The anticipation is building as the new Easthill Elementary School in Belleville prepares to welcome students for the first time on Wednesday.
The MacDonald Avenue school has been built on the site of the former Queen Elizabeth School and consolidates students from Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria Schools.
Easthill principal Amy Woodland says there will be lots for the 472 students to take in when they arrive.
“We have a beautiful state-of-the-art double gymnasium in the centre of our school that our classrooms go around. We have a new library learning commons and it’s designed as a collaborative integrative learning environment and it’s beautiful.”
Classrooms are outfitted with the latest technology and Woodland says there is also a kitchen which neither of the previous schools had.
“We have great community support that has been bringing in hot lunches to both of our schools and supporting us with that and now we actually have a kitchen that we can use and utilize for some of those programs that we have within our school.”
The playground is expected to be ready for the first day of school.
There are between 50 and 60 staff and Woodland says they were thrilled to get into the school this week.
Being the first to attend or work at a brand new school is not something that happens very often.
“The parents that I’ve talked to, and we’ve had some community members come into the school this week and get a chance to see it, and the excitement that’s coming from the community about starting in this new building, I just think it’s such a unique and amazing opportunity for the staff and students and families that are going to be a part of Easthill.”
Woodland says a first priority is bringing the two school communities together into one.
“Even though Queen Elizabeth was on this property, none of our students and none of our staff actually got to be in this building until we could be in it together. So it really is a new start for all of our staff and a new start for all of our students and a new start for all of our families together. And we’re really excited about building that community together.”
The Ministry of Education allocated $22.5 million for the new school which has been under construction for a few years.
The opening was delayed from last September to this year.
Demolition of the former Queen Elizabeth School is happening now and will continue for a few months.
Easthill will host an open house for students and families before the end of September and plans are underway for an official grand opening to be held at a later date.
