The New Westminster school district is taking over a portion of a city-owned playfield during the two-week spring break in March, as it begins building a new middle school on the John Robson Elementary site while students are still in session.
The move means the field will be closed from March 17 until Sept. 1, 2015, according to a district media release, which outlined the plan to move classroom portables and to build a new temporary staff parking area on a portion of the playfield located behind the school. Some of the field will also be available for school use during recess and lunch breaks until the end of June.
“Staff are becoming more excited about the move to the new elementary school this summer now that the building is taking shape,” Robson principal Karen Catherwood said in the release. “There will be new challenges as the middle school project proceeds this spring. The understanding and support from staff, parents and students over the next three months will be very important and helpful.”
Project manager Jim Alkins said the move won’t impact a community garden in Simcoe Park or trees on the corner of Royal Avenue and Eighth Street. The playfield will be also redeveloped as part of the school project.
Construction of the new middle school is expected to take 16 months. Meanwhile, the Robson replacement – École Qayqayt Elementary school – is slated to open this fall.
“It’s great to see École Qayqayt Elementary school proceeding on schedule for the start of classes in September 2014. It will be important to maintain the construction schedule for the new middle school so it opens as scheduled in September 2015,” school board chair Jonina Campbell said in the release. “I know the community is very anxious to see the new secondary school proceed. Now that the elementary and middle school projects are well on their way, we can focus on the replacement of the secondary school, which is the third project in our schools rejuvenation plan.”
Starting construction now means the district can have students in the new middle school in time for the fall of 2015 rather than waiting another year to open the following Septmber. It would be too disructive to transfer students during the school year, according to the release.
The new grade 6 to 8 middle school will be located on the corner of Queens Avenue and Eighth Street and will receive students from Connaught, Lord Tweedsmuir, Lord Kelvin and Qayqayt elementary schools.
The school board also wants to hear from the public on their name pick for the new middle school.
The board has shortlisted the selection to two names: École West Side Middle School or École Fraser River Middle School.
The public is asked to submit a preference from the two names by email to [email protected] by Feb. 21. The board will announce its final decision at the Feb. 25 school board meeting.
