Students in Annick LeBlanc’s Grade 3 class admire the work being done on the new wing at Holy Rosary High School from their classroom at École St. Thomas. Teachers and students have been incorporating the work being done outside of their window into the curriculum during their building unit. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Grade 3 students at École St. Thomas recently wrapped up their building unit as the foundation and steel of the new expansion at Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) were simultaneously completed.
Not only did the timing of the two give St. Thomas students a front-row seat to the work being done at their potential future school, but it also made for some very practical learning.
With all of the excitement and loads of questions to ask, Lloydminster Catholic School Division director of education, Nigel McCarthy, decided to visit a number of classrooms last week to talk about the work being done, as well as how and why it’s being done.
LCSD director of education, Nigel McCarthy, speaks about the construction of the new wing at Holy Rosary High School to a Grade 3 class week. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
“Our Grade 3 students have ‘building’ as part of their curriculum for both social studies and sciences,” said McCarthy.
“It’s a real opportunity for us to go in and provide them with a practical attachment to the curriculum they’ve been watching, and teachers using, as they discuss not only historical buildings in Canada but how buildings are built, which will be the next element in their science curriculum.
“I think any time we give students the opportunity to learn in practical ways and to really attach learning to the world around them, it’s exciting for them, and when they see a beautiful school they’re going to be a part of in a few years, I think they are actually curious and I really thought they’re questions were great.”
Annick LeBlanc, a Grade 3 teacher at Ecole St. Thomas, said her students have been very engaged with the work being done at HRHS and had some great questions for McCarthy.
“They have loved it. I was a little worried it would be super noisy, but it hasn’t been a big disruption at all,” said LeBlanc.
“There’s been lots of action, obviously with that’s happening, but it actually aligns really well with our curriculum. We’ve been doing construction, materials and building, and they’re just loving it. I’ve just incorporated this because, why not, we have this special opportunity, so why not?”
LeBlanc also said her students greatly enjoyed being able to have guests such as McCarthy back in the classroom with them.
“They love having special guests, and we’ve missed out on that. They were super excited when I told them he was coming and they were already thinking of questions for him.”