Smooth transition
Dr. T.L. Sullivan School welcomes new students
Students at Dr. T.L. Sullivan have seen changes to their school over the past three years, but none greater then this year.
The school has welcomed 90 elementary students to its facility following the closure of Florence Elementary School in June.
To accommodate the new students, the school underwent renovations to its classrooms and bathrooms.
Now in the third month of the school year, principal Charles Yorke believes the transition has gone smoothly.
“There’s an abundance of change happening across the province with education — we have committees that are working on how we can assist students in making transitions into schools as well as committees that are looking at classroom conditions and more,” said Yorke.
“I think a lot of people are working very hard, this year especially with the changes, physically with our building,” he said. “Teachers began punching the clock on Aug. 15 preparing for the school year.”
According to Yorke, eight to 10 teachers began arriving at the school in August to prepare for the school year in September.
“You have to credit the teachers that accepted the assignments to do this at the school,” said Yorke. “The time they put in from Aug. 15 leading up to the start of school in September, this school would not have been ready if it wasn’t for the hard work of the teachers as well as those on the construction side of things.”
Dr. T.L. Sullivan first opened its doors in 1976 under the Northside-Victoria School Board, with a total of 760 students attending.
It was originally a junior high school. It served junior high students for 38 years, prior to becoming a middle school in 2015, until this year when the facility changed to a Grade Primary to Grade 8 school.
With the addition of the new students, the school now houses 424 students. In total, 81 staff members are currently working at the school including 38 teachers, 15 teachers assistants, five cafeteria workers, five cleaners as well as janitors and social workers.
Former Florence Elementary School principal Michelle Stubbert is the vice-principal at Dr. T.L. Sullivan.
“I think the Grade Primary to Grade 5 students have transitioned wonderfully to the new school,” said Stubbert. “There hasn’t been any issues for them, it was very smooth and they have their own hallway that they have access too and different play areas and lunch time as well.”
“I think things are just going to continue to move smoothly in the future,” she said. “Our goal is to mesh (so) there isn’t a division between the two different levels, the school versus elementary school level.”
Students in the higher grade levels have welcomed the addition of the new students.
“I don’t find it much different from other years, we don’t hear them during the day,” said Ella MacLellan, a Grade 8 student. “Everything works out perfect, the times work out nicely — I think they did a great job with the transition.”
Mason Chapman, also a Grade 8 student, agreed with MacLellan.
“It’s great to have them here at our school,” said Chapman. “We all love to see them here and see them walking by our classrooms. The majority of students would agree with that.”
Yorke expects life at the school to continue to progress each month.
“We knew the addition was going to be an increase in workload, for sure, and when change happens you’re always concerned, but you’re taught in administration to manage change and to embrace change,” said Yorke.
“We have great students, we have a great community, and our networking with the community is very strong, so we look forward to the months and years to come.”