Enrollment surges at new Simcoe County elementary school
A new elementary school in Alliston is welcoming hundreds of students to the community.
The Catholic school has registered just over 450 new students since its opening in September, with its numbers continuously growing.
"It is really wonderful and phenomenal to see how quickly the school has grown and become a school instead of a construction site," said May Boucher, St. Cecilia Catholic School principal.
Enrolment numbers at the new school continue to rise as the area experiences a surge in new housing developments and increased population growth.
"As new builds are closing and families are moving in, we continue to register students on a weekly basis, and it's beautiful to see," said Boucher.
It's a growth that New Tecumseth Mayor Richard Norcross said could see the community expand by the thousands in the next several years.
"We could see upwards of 100,000 people moving into the area in the next several years, and this school is badly needed. The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic school board worked in collaboration with the town to make it happen, and we think families are loving it," said Norcross.
Tanya Rodrigues is a mother of two whose son attends St. Cecilia. Her Grade 8 son was forced to change schools due to student boundary changes, but she welcomes the move.
"At first, we were terrified, and it was a big change for him with the boundary changes; however, now he is absolutely loving it," said Rodrigues.
On Tuesday, the school celebrated with a grand opening ceremony with parents and students.
According to the school board, St. Cecilia Catholic School is just the latest school to open its doors, with the board expected to add three new elementary schools in Innisfil, Tottenham, and Bradford in the coming years.
The board noted all the projects are in the beginning planning stages.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.