It’s been a hectic, exciting time for staff and students at the new St. Thomas the Apostle School in Renfrew and all are settling into the new space nicely, says principal Tony Jacyno.
However, the transition was not without its hard work.
Construction took place over 18 months and the $24-million project was funded by the Ministry of Education, along with school board reserve funds, he explained.
There’s been plenty of positive feedback about the new space.
The new gym has a stage, sound system, and will have a scoreboard and Jacyno said he hopes it will be offered for public use through the community use of schools program.
The new school also consists of a learning commons that replaces the old library with books, access to technology and furniture that supports collaborative learning.
The students have been very excited about the new school yard also. They were able to save some of the outdoor equipment for use in the new yard and there will be a brand new soccer pitch in the spring.
They also saved the basketball nets, had them refreshed, painted with new nets and they’ve already been installed at the rear of the school.
Having a fully accessible school is also most welcomed, he said.
The new St. Thomas is an extension for the adjacent St. Joseph’s High School, allowing the high school access to extra classrooms.
And, a particularly exciting component of the new space is the expanded Leaps and Bounds daycare.
Phase two of the construction project involves demolition of the old school and creation of much-needed parking and a safe drop-off/pickup area, said Jacyno.
That component is expected to be completed in the spring, he said.
Jacyno said St. Thomas has been such a long-standing tradition in the community with many of the children in attendance now third or fourth-generation students, and there will be a future opportunity to obtain a keepsake.
As they continue to set up and settle in, Jacyno said he wanted to make sure he offered his thanks to all who made the project and move possible.
Along with staff, he said he is grateful to members of the school community and neighbours for their patience during the project.
An official grand opening and open house will likely take place in the spring.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)
This graphic shows the parking and parent pickup/drop-off areas that demolition of the old school will allow for (numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11).