The grand opening of Western School Division's (WSD) École Discovery Trails (EDT) brought the community together in the new learning space located on the west end of Parkhill Drive in Morden. It's the first school built in the division in thirty-four years, since Minnewasta School was built on the Southwest side of town. Western has had the lowest space per capita for several years and has advocated for the new school for many more.
EDT Principal Samuel Jerema said with construction of the new school coming down to the wire, and so much to do to prepare for the first days of school, it only hit him moments before the doors opened.
"It was very emotional when the kids came in the building, but I remember the one of the biggest moments for me is when we were testing the sound system and Fontaine came in and showed me how to use the PA system. We pushed that the 'O Canada button' and then I just walked out into the hallway, and it just hit me. There were still lots of things going on that day. That was like the Friday before the September long weekend and it just hit me the emotion that, wow, we have a school, kids are coming, this is real."
Jerema said he was a bit nervous about Friday's assembly with honoured guests and community members coming together with the almost 500 students for the grand opening. He is proud of the grade five & six students who are considered Ambassadors for taking their leadership role in the school seriously and making the most of the opportunity when touring community members and dignitaries throughout their new school.
WSD Board Chair Darcy Wolfe said it was a special day for the entire community.
"I think the students were super excited. Before the day started, I got here early, and I saw a few of them and I know a couple of the students who were doing the tours, and you could see the smiles on their faces. And when I talked to them, they were super excited and just waiting to give a tour to the mayor or give a tour to whoever they're giving a tour to. They're just super excited and proud of this space in this school and I think they're really taking ownership of it and it's a really good thing to see."
MLA Carrie Hiebert said she is proud her government approved the building of this school before government changed a year ago, making this new school number fifteen to be built by the Progressive Conservative Government.
"It's exciting to see they've been waiting for the school for 30 years. It's so great to see that it's completed, that we got this funding in, that this school is happening and it's here. I got a tour of it today and the kids were great. They listened to all the speeches, and it was just a really fun day of cheering and laughter, with children around you. It's one of the fun things I get to do with my job."
Hiebert said she has already heard from parents of Morden Collegiate Institute (MCI) students that the high school is bursting. Adding, she will start advocating for a new high school as soon as possible to bring awareness to the current government because students need space in this fast-growing economic hub.
Deputy Minister Of Education Brian O'Leary stood in for Education Minister Nello Altomare at the grand opening in Morden. As the past Superintendent for Seven Oakes School Division, another crowded school division, O'Leary noted, Western was more crowded and he was happy to see all the natural lighting in the new school, compared to how schools were built years ago. O'Leary hopes the minister will be able to visit the new school in the near future.
Wolfe shared his gratitude to those who played a part in making this happen.
"I look back and I'm very thankful for all the work that's been done over the years. I've been a trustee for six years and I know this school had been planned long before, or had been thought of, long before I arrived on the scene. The previous board's previous staff members of Western School division have been working on this for I don't know how long, many, many years, and I am very thankful to past trustees and past staff who have been working on this, and current trustees and current staff who have done an amazing job, and we're just so proud we finally arrived at this day."
Wolfe said he is proud of this new school, as he is of all the schools in the division. He added, kids need space to learn and with the extra room in all of the schools, especially EMMS, which was one of the most crowded schools in Manitoba, staff and students will feel less pressure with everyone having more room to learn.
A portion of the dignitary speeches are below:
