St. Joseph Catholic School in Belleville is expanding thanks to the provincial government.
The Ontario government has provided the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board with approval to award a tender for construction to expand the school.
The addition is being constructed to accommodate 481 students and will consist of 20 learning studios, six learning commons, a gymnasium, gathering stairs and other administrative and breakout spaces. The addition will also include the construction of EarlyOn and childcare spaces.
In order to permit this work to be completed, the St. Joseph Catholic School community will temporarily transition to the Sir Winston Churchill School site on MacDonald Avenue. This transition will occur over the March break and students will begin at the temporary site on Monday, March 21, 2022.
The tender awarded is $19.8 million.
“We are blessed to have such strong partnerships and support from our provincial and municipal government, as well as from our community,” said David DeSantis, Director of Education. “This addition to St. Joseph Catholic School will provide these students with even more opportunities to feel empowered to reach their full potential. I look forward to seeing the great things that come from this school community as this project moves forward.”
The anticipated completion date for this project is still to be finalized with the successful contractor and updates will be provided to the school community throughout the construction process, as applicable.
St. Joseph Catholic School opened in December 1953. The school was constructed to alleviate a growing population at St. Michael Catholic School on Church Street. The original school consisted of six rooms; however, throughout St. Joseph Catholic School’s history, many additions have been made to the school’s structure due to increasing enrolment. In 1962 a second floor was added and in 1968 a gymnasium and kindergarten classrooms were added. Another large addition was added to the school in 2004.
