Grand Erie Renovates for a New School Year

FRIDAY, SEPT. 9, 2023

T

his summer, Grand Erie saw a number of school improvements valued at over $15 million.
No Grand Erie school went unmodified, each project targeting safety and convenience with students and staff in mind as they headed back to class on September 6.

Onondaga-Brant Public School sports a freshly paved playground ready for the new school year.

Standout upgrades include revamped Learning Commons to enjoy at Delhi Public School, Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School and Grandview Public School, as well as new flooring and wall paneling in gymnasiums at Princess Elizabeth Public School and Lakewood Elementary School. 

Exterior enhancements encourage safe pick-up and drop-off procedures, particularly with a new driveway loop at J.L. Mitchener Public School and fresh paving at Mount Pleasant School, Jarvis Public School and Onondaga-Brant Public School. Additionally, sections of the roof were replaced at Dunnville Secondary School, Grandview Public School, James Hillier Public School, Lakewood Elementary School, Oakland-Scotland Public School, North Ward School, Bellview Public School and Cayuga Secondary School.

Several electrical panels and main services were replaced at Teeterville Public School, Walpole North Elementary School, Burford District Elementary School, Prince Charles Public School, Greenbrier Public School, Centennial-Grand Woodlands School and Waterford Public School.

HVAC and boiler updates to improve ventilation took place at King George School, Woodman-Cainsville School, Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School, Echo Place School, Walpole North Elementary School, Princess Elizabeth Public School, J.L. Mitchener Public School, École Dufferin, Bellview Public School, Seneca Central Public School, Brier Park Public School and Teeterville Public School.

Each investment was accomplished in support of Grand Erie’s Multi-Year plan to create safe, inclusive and comfortable spaces in which students feel empowered and ready to learn. Here’s to the start of another grand school year!

Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room

Elgin Avenue Public School welcomed staff, students and community to the Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

On hand for this special occasion was Chair of the Board Carol Ann Sloat, Trustee Rita Collver and Superintendent Liana Thompson as well as several members of the community that contributed to the fundraising, and Elgin staff members.

Allie Richardson (teacher of students with autism), Lori Minarik (EA working with students with autism) and Samantha Nicholson (Principal) worked together for over three and a half years to fundraise for this $30,000 project. The Elgin community, parents, local charities and the Grand Erie District School Board all came together to make this project a huge success.

A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory environment that provides a controlled, safe, relaxing space for individuals with a variety of sensory needs. The room is set up to give individuals a positive space where they can meet their specific needs in a calming atmosphere. This atmosphere helps in reducing fear, anxieties, repetitive behaviour, self-abusive behaviour and aggressive behaviour so that students are better able to learn. Students at Elgin in both self-contained classes and in the regular classes will be able to access the room to help meet their sensory needs.

According to Seth, a student who accesses the room daily, “It is the best room ever!!!”