The Wellington Catholic District School Board held a ceremonial ground breaking on May 4 for its new Sacred Heart Catholic School in Rockwood.
The school is currently under construction, across from the OPP station, and is expected to open in September 2016.
Director of education Tamara Nugent said that “21st century learning fluencies” will be built into the new Sacred Heart school, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication.
The school will also have a focus on using technology to engage students in their learning and, “To develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for the future,” Nugent said. “This future will include jobs that we haven’t even yet imagined.”
The school will be the Catholic board’s 18th elementary school and the first new school built since 2010. The building will be about 35,000 square feet in size and have the capacity for over 270 students.
However, at this time, it is estimated that there are 100 to 150 students ready to attend when registration opens in the spring of 2016, most of whom are being bussed to Guelph schools.
Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White said as important as the school is for students, it is also important for the Sacred Heart parish in Rockwood.
“Got to have a school to help anchor the parish and to continue to have that membership grow,” he said.
“We know we’re busing 100 to 150 kids into Guelph so we know that they’ll now have a home locally.”
Minister of Education Liz Sandals said developing and improving school infrastructures is important to the government.
“Providing local students with modern and positive learning environments is part of our commitment to make sure that students can meet their potential,” she said. “So I’m proud to say that the government will be investing about $6 million in the project that you see going on behind you here.”
The parish was also thanked by board chair Marino Gazzola, who said, “I think the people that really need to be thanked are the catholic community of Rockwood for their patience over all these years.
“They have come to the board on numerous occasions and it’s been talked about, but you’re getting your school and you deserve it.”
