Cynthia King

What an honour it was to attend the official opening of the new Stratford Elementary School. Congratulations to everyone who made the ceremony a great one. The children were incredible. They were so excited. The student rock band, Stop Drop and Roll, played “Twist and Shout” and got everyone up on their feet dancing. Lots of proud mamas and papas in the crowd!

Glen Stewart Principal, Pat Campbell, gave a heart felt speech which reminded us all of the hard work it takes to make something big happen. Her passion and insights in education are what helps make PEI a great place to learn and go to school.

The school itself is beautiful. A great music room, spacious classrooms, a fantastic gymnasium and a library that reflects the best there is to offer.

TIR broke ground back in August of 2009 and had a year to complete the building. Hats off to TIR and all of the contractors who got the job done…. on time!

Here is the Press Release:
aussi disponible en français
October 18, 2010
For immediate release

New Stratford Elementary School officially opened

Education and Early Childhood Development

The new school in Stratford is another example of our government’s commitment to building a stronger school system for our one Island community, says Premier Robert Ghiz.

“The new Stratford Elementary School is ensuring that the children in the rapidly growing community of Stratford have access to the best possible education,” said Premier Ghiz. “This modern building provides Stratford students with the space and equipment they need to get a good start in their education. This new facility clearly demonstrates our commitment to our children and education in this province.”

The new 54-thousand square-foot facility was officially opened today with all 337 students attending along with dignitaries from the community as well as local and provincial government.

“This building is a wonderful new learning space for these young students,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Doug Currie. “We know how important it is to engage children in education early in life. This new facility will help to foster a love of learning for these students from day one.”

During the grand opening events at the new Stratford Elementary School, Premier Ghiz, Minister Currie and MLA for Stratford-Kinlock, Cynthia Dunsford, spoke to the student body and marked the day by assisting Stratford Elementary School Principal Derek McEwen with a cornerstone unveiling and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is a great day for our students and staff,” said Principal McEwen. “Our students are enjoying this facility to the fullest. They especially love the music room and new technologies in the classroom. This school is living up to its design by ensuring a positive and healthy learning environment for both students and staff.”

The new Stratford Elementary School is modelled after West Royalty Elementary School. The school has 20 classrooms, state of the art music room, library, computer lab, gymnasium, multi-purpose room and space for teachers and for planning activities. It also boasts some high tech equipment in many of the classrooms including document cameras and a computer whiteboard capture technology called Mimio. Mimio devices, used in conjunction with a projector, turn an ordinary whiteboard into a fully interactive whiteboard. The final cost of the new Stratford school is $8.7 million.

A virtual tour of the new Stratford Elementary School will be available on the government website at  www.gov.pe.ca/eecd.

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Officials display drawings of the new Glen Stewart Elementary School. Work on the school has started. From left: Gerard Greenan, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development; Pat Campbell, Glen Stewart principal; Bob Clow, Eastern School District Board chair; and area MLA Cynthia Dunsford. Submitted photo

TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian

Bulldozers and construction crews are busy hauling mounds of red Island dirt from the field next to Glen Stewart now that construction of a new elementary school for Stratford is underway.
Cabinet approved the new school in June as part of the recommendations in the Eastern School District’s controversial School Organization Plan.
That report proposed closure of 11 of the district’s 43 schools, eight of which were approved for closure by government in June.
Unlike most schools in the province, Glen Stewart’s student population has been climbing steadily. As a result, the school has been bursting at the seams for years.
The school’s capacity is 600, but there are currently 647 students attending the school, not counting teachers and other staff.
The new 54,000-square-foot facility being built will relieve this overpopulation by taking all the students and staff in Grades 4-6 and housing them in their own separate school.
After enduring years of overcrowding, this new school is happily embraced by parents and teachers at Glen Stewart.
“Before this, I was hearing quite a bit of concern from parents and different groups that had formed to try and make the government more aware of the problems at Glen Stewart,” said Stratford MLA Cynthia Dunsford.
“People have been very excited in anticipation of the start of construction and now people are happy it’s finally underway.”
Glen Stewart principal Pat Campbell said one of the biggest challenges her staff has faced in the last several years has been in trying to find enough teaching space in the overpopulated school.
“We have 34 homerooms this year, so that space has been exhausted,” she said.
“This decision to build a new school is an exciting one for the town of Stratford, a growing community, and one that we need to be proactive in looking ahead about so that we have educational facilities that meet the needs of the community.”
The new school will have capacity for 420 students. It will be a standalone school, complete with a gymnasium and its own resource and staff rooms. It’s being built using the design of the West Royalty Elementary School, costing government an estimated $8.7 million.
That cost was not contained in the province’s five-year capital budget, but Education Minister Gerard Greenan said the money has nonetheless been found.
“Because of our government’s decision to move kindergarten into the public school system, we had to make special allowances for some new construction.”
The money is not, however, coming out of the Education and Early Childhood Development’s budget, he added.
“Requests for that money went through the provincial treasury and treasury approved it,” Greenan said. “It’s special (warrant) — it does not exist in our current budget.”
Watching the construction crews hard at work on the future site of the new school, Campbell couldn’t contain her excitement. Crews only began working on the project last week, and already the basic layout of where the school will stand is taking shape on the grounds.
“It’s unbelievable — just last week we looked out on the field and now it’s starting to happen,” she said.
“This is something that we’ve dreamed about.”
Construction is set to be complete for the 2010 school year.

Dunsford Pleased with Government’s Decision to Construct School in Stratford

Stratford, PE (June 24, 2008) — Cynthia Dunsford, MLA for District 6 Stratford-Kinlock, said she is pleased with Government’s decision to accept the Eastern School District’s recommendation to build a new school in Stratford. The School District trustees met last week and voted in favour of recommending that a new school be built next to Glen Stewart Elementary.

The recent provincial enrolment study indicated that student populations at Glen Stewart are expected to rise over the coming years, particularly as kindergarten moves into the school system in 2010. Premier Robert Ghiz recently announced that Government has accepted the recommendation to build a new grades four to six facility in Stratford at a cost of approximately $8.7 million. The existing school will house kindergarten to grade 3 classes.

“I was pleased to learn that the Trustees had recommended that steps be taken to address the growth that Glen Stewart has seen and will continue to see”, said Ms. Dunsford, “and I am thrilled that Government has accepted the School District’s recommendation. Since being elected, I have communicated to my colleagues in Cabinet the concerns of a large number of my constituents who are supportive of a new school in Stratford. I believe that this decision will serve the children of Stratford extremely well into the future.”

In addition to approving new construction in Stratford, Government also approved recommendations for an expansion to Westwood Primary School in Cornwall, and approved in principle a new early childhood to grade 12 school in Souris. Construction on Glen Stewart and Westwood will begin immediately, while planning on the new facility in Souris will commence shortly.

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For more information contact:
Government Members’ Office, 368-4330

Hazel Gallant
Government Members’ Office
368-4341 (o)
368-4348 (fax)
hggallant@gov.pe.ca