MOOSE JAW — When students and families enter the new joint-use school on South Hill on Sept. 2, they will likely be amazed at how big, bright and spacious the building is.
Whether it’s two separate gyms, a shared library, a shared band room, garage door-style entrances for classrooms, reading nooks in the walls, or big windows that face prairie fields, there will be plenty for students and staff to discover as they familiarize themselves with either Coteau Hills Elementary School or Our Lady of Hope Elementary School.
MooseJawToday.com had a sneak peek a few days before school started and spoke with both principals about their respective schools.
Our Lady of Hope brings together St. Agnes and Sacred Heart, while Coteau Hills brings together Empire and Westmount.
A new adventure
Trish Alexander was the principal at Westmount and is now the principal of Coteau Hills. She said she had never taught in a brand-new school, nor had she ever been a student in one since her military family moved regularly.
“I think it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s almost overwhelming the feelings of being chosen … to lead this new building … ,” she said. “I am just so excited for this adventure. It’s humbling, if I could put it into words.”
Gillian Crocker was the principal of Empire and is now Coteau Hills’ new vice-principal.
Continuing, Alexander said this is a “new beginning” for everyone and they’re “in it all together,” so attempting to blend two groups shouldn’t be any different than starting at a new school in general.
Meanwhile, the amount of space in the building is the big change that sticks in the principal’s mind, especially the wide hallways that allow for collaborative activities outside classrooms.
“So your classroom isn’t limited to four square walls … . The learning opportunities are endless,” Alexander said. “And I can’t wait to see what this team does with some of these spaces that we probably haven’t even thought of yet.”
Alexander noted that there is a classroom on the third floor that she enjoys because it faces a wide-open field. Chuckling, she said students will likely be fascinated to watch the Snowbirds and trainee pilots from 15 Wing Airbase fly past.
She also liked the south-facing band room, a “maker space” where kids can create objects, and a shared kitchen. She noted that the building has two gyms, which would allow it to host tournaments.
Continuing, the principal said she was excited for the first day of school and couldn’t wait to see students’ faces when they walked through the doors; she’s already seen the awe on teachers’ faces. She thought the kids would be “pleasantly surprised and excited” to see the spaces in which they would learn.
Alexander added that she was excited to work with the staff at Our Lady of Hope.
A focus on faith
Justin Clewis was the principal at St. Agnes and is the new principal of Our Lady of Hope. He said he was excited to lead the new school, especially since he had worked at the division office and saw the planning that went into the new venue.
“But now that we’re here and in the physical space and … you walk inside a building that’s called Hope, that does something to you,” he said. “And I hope it does something to the kids … and these families. I just can’t wait to show this place off to them.”
Jason Fisher was the vice-principal of Sacred Heart and is now Our Lady of Hope’s new vice-principal.
Clewis said the school’s focal point is the “spectacular” chapel, which has a cross-shaped window that lets people see in and out. He noted that staff and school administration want to use the room for as many activities as possible, including visits by the priest from Church of Our Lady; choir activities can also occur there.
“… it’s right at the heart of the school,” he remarked, adding that Lisa Busta, the division chaplain, is also eager to start using the space.
Dave DePape, superintendent of human resources and operations, said it’s great to have a dedicated faith room in the building. While teachers do “an incredible job” of creating faith spaces in any location, the chapel’s “sanctity” essentially brings a parish to the school.
“We’re pretty proud of it and we can’t wait to get our kiddos here to celebrate with us … ,” he continued, noting the chapel can likely hold three classrooms’ worth of children. “It’s going to be a very versatile space.”
Clewis and DePape discussed other aspects of the school that excite them, such as a reading support room, a calming sensory room, the large south-facing windows, the tall ceilings, breakout spaces for learning, staircases where presentations can happen, a large staffroom that can accommodate all 50 Catholic employees, collaboration rooms for teachers and reading nooks.
“I just can’t wait to see the community in the facility using it, knowing that this is their home for education … ,” Clewis added. “We’re all ready to go and it’s going to be awesome.”
