New Westminster Schools is growing!
As a growth District, we’re working as hard as we can to build schools that will support the kids we currently have enrolled, while also making strategic choices when it comes to projected growth as well. And we’re proud to be building schools in a way that will enable us to lead into the future by creating spaces that will foster innovation, collaboration and take advantage of updated curriculum guidelines and teaching theories.
All of the work we do to grow and develop our District’s infrastructure is based on our long range facilities plan. You can find that here: Long Range Facilities Plan – August 2021
Now, here are the top projects we have on the go …
Queen Elizabeth Elementary School addition
In June of 2021 the Ministry of Education officially announced that they will invest over $20 million to support the proposed 13 classroom expansion of Queen Elizabeth Elementary! This much needed expansion paves the way for the space required to serve the fast-growing community of Queensborough.
Current Phase: Concept and architectural plans.
Phase highlights: The below draft concept plans were shared at a public information and consultation session on Monday June 27th, 2022 (intended for evaluation and discussion only).
Queen Elizabeth Elementary Addition - Draft Presentation Boards - 2022-06-22 - Copy
Anticipated Completion: Within the 2024-25 school year.
Skwo:wech Elementary (previously Richard McBride) Replacement Project
In the Spring of 2020 we broke ground on the new Skwo:wech Elementary. And staff and students were able to move into the new school following Spring Break in 2022!
The replacement school features open spaces and a design will support revised and modern curriculum needs. And, in addition, it features a significant expansion to the child care centre with new infant and toddler spaces opening up to better support local families.
Current Phase: New school is open, demolition of the old school in progress.
Phase highlights: The new school is open and being enjoyed by students. The child care facility will open in the 2022-23 school year. Demolition, sorting, removal of the old school is continuing.
Additional notes: Final landscaping work will follow demolition and removal.
Most recent community update: https://newwestschools.ca/a-red-ribbon-day-at-skwowech-elementary
Check out these photos taken at the ribbon cutting event in June of 2022!
The new New Westminster Secondary School
We are excitedly nearing the end of our New Westminster Secondary School Replacement Project – a $106.5 million, state-of-the-art new home for one of British Columbia’s largest high schools!
Our new NWSS space accommodates 1,900 grade 9 to 12 students in a 21st century learning environment … meeting today’s standards for modern learning, safety and accessibility, while incorporating the latest sustainable energy management systems.
Current Phase: New school is open!
Phase highlights:The old school is continuing to be decommissioned and moved toward the demolition phase.
Anticipated Completion: Move in was completed over Winter break, 2020. Demolition of the old school is happening now.
Want a peak? Watch our “Welcome Home” tour here:
In development: Fraser River Zone, Elementary School Project
For the 2022-23 major capital funding process, the District requested over $200 million in capital projects, mainly consisting of 2 new schools and 3 land acquisition requests. Our most significant needs are to create capacity for elementary and middle schools in the Fraser River Zone Region.
The Fraser River elementary project has been formally supported by government, enabling us to work on the Concept Plan and Project Definition Report. If successful, this will lead to funding support for a new elementary school.
Current phase: Concept Plan
Phase highlights: Development of concept drawings, work with community partners as we investigating the capital development project (the current plan being investigated would see a campus be built around Simcoe Park, which would include both the Fraser River Middle School site as well as the School Board Office).
Anticipated timelines: No timelines can be created until after the funding approval phase has been completed.
Minor Capital Projects
Funding for minor capital projects (those to occur between April 2020 and March 2021), will/has covered: a roof replacement at Herbert Spencer Elementary, a roof replacement and flooring upgrades at Glenbrook Middle, and mechanical upgrades to air circulation systems at Connaught Heights Elementary and FW Howay Elementary.
And, in case you haven’t seen it yet: there’s a brand new playground at Queen Elizabeth Elementary, on Queensborough Landing, for students to enjoy this coming year!
