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Under
Construction! several
of the board's major building projects
are at or near completion
Several major building
projects within the London District Catholic School Board are at or
near completion, which will improve school facilities all across the
district. It is part of the Capital Expenditure Plan, approved by
the Board of Trustees in May, designed to deal with the
ever-changing and shifting demographics of Southwestern
Ontario.
In
St. Thomas, work is underway at the site of the new St. Anne's
Catholic Elementary School (Above) which will combine the school
communities of St. Gabriel's and St. Raphael's. It is due to
open its doors for the 2009-2010 school year.
Major
additions have been completed at St. Michael's and St. Patrick's in
Woodstock. St. Michael's had an official opening and blessing
earlier. The Official opening and blessing at St. Patrick's is to be
held on the evening of November 5th.
Additions
are in place at St. Jude, St. Mark and St. David in London and
Monsignor Morrison in St. Thomas. They are part of the Primary Class
Size Program, designed to provide a 'one-time' capital grant to
increase permanent capacity at various elementary school
facilities.
There
are also major new additions at St. Theresa and St. Paul in
London. St. Theresa had a five-room Primary Class Size addition
ready for opening in September. The addition at St. Paul includes
nine rooms, upgrades and change rooms.
Jean
Vanier School recently added a two kindergarten room addition and
other interior renovations, as part of a partnership with the
City of London which will provide daycare spaces.
On the horizon, the Board has
approved in principle plans for new Catholic Secondary School in
London. It will handle between 1,200 and 1,400 pupil places and is a top
priority of the Board.
Left, a tree planting
ceremony was held last week at the new site of St. Anne's
Catholic Elementary School in St. Thomas, which will be
adjacent to St. Anne's Catholic Church. Construction is
well underway at the site, which is scheduled for completion
by September of 2009.
It will combine the school communities from St. Gabriel's Catholic
Elementary School and St. Raphael's Catholic Elementary School
and will have an enrolment of more than 500 students.
"It is not just
a coming together of St. Raphael's and St. Gabriel's schools,
but it is also an extension of the St. Anne's Catholic Parish.
The school communities chose the name St. Anne's as a means of
identifying the connection of school-parish-home. There has
always been a strong link with the very active St. Anne's
Parish, and the new school will only strengthen that
connection."
... Principal Rob Scholtes
The St. Theresa Catholic Elementary
School Community began the school year with a completed
five room addition. (Left) That includes classroom space, a new
kindergarten class and a new computer lab. The new washrooms,
storage area and small meeting room complete the addition and
are in constant use in this growing community.
"Students
are enjoying the large windows in the classroom. The new
Kindergarten is particularly spacious, while twenty-six
computers in our new lab provide excellent access for our
students."
... Principal Greg
DeSouza
In the spring of 2007 a
dream came true for the Woodstock St. Patrick's school
community - construction began on a new, long-awaited
addition. Nine classrooms, a library resource center, a staff
room, mechanical room and new washrooms completed the first
phase. In the spring of 2008, a major renovation project began
on the old part of the building to provide for a new
kindergarten area, new offices and a beautiful foyer.
Construction was completed by August, 2008. Shown in the
picture (Left) is Ms. Odorico's Grade 1 class in the new
resource centre. The blessing of the addition/renovation will
occur Wednesday, November 5th 7:00 p.m.
"The transition from the old
to the new is seamless and student, staff and parents are most
pleased with their new home."
... Principal Helen Reid
The renovation of St. Paul
Catholic Elementary School in London is to be
completed in January of 2009. The design was intended to
eliminate the need for the nine portables currently on site.
The new school includes eight new classrooms, a spacious
library and computer lab, and a new office/administration area
and staff room. The entire school has been upgraded in terms
of air quality and air conditioning. When the renovation is
completed in mid November, there will still be the need for
one portable for classroom use, essentially because the
enrolment has continued to climb.
"The community has waited a
very long time for this renovation. It is very clear to
everyone here at St. Paul's that the new school has been
extremely well received by the students, their parents, and
the staff. There is a very positive spirit in the air here at
St. Paul Catholic School."
... Principal Pat Gowdy
Our
Mission
To serve the Catholic
student in a community that nurtures a living faith and provides a
quality Catholic education that enables the individual to become a
contributing member of the Church and Society.
or contact:
John Boles, Manager of Communications, 519-663-2088, ext
40015
Spotlight
is produced weekly by
the Communications Department of the
LDCSB.
Spotlight is a BRAVO Award
winner for demonstrated excellence, recognized by the Canadian
Association of Communicators in Education and a winner of the
Glorya Nanne Award from the Ontario Association of Parents
in Catholic Education for making a substantial contribution to
fostering better understanding of Catholic Education.
In
St. Thomas, work is underway at the site of the new St. Anne's
Catholic Elementary School (Above) which will combine the school
communities of St. Gabriel's and St. Raphael's. It is due to
open its doors for the 2009-2010 school year.
