule that didn't allow former students with sighted partners to allow there partner to attend with them. .
• We have either added new events or updated old ones to encourage everyone to get involved. While we realize that there are those who do not approve of these changes for the sake of tradition, the changes were necessary in order to keep the association alive. Having said that, traditions are important and it has never been our intent to do away with them entirely. We do however need to attract the interest of younger alumni to keep the reunions going into the future.
• We changed the rule that did not allow males and females to stay in the same residence.

I hated my time at the School. Why would I want to put myself through that again?

While there is of course no clear answer and everyone has their own valid feelings about their time at the school, all we ask is that you consider the following.

• You are no longer a student of the school. You are an adult and therefore will be treated as one.
• The School itself is not the same School you attended. Although the building may be physically the same. most of the staff have changed .
• When remembering your life at the school, sometimes it is helpful to remember that yes, the school has changed, but then, so have you. All of our memories are based on our perceptions. However, time passes, things and outlooks change just as the world changes.
• It is often the case that many people who attend reunions discover that classmates who were the bullies and pushed others around at school are very different people today and in many cases even stricter than they would have tolerated themselves.
• Also remember, (and you might have seen this in movies?) You go back to a reunion and the class geek is there. Guess what? He isn't the geek any more. Maybe he has a really successful career or maybe he or she is just downright cool.
• Please remember that this is not a School function. The school does not tell us what events to have and they don't tell us how to run them. We don't have assemblies, we don't serve fish on Fridays, we don't tell you how to act (as long as you act with respect, of course) since it is assumed you already know that by now. And guess what? School isn't just out for the summer, it's out for ever.

I hated staying in residence. Do I have to stay there to attend?

Of course not. The residence availability is there for those who need it. Many people don't stay at the school as they prefer to stay in a local establishment.

My Children go to School and it is Nut free. Is it the same at the WRMS?

Yes, The school is a totally nut free environment. This means that nobody is permitted to have or use nuts while at the school. In the contract that we sign with the school we agree to this stipulation and try to ensure that none of the foods have any nuts in them. Many of you may have heard stories of people dying because of exposure. I am sure that some have put this down to the old legends category. It isn't. Unfortunately a Staff member of the school lost her life by being exposed to nuts she was allergic to. It is important to remember that this is a serious problem. Just doing a little cleaning is not enough and once we leave students come back.<

Please read the official School policy here. The W Ross Macdonald school policy on a nut fre environment.(opens in a new window)