A two storey addition to 91原创's Richard Bulpitt Elementary opened its doors to students this month on the first school day of the year 鈥� just 11 months after it was approved by the school board.
The pre-fabricated, modular addition was assembled on site over the summer, and appears almost identical to the rest of the school, inside and outside, noted principal Sean Oliver.
The new addition includes a skyway connecting it to the second floor of the original school building, washrooms on both floors, a small wheelchair elevator for students or staff unable to use the stairs, and a small office space or meeting room.
The whole building was built offsite in a factory, then brought in on trucks and craned into place in May and June. Only the foundation was built on site.
Students love it, said Oliver, noting it's climate controlled and has all the advantages of the rest of the school.
"And they got to watch it, they saw it when it was a hole in the ground," Oliver said.
The addition was approved to deal with one of the major issues that is facing many 91原创 schools, especially those in fast-growing Willoughby neighbourhood 鈥� a proliferation of portables because of high student enrolment.
Last year, Richard Bulpitt had six portables. The six classroom addition replaces those. However, there are still two portables on site, thanks to the school continuing to grow since just last year.
"We're up two divisions," Oliver said.
The school is one of the three largest in the district at this point by enrolment, with approximately 650 students, although enrolment is still in flux as new families arrive.
On Monday, Sept. 9 Minister of Education Rachna Singh was on hand at the new addition, to welcome it as well as to announce funding for two new schools to be built less than a mile away.
Also speaking at the opening were two students of Richard Bulpitt, Ethan Stanton and Morgan Crocker.
"I think it's perfect," said Stanton.
Crocker noted that she loves the skybridge connecting the two parts of the school.
The next addition to a 91原创 school will be an eight-classroom addition to Nicomekl Elementary in 91原创 City.
Senior school district staff indicated that they have applied for additions to three more schools in fast-growing areas, as well.
