École St. John Paul II hosts public’s first look

By Peggy Revell on June 27, 2018.

Reed and Taryn Hall smile while also peering out over the open space library and learning commons main area of the new Ecole St. John Paul II School, which held its open house Tuesday.--NEWS PHOTO PEGGY REVELL

prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell

Laughter, smiles, children and families.

A Tuesday evening open house previewed what’s in store this fall when École St. John Paul II School officially opens its doors.

Families, trustees, staff and community members eagerly came out for the open house, the public’s first chance to see inside the new K-6 school in Southlands.

“When I first walked in, I was absolutely awestruck,” principal Robert Dumanowski said of the architecture, open space and fluidity of the school — and he feels the public will have the same experience when they too come in for the first time.

Walking into the building, the public is greeted by a wide open space, with the open-concept library and learning commons stretching out into the stage/music room area, then gymnasium. Rooms can be opened up to the learning commons, or to neighbouring rooms — depending on how the space is needed.

Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education staff were on hand at the open house to share details about the school’s design and programming plans, while also taking registration.

While the physical part of the building is complete, there’s still hard work ahead to put the finishing touches on the school — while the playground structure has been installed outside, there’s still other landscaping details to be completed.

The furnishings and “state of the art” technology have been ordered and will be installed in upcoming months.

“There’s not one facet that hasn’t been looked at and reviewed,” said Dumanowski, so everything from chairs, couches, desks and more all fit with best practices.

Staffing is complete, said Dumanowski, and is expected to be announced later this week.

The MHCBE voted in January to close St. Thomas D’Aquin School, and move the French immersion program to the new school. A closing ceremony for this school was held last Friday. The school will be the first new one built for the division since Notre Dame opened more than a dozen years ago.

“We’re proud, we’re honoured,” Dumanowski added on the chance to teach the next generation of students in this new space.

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