New High School for Western HRM
Department of Education (to March 26, 2013)
January 16, 2004 2:34 PM
A new high school in the western part of the Halifax Regional
Municipality (HRM) will help ease overcrowding and give students
a safe, modern learning environment.
The province has approved a request by the Halifax Regional
School Board to build a new high school to serve students living
in the Hammonds Plains-St. Margaret's Bay area of HRM.
"Our system needs to show some flexibility to respond to the
changing needs of school boards throughout the province,"
Education Minister Jamie Muir said today, Jan. 16. "In this case,
the Halifax board clearly demonstrated a need for a new high
school. It's something the community wants and, by making some
adjustments, we were able to make the project fit into our
existing budget."
About 960 students will attend the new high school which will
cost $16.2 million to construct.
It will have an 8,400 square foot gymnasium, a drama room, music
room and two physics labs, two biology labs, a chemistry lab and
an information technology lab.
"This is great news for our community," said Sarah Nightingale,
chair of the School Advisory Council at Sir John A. Macdonald
High School in Hubley. "Our young people can now look forward to
attending a new high school with the most up-to-date facilities.
This is truly a long-term benefit for the people of this area."
The addition of the new high school will mean changes to some
other schools and projects within the Halifax Regional School
Board.
Sir John A. MacDonald High School will become a junior high
school for 750 students in grades 7 to 9. Conversion to the
junior high school will be completed by September 2006.
Because of the change in grade levels, most of the major
renovations previously planned at Sir John A. will no longer be
needed.
Pam DeMone, a member of the school steering team that helped
guide the renovations at Sir John A., is pleased with today's
announcement.
"Sir John A. will make an ideal junior high as it right now,"
said Ms. DeMone. "This is good for our community."
At the request of the Halifax Regional School Board, the new
elementary school planned to open in September 2005 in Hammonds
Plains will now be a Primary to Grade 6 school.
It will have 25 classrooms and junior high-size (6,500 square
foot) gymnasium.
"This is a great day for the students, staff and the community,"
said Michael Flemming, school board member for District 6. "I'm
pleased the government was willing to take another look at its
long-term plans and make the necessary changes."
Site selection will now begin for the new high school, which is
expected to open to students by September 2006.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
There will soon be a new high school for students in the
Hammonds Plains Saint Margaret's Bay area of the Halifax Regional
Municipality.
The province announced today (January 16th) the 16-point-
two-million dollar school will accommodate about 960 students.
Education Minister Jamie Muir says the Halifax Regional
School Board clearly demonstrated the need for the new school
based on its population growth estimates.
He says it's something the community wants and, with changes
to some other projects, the new school fits into the existing
budget.
With the addition of a new high school, the Halifax board
will convert Sir John A. MacDonald high school to a junior high.
Also, the new elementary school in Hammonds Plains will
be used for grades primary to six, rather than Primary to nine as
originally planned.
Site selection will now begin for the new high school, which
is expected to open to students by September 2006.
-30-
Contact: Andy Paterson
Department of Education
902-424-3150
E-mail: patersaw@gov.ns.ca
nlm January 16, 2004 2:28 P.M.
A new high school in the western part of the Halifax Regional
Municipality (HRM) will help ease overcrowding and give students
a safe, modern learning environment.
The province has approved a request by the Halifax Regional
School Board to build a new high school to serve students living
in the Hammonds Plains-St. Margaret's Bay area of HRM.
"Our system needs to show some flexibility to respond to the
changing needs of school boards throughout the province,"
Education Minister Jamie Muir said today, Jan. 16. "In this case,
the Halifax board clearly demonstrated a need for a new high
school. It's something the community wants and, by making some
adjustments, we were able to make the project fit into our
existing budget."
About 960 students will attend the new high school which will
cost $16.2 million to construct.
It will have an 8,400 square foot gymnasium, a drama room, music
room and two physics labs, two biology labs, a chemistry lab and
an information technology lab.
"This is great news for our community," said Sarah Nightingale,
chair of the School Advisory Council at Sir John A. Macdonald
High School in Hubley. "Our young people can now look forward to
attending a new high school with the most up-to-date facilities.
This is truly a long-term benefit for the people of this area."
The addition of the new high school will mean changes to some
other schools and projects within the Halifax Regional School
Board.
Sir John A. MacDonald High School will become a junior high
school for 750 students in grades 7 to 9. Conversion to the
junior high school will be completed by September 2006.
Because of the change in grade levels, most of the major
renovations previously planned at Sir John A. will no longer be
needed.
Pam DeMone, a member of the school steering team that helped
guide the renovations at Sir John A., is pleased with today's
announcement.
"Sir John A. will make an ideal junior high as it right now,"
said Ms. DeMone. "This is good for our community."
At the request of the Halifax Regional School Board, the new
elementary school planned to open in September 2005 in Hammonds
Plains will now be a Primary to Grade 6 school.
It will have 25 classrooms and junior high-size (6,500 square
foot) gymnasium.
"This is a great day for the students, staff and the community,"
said Michael Flemming, school board member for District 6. "I'm
pleased the government was willing to take another look at its
long-term plans and make the necessary changes."
Site selection will now begin for the new high school, which is
expected to open to students by September 2006.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
There will soon be a new high school for students in the
Hammonds Plains Saint Margaret's Bay area of the Halifax Regional
Municipality.
The province announced today (January 16th) the 16-point-
two-million dollar school will accommodate about 960 students.
Education Minister Jamie Muir says the Halifax Regional
School Board clearly demonstrated the need for the new school
based on its population growth estimates.
He says it's something the community wants and, with changes
to some other projects, the new school fits into the existing
budget.
With the addition of a new high school, the Halifax board
will convert Sir John A. MacDonald high school to a junior high.
Also, the new elementary school in Hammonds Plains will
be used for grades primary to six, rather than Primary to nine as
originally planned.
Site selection will now begin for the new high school, which
is expected to open to students by September 2006.
-30-
Contact: Andy Paterson
Department of Education
902-424-3150
E-mail: patersaw@gov.ns.ca
nlm January 16, 2004 2:28 P.M.