Ground broken for new École St-Denis

 The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) has launched construction on the new École St-Denis French Catholic school in Sudbury.

Located on Centennial Drive, the new building will be constructed on rocky terrain on the south side of the Honourable James Jerome Sports Complex. The school will also enjoy a panoramic view of the Lily Creek water system.

This $10 million project will involve construction of a 46,700 square foot, three-story building. The province of Ontario will provide $8,796,973 in funding, while the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario will invest the difference.

The new school will offer academic programming from junior kindergarten to Grade 8. It will open its doors to students in Sept. 2011. While the current École St-Denis facility has a current student enrolment of 361 at 347 Hyland Drive, the new school will have a student capacity of 411.

This project responds to the wishes of St-Denis French Catholic parents and students, who wanted a modern school that is well adapted to their needs, stated a press release from the school board.

Students will have access to a variety of up-to-date learning spaces such as a new gymnasium, a library, science and computer labs and art and music rooms. A daycare centre for around 40 preschoolers will also be located in the new school.

The new school will feature a strong ecological footprint. Among its green characteristics will be solar walls and a geothermal heating system. Moreover, the building’s design will make use of natural lighting to reduce energy consumption, recycle rainwater and incorporate recycled construction materials and local products.

The new École St-Denis’s ecological vocation will also improve the natural ambient environment. The CSCNO will work closely with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to develop a new fish habitat on school grounds, thus enhancing the natural space of the grounds and their environs. Moreover, the project will foster renewal of the fish population in Lily Creek, located on adjacent land.

“The CSCNO strongly believes in the importance of offering quality modern academic and ecological spaces to our students and to the community as a whole. As Catholics and francophones, we feel that it is important to improve our vital space and contribute to the well-being of the community,” said CSCNO president Marcel Montpellier, in the press release. “This is a joyful project, one that will assure the promotion and generational transmission of a dynamic French Catholic culture.”

CSCNO director of education Lyse-Anne Papineau added, “The modern learning spaces will be highly beneficial to the success of each one of our students. In addition, by showing respect for the ambient environment and incorporating green elements into the school’s design, we can be confident of educating future citizens who will stand out by their commitment to the community and to the natural environment.”