Holy Trinity school opens its doors next week

St. Andrew, St. Raphael and St. Bernadette schools officially closed at the end of June, and students up to Grade 6 have been transferred to Holy Trinity.

The name Holy Trinity, picked in January, refers not only to the Christian concept of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, but to the fact that three elementary schools are being merged to create the new school.

The schools' Grade 7 and 8 students will attend St. Charles College, the Sudbury Catholic secondary school next door to Holy Trinity. It's undergone a $1.7-million renovation to accommodate younger students.

Noah and his six-year-old brother, Josh, attended St. Bernadette last year. He said he's a little nervous about going to Holy Trinity, which is much bigger than his old school. But he said he thinks it will be fine.

“You're always nervous when you're starting something new, so I know there's nothing to worry about,” Noah said.

The boy's mother, Anastasia Rioux, said Holy Trinity is definitely an upgrade from the three old schools. St. Bernadette didn't have a library or a proper gym, she said.

“The fact that these three schools are coming together and they're going to have a library and a real gym, it's huge,” said Rioux, who's the vice-principal of St. Charles College.

Holy Trinity, built by the contractor Build North Construction, is about 60,000 square feet, and features a 550-student capacity, along with 70 daycare spaces.

The building, completed underbudget and on schedule, has a number of green features, including in-floor heating, displacement air and a grey water system, where rainwater from the roof is collected to flush toilets.

Holy Trinity principal Diana Salvador — who until recently was St. Bernadette's principal — said she's excited to be working in a brand-new building. “I'm very blessed,” she said.

Salvador said she thinks things will go smoothly when school starts next week.

The three schools started integrating the students last January with a number of different activities, including a Valentine's Day dance, mass and soccer tournament, she said.

“I think they are a little bit anxious, which is happening any time, to all the kids that are going back to school,” Salvador said.

“But I think they're excited because they have something different and new and really unique to look forward to.”