Celebrating a milestone year for capital projects in Langley Schools
At the start of each school year, there are always numerous school site enhancement projects – both large and small – to celebrate.
This year, there was even more to be excited about, as the Langley School District opened the doors on a brand-new school in Willoughby, Josette Dandurand Elementary, while also completing two modular classroom additions, at Nicomekl Elementary and Lynn Fripps Elementary. It was a milestone year for capital projects in Langley Schools. These new building projects mean more student spaces at a much-needed time of continued growth in enrolment. The District started the school year with an increase of 700 students, many of them attending schools in Willoughby. Prior to that, the District experienced increases of approximately 1,000 students over the last three consecutive years.
Josette Dandurand Elementary, which is located in the northeast Latimer neighbourhood in Willoughby, provides space for more than 550 students, and is a state-of-the-art building with many features that will enhance the learning experience for students. Among its features are sliding doors between classrooms, which can be used to create larger spaces for collaboration between classes, as well as many floor to ceiling windows to allow for natural light.
As well, the library is what principal Sean Oliver called “an absolutely beautiful space” that includes reading nooks, which Oliver noted might be the school’s most popular design feature among students.
The school’s outdoor space includes an accessible playground as well as an outdoor stage area, with raised seating.
With so many inviting communal spaces, as well as the ability to easily collaborate between classes, Oliver said it’s made it easier to build a community at the school, which is no easy feat considering the new school’s student population came from 75 different schools.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to build a community that Josette Dandurand would be proud of, and would be proud to have her name attached to,” he said.
At Nicomekl Elementary, a modular addition to the original school was completed in late summer, in time for the first day of classes, giving the school an additional 200 seats for students.
The addition blends into the look of the original building and is connected by a covered walkway. In addition to the eight new classrooms, the two-storey modular addition includes both staff and student washrooms, breakout and meeting spaces, flexible learning spaces, and an elevator for accessibility.
“It feels bright and new and exciting, and just makes me feel proud of our community,” said Nicomekl Elementary principal Kim Casquilho. “The thing I love about the modular is that it feels like part of the school… and will allow us to grow into the future.”
The Lynn Fripps Elementary modular expansion project, which, like at Nicomekl, is a two-storey addition, was also completed in the summer. It boosts the school’s capacity by 150 student spaces.
It’s made up of six new classrooms, as well as office and flex space, and restrooms.
Most importantly, principal Ron Dorland said, it fits in seamlessly with the rest of the school.
“The kids love it. They feel like it’s always been there. You walk down the hallway and it just walks straight into the new build. You can’t tell that it’s brand new,” Dorland said. “Everybody is working together, teachers working together. It just has a feel like our school has been this big, large space to welcome all these kids.”
One big highlight of the new learning space is the brightness of the classrooms, Dorland noted.
“It has high ceilings and so much natural light, and we have wonderful views of our nice grass field, the mountains, and the playground,” he said.
In addition to these three projects, construction of an addition at Langley Secondary is ongoing. As well, earlier this month, the District was excited to announce that construction has started on the new middle and secondary school campus in the Smith neighbourhood of Willoughby. Read more about that project here.