After two years of hard work, and millions of dollars spent in renovations, Elmvale District High School is ready to move on to its next phase as a grade 7 to 12 school.
Grade 6 and 7 students from neighbouring Huronia Centennial Elementary School toured the high school on Thursday, and some were in awe during orientation.
“It’s kind of like, oh, we’re going into high school, and then the other part of us is like, eek, I don’t really know about this yet,” said grade 6 student, Hannah Cooper.
Elmvale District High is the second in our region to transform into a grade 7 to 12 school. Stayner Collegiate Institute was the first to adopt the model at the start of the 2018/19 school year.
EDHS underwent a massive $11.3-million renovation, building a new hall, a huge gym, cafeteria with adjacent auditorium, and four new classrooms to accommodate the extra students.
“It was a traditional school from the 50s, and it was certainly looking for an upgrade, and it’s certainly breathing new life into our school,” said Vice Principal Hillary Glass.
About 150 new kids will start in the fall, bringing the student body to nearly 600.
"Huronia Centennial is over capacity, and this model helped the Simcoe County District School Board make a business case to the Ministry of Education for a much-needed addition at Elmvale District High School," SCDSB spokesperson Sarah Kekewich said.
The new students will also need new teachers. The school has already hired four teachers, and plans to add four more. Qualified elementary teachers are invited to an open house at the school on April 17.
