HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-09-05, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013.
Since the recently opened, but still
somewhat yet-to-be-finished
Maitland River Elementary School
was made accessible by the public
just over a week ago, Principal Alice
McDowell estimates between 1,200
and 1,500 have visited the site.
“We’ve had what I estimate to be
98 per cent of the students visit the
site,” she said. “They’ve brought
their parents and grandparents and
other visitors. It’s been pretty steady
all week with guests coming in.”
The school, which was split
between two campuses last year,
Wingham and Turnberry campuses,
welcomed an estimated 475 students
on Tuesday when school opened to
their 20 classrooms.
With one teacher per classroom,
six teachers on special assignments
like music, French and physical
education, two secretaries, 10
educational assistants, a vice
principal, a principal, four early
childhood educators, three
custodians and other staff, there are
more than 50 people working at the
site, most of whom came from the
previous sites.McDowell explained any
additions or subtractions from the
previous rosters of teachers has
happened organically with people
leaving for other positions and was
unrelated to the amalgamation of the
two campuses which were
themselves a product of the
amalgamation of several schools.
“We were one staff last year and
we’re still one staff this year,” she
said. “The only thing we’re merging
together is the two student bodies,
the Kindergarten to Grade 1 group
and the Grade 2 to 6 group.”
The new school is a marvel of
green technologies according to
McDowell.
While there are many examples of
new technology and new building
practices making the site greener
than its predecessors, there are
several more noticeable changes
McDowell said really show how the
building was constructed for the
future.
“We have a lot of windows that
allow a lot of natural sunlight in,”
McDowell explained. “In addition,
we also have sensors that adjust the
Wingham’s Maitland River ES now open for business
Class outdoors
Thanks to an amphitheatre and pavilion doubling as a solar panel mount, below, outdoor
classes will take on a whole new meaning at the recently opened Maitland River Elementary
School building in Wingham, above, which officially opened its doors for classes on Tuesday
after hosting tours for parents and students late last week. (Denny Scott photos)
Book launch over coffee
Leanna Brodie was a feature playwright at Coffee with a
Playwright held at the Queens Bakery on Friday. Brodie’s
visit was three-ply as she attended the informal public chat
at the event, launched her book The Book of Esther which
was originally a play co-sponsored by the Blyth Festival and
4th Line Theatre and worked on her most recent play,
Turbulence, which is focused on the turbine debates and
issues throughout the area. (Denny Scott photo)
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By Denny ScottThe Citizen
Continued on page 14