Grade 7 École St-Denis student Abby Lacelle said she can't stop staring out of the windows during class now that the school has moved to its new Centennial Drive building.
The school's many windows look out onto Lily Creek, Ramsey Lake, Science North and Health Sciences North.
“It's beautiful, no matter where you are,” the 12-year-old said. “We have a lot of nice views.”
In comparison, the old École St-Denis building off of Regent Street was much darker, with far fewer windows, and brick walls painted in dark colours, she said.
Lacelle does grumble about climbing three flights of stairs in the new school to get to class. The oldest students are housed on the top floor.
“At first I thought the stairs were going to kill me,” she laughs. “There are three flights of forever. It's not a bad thing, though. Every day you go up and down, and it's healthy.”
Construction on the French Catholic school began two summers ago, and was completed just before Christmas.
It replaces the old École St-Denis, which is too small for the school's current population, and has sections that are about 70 years old, according to the school's principal, Luc Dalcourt.
École St-Denis students Emilie Minor and Abby Lacelle showed reporters around their new Centennial Drive school Jan. 16. Photo by Marg Seregelyi.
The new building cost $11 million, with $9 million coming from the province, $500,000 from the federal government and the rest out of the school board's pockets.
Besides the elementary school students, there's also room for about 40 toddlers and babies under the age of four at the school's daycare centre.
Dalcourt said he gave the students a tour of their new school just before the Christmas break. They moved in to the new building for good Jan. 9.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “On the first week back, the kids were anxious to come to school because they had seen it before Christmas.”
The students “aren't lacking for much” at their new school, Dalcourt said. It features a large gym, several “discovery rooms,” or small libraries, on each floor, as well as a larger library, and a music room.
The school was built to be environmentally-friendly, using recycled rubber in the flooring and high-efficiency insulation to prevent heat loss. There are even plans to put solar panels on the roof.
In Dalcourt's opinion, though, the best thing about the school is its location.
“We're close to Science North, the James Jerome Sports Complex, the hospital and the health unit,” he said. “This gives us the opportunity to go over and above the curriculum.”
The students will be able to play baseball, tennis, football and soccer at the James Jerome Complex, Dalcourt said.
Partnerships are in the works with the other surrounding organizations, he said. A visit with Health Sciences North is planned for early next month.
When the project was in the planning stages about five years ago, some nearby citizens were against the school being built, partly because of its impact on the environment.
Dalcourt said he plans to set up an École St-Denis Friends of Lily Creek Club, where students will learn about the creek, and participate in activities to help keep it healthy.
While the school is already in use, Dalcourt said he plans to host a grand opening in June, inviting local dignitaries to attend.
Eight-year-old Grade 3 student Emilie Minor said she likes the new school because there's more space. One of her favourite places in the school is the gym.
“It's very big,” she said. “We play basketball, and we sometimes play tag. It's fun.”
Posted by Arron Pickard
