St. Evan’s Catholic Elementary School celebrates grand opening

Written By JOSHUA SANTOS

Children, parents and teachers celebrated with glee as St. Evan's Catholic Elementary School opened its doors on Monday, Jan. 7 at 8 a.m.

Dignitaries and students joined on in a ribbon cutting ceremony outside the school's doors followed by liturgy service in the gymnasium. 

Elvis Asante was one of the parents in attendance. His daughter, Faith, will attend junior kindergarten classes at the school. He felt honoured to be at the grand opening.

“We live very close to this side (of town), said Asante. My first child is here at a new school, starting kindergarten. I'm happy to be here and it's very close to my house.

“Me being here is like the opening of a new home and everything coming together.”

St. Evan's is a replica of St. Jacinta Marto Catholic Elementary School, on 40 Fallowfield Rd. in Brampton, incorporating a lot of the same elements. The exterior of the atrium has a few wood finishes.

“The washrooms are very, very nice, said Asante. The walkway where the stairs come in, inside where the gym is located, is very good. The classrooms and the way the layout of the school is, is very simple and by far this is the first school I've actually seen they have a lot of nature outside and inside.”

Joe Amodeo, principal of St. Evan Catholic Elementary School provided a few remarks during the indoor service.

“I'm very excited that we have a vibrant catholic school community that is coming to Caledon, said Amodeo. I'm very excited to work with the parents and I'm very excited to work with the teachers and of course the students.”

About 417 students are enrolled at the 57,394 square foot institution, located at 500 Dougall Ave, north of Highway 410 between Hurontario Street and Kennedy Road. 

The school can accommodate up to 504 students and features a two-room childcare centre for toddlers and preschoolers, according to a news release.

Students will learn in a technology driven environment encompassed with a faith-based cirriciulum.

“It's a 21-century learning environment. It'll have a lot of technology once it's up and running fully, said Amodeo. We had iPads, Chromebooks and Smartboards.”

Amodeo commended the staff and parent community for working through a four-month delay.

“We worked together and were able to work through those four months at the beginning of the year and it comes together today in a beautiful catholic school where faith lives through the halls,” said Amodeo.

Asante's daughter had to attend St. Rita Elementary School in Brampton, on the corner of Mayfield Road and Hurontario St., as they waited St. Evans to open up. 

Other enrolled students attended St. Rita and St. Leonard Elementary School, also in Brampton, prior to St. Evan's opening.

“We've all been waiting since last year, then they postponed it and now they opened it. It's a blessing, said Asante.

The school was scheduled to open on Sept. 4 2018 however construction delays pushed it back for four months. 

It was tendered at the same time as St. Jacinta Marto. The time line to complete both schools by September was difficult to meet.

Asante would like to see more parents and children involved in the school

“Even if there's a t-shirt that they are selling to get our kids to go to some kind of activities or to sight see, we should try and support them, said Asante.

“We build the school for our kids and we have to continue to support the school. We can't depend everything on the government. With all of this, if we can come together and support them, we will build a better future for our kids.”