A student from St. Mary’s Elementary School reads about his school’s patron saint last Thursday during a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new wing at Holy Rosary High School. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
The wait is finally over, and for Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LCSD) students of all ages, the future is looking bright.
The new wing at Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) officially opened to students last Thursday with a special presentation and ribbon cutting.
In attendance were staff and students from HRHS, community partners and sponsors who helped make the expansion possible, government representatives, as well as student representatives from each of HRHS’ feeder schools.
The crowd roared when HRHS principal Jeremy Blais cut the ribbon last Thursday to officially open the new wing at the school. Photo courtesy of Jessie Mann
“We’re very excited about the new expansion opening,” said HRHS’ principal Jeremy Blais.
“We started classes in here in semester two and the students are really excited, and we’re really excited to welcome community members in to take a look at what’s going on in here and share the work that’s gone into this.”
The expansion wing is almost three years in the making and was necessary with the growing population at HRHS.
“We found our population has been growing quite a bit, and with that, our student areas were becoming a little bit crowded,” said Blais. “With the design we’ve built here, there’s more areas for students to hang out and study, and it’s really made our building not feel quite as packed as it was before.”
The new wing includes newly-designed classrooms and features a new art centre, science labs, a kinesiology centre, an innovation centre, a Truth and Reconciliation Centre and more.
“There’s a real open concept to our expansion wing. Our art room loft is really open and there’s student areas they can hang out and study, and just be a part of our Holy Rosary culture,” said Blais.
Blais also noted the importance of having younger LCSD students in attendance and participating.
“All of our elementary schools are sending classes, and they brought their patron saints with them to be a part of our process,” he said. “All the schools will be a part of this because it’s a big thing for LCSD, not just HRHS, so we’re excited these students are going to be the ones in the building in a few years, and they’ll be able to take advantage of all the things we designed for their learning.”
Students from throughout the LCSD flooded the new wing at HRHS last Thursday during its official opening. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
LCSD board chair, Paula Scott, talked about the value of the student voice and how it was utilized throughout the process.
“Before designing this space we talked to you, the students, and we asked you to share your ideas in what you felt was needed here,” said Scott.
“From the architects, the construction crews, engineers, to the many tradespeople on the ground doing the day-to-day work, your work, and you, are greatly appreciated by all of us.
“With the Saints watching over us, we’re able to continue to live our mission of nurturing the spiritual, intellectual, social and physical development of each student in a faith-centred community.”