Students and parents got their first look at the new Holy Spirit School during the first day of the 2022-23 school year on Sept.6.
The new facility located at 200 Fireside Drive opened its doors to students for the first day of classes and allowed parents to tour the new building and facilities that are now available for their kids.
Principal of Holy Spirit School, Kim Welte, started the transition on Aug. 2, moving resources to the new location. Teachers began setting up their classrooms by Aug. 22 in anticipation for the upcoming school year.
“They weren’t required to be back until Aug. 29, but every single one of them was in that week getting their room set up,” Welte said during the building’s unveiling. “Its been a real big team project to be ready for kids today.”
The former building, which was leased to Holy Spirit by Rocky View Schools, has been turned over.
The old facility located on Powell Street ended the last school year with 260 students. As of the first day of classes this school year, enrolment has risen to 321 students.
With a faculty of 28 members, two more teachers are planned to help teach the increasing number of students.
Alongside faculty and staff, Welte said the new building has garnered significant praise from parents.
“It’s open spaces, it’s kid-friendly and the reaction from out community, think that it’s a lovely place to be,” she said.
A highlight of the new building is its emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), through electives for students in grades 4 to 6. For students in grades 1 to 3, teachers and staff will focus on teaching the new curriculum that has recently been piloted.
“We have everything from coding, robotics, to a makers space,” Welte said. “We are going to have dance, drama, wellness and so there’s a lot of things for a student to choose where their interests are going to be.”
New facilities include an art room, two science labs, a CTS fashion lab, and a dance and drama studio. The new building also boasts a band room with instruments and a temporary dance studio that will become a woodworking shop for older students in the future.
For now, Holy Spirit only offers from kindergarten to Grade 6. The building can accommodate students up to Grade 9, but will work closely with St. Timothy School to have students enroll from Grade 7 to 9.
Although the building is operational, according to Welte, Holy Spirit teachers and staff will continue to fix minor deficiencies that do not impact or hinder the students or teachers through the month. Additional modular classrooms are on school grounds, and will be open by Sept. 12.
Welte wants residents to know that Holy Spirit School is a faith-filled catholic community of caring.
“We love all our children. Our faith theme this year is first Corinthians; faith, hope and love,” Welte said. “Everyone is open to inquire and if we have the room and resources, they are certainly welcome to come.”
