School boards prepared for students’ return
Parents and guardians aren’t the only ones busy getting ready for back to school next Tuesday.
Niagara Catholic District School Board and District School Board of Niagara staff are excitedly preparing for thousands of students heading to class next week.
Niagara Catholic about 23,000 students enrolled.
Education director John Crocco said that number continues to increase as the start date nears. In an interview Wednesday he said people will continue to enrol during the first couple of weeks of classes. Enrolment numbers are about the same as last year, but there has been a gradual increase in recent years.
DSBN has seen a slight increase in enrolment. Education director Warren Hoshizaki said there are about 36,000 students enrolled.
With the high number of students, he said the board has hired 44 new full-time teachers and 18 educational assistants.
“They are really motivated and ready to go and see the kids … I mean, everyone likes a longer holiday, but everyone is concentrating that the schools are ready,” Hoshizaki quipped.
Niagara Catholic has hired back all staff that was laid off at the end of the school year. Crocco said with the board’s enrolment increase he expects to hire more staff within the next few months. He said it takes a few weeks for things to settle and for staff to determine what extra resources are needed.
Both boards have been busy the past two weeks preparing classrooms and schools for the new academic year. Crocco and Hoshizaki said teachers and support staff work diligently to prepare, especially janitorial staff who clean and maintain buildings throughout the year.
DSBN has a new building in Greater Fort Erie Secondary School — the board’s first new high school building in 40 years. Ridgeway Crystal Beach High school and Fort Erie High School were closed and its students merged into the new facility. Hoshizaki said about 800 students will attend the new high school.
DSBN’s Wellington Heights school in Fenwick has received a number of upgrades, including a new learning commons and gymnasium. Hoshizaki said the whole building — formerly E.W. Farr Memorial — has been renovated and he’s looking forward to seeing students enjoying the building.
Crocco said it has been a busy summer for the Catholic board.
There were about 85 projects ongoing, including construction of the $10-million St. Martin Catholic Elementary School in Smithville. Crocco said the school will welcome more than 400 students on the first day of classes.
Notre Dame College School in Welland saw some upgradges, including a $1.7-million renovation to its indoor athletic facility.
Currently there is construction for a six-classroom and three-childcare-room addition at Our Lady of Fatima in Grimbsy. The additions will cost $4.4 million.
“The 85 projects have been completed … the Notre Dame one … will be completed in the next couple of months, but it was throughout the summer. And the school additions at Our Lady of Fatima should be done by Christmas,” Crocco said.
Hoshizaki said students this year will get to enjoy a better learning experience with improved Wi-Fi service. With technology being integrated in the classroom, he said it is important to have better internet access for teachers and students.
Five schools also received synthetic turf fields, which Hoshizaki said the football teams have started to enjoy already. He said he has heard a great deal of positive feedback. A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls, Govenor Simcoe and Sir Winston Churchill in St. Catharines, Welland Centennial Secondary School and Greater Fort Erie Secondary School each received synthetic turf.
Niagara Catholic has also made upgrades to its turf. Saint Paul Catholic High School in Niagara Falls is having synthetic turf installed and will be ready next week.