The dignitaries and shovels were on hand Thursday morning in east end Belleville, as ground was officially broken on upgrades to St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School on Bridge Street East.
In February, the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board announced a $19.8 million tender for work on the school.
The work includes 481 new student spaces, six learning commons, 20 learning studios, gathering stairs, breakout spaces, two dedicated EarlyOn rooms, and an additional 49 licensed childcare spaces.
“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.”
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ALCDSB Director of Education David DeSantis (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
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.
Students are temporarily being housed at Sir Winston Churchill Public School on MacDonald Avenue, while the work is being done.
Chair of the Board of Directors for the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board Tom Dall:
“I truly believe that in partnership with St. Joseph Catholic Church that this school is the cornerstone of the Catholic community for the east end of Belleville. With this addition we are strengthening its foundation.”
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ALCDSB Chair Tom Dall (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
David DeSantis is the Director of Education for the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board
“As you are aware this addition will provide new and exciting opportunities for our students to thrive in Catholic education. These opportunities will allow our students to reach their full potential through faith and service.”
Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk says this is great news for the city.
“This $20 million investment is going to upgrade and refresh the school. Really it was bursting at the seams. The fact that the provincial government has recognized that this is an important project to upgrade is really, really good.”
Officials with the board say the hope is to have students moving back into the school in the fall of 2023.
