Mapleview Elementary School Welcomes Community at Holiday Open House

Caption: Students make use of the light-filled double gym at Mapleview Elementary School

Grand Erie’s newest school, which opened to students last month, is inviting the community to come and explore the new state-of-the-art building, with a holiday open house on Wednesday (December 19), beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to welcome our neighbours and community members to see what we’ve been building over the past year,” said Charlotte Morphet, Principal at Mapleview Elementary School. “We hope everyone who’s watched the construction will join us to celebrate the holidays and tour the school. It’s their school as much as it is ours.”

Mapleview was built on the site adjacent to the former Fairview Avenue Public School. The new school joins students together from Fairview Avenue and Grandview Central Public School, and is the result of the Haldimand East Pupil Accommodation Review.

Mapleview, which was financed through a Capital Priorities Grant from the Ministry of Education, features 14 classrooms, three Kindergarten rooms, a Special Education room that includes a Snoezelen Room, an Early Years Centre, and a Learning Commons with a media room. The double gym features a separate outside entrance to encourage community use and the parking lot has a bus loop and drop-off area to alleviate congestion on the street.

“This is more than a building, it’s an asset for the community that we can all be proud of,” said James Richardson, Trustee for Haldimand County. “We can’t wait for the community to see it for themselves.”

Grand Erie’s Multi-Year Plan includes an Environment indicator, prioritizing improved energy and environmental conservation at its sites, and ensuing projects such as the construction of Mapleview include learning spaces that reflect current teaching and learning needs.

While Mapleview is completely operational, there are still a number of finishing touches that need to be completed and teachers and students are still moving into some spaces, including the learning commons. The school will celebrate its official grand opening in the spring.