The official sod turning for the 8 new joint use schools in Saskatoon, including the public and Catholic schools in Stonebridge, was held on Friday. The two schools in each community (Evergreen, Hampton Village, Rosewood and Stonebridge) will share spaces like multipurpose rooms, a community resource centre and an early learning centre (childcare). The community will have after school access to the community resource centre, gymnasium and other multi‐purpose rooms.
A few highlights learned at Friday’s event:
- The public school in Stonebridge (yet to be named) is receiving an additional $2.7 in federal government funding to support a partnership between Saskatoon Public Schools and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation. As part of this partnership, approximately 75 WDFN students in grades 5-8 will attend the Stonebridge school (currently they are bused to three city schools). This funding will support four additional classrooms and a cultural centre. The cultural centre will be open to the community.
- There will be 90 childcare spaces available. Further information, including the operator, will be provided closer to the opening date of the schools as these details have not been confirmed.
- It is expected construction will finish June 2017 and be open to students for the start of the 2017-18 school year.
- The Greater Saskatoon Catholic School in Stonebridge is named St. Kateri. The Saskatoon Public School is yet to be named, but we should know by the end of the year.
As we hear more, we will be sure to share this information on Facebook and our website!