The Halton District School Board keeps on growing.

Since the start of this school year, Board and government officials as well as members of the community, including students, have celebrated three groundbreaking ceremonies for new schools – one elementary school in Burlington and high schools in Milton and Oakville. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in the future for the new Burlington high school in the Alton community, scheduled to open in September 2012.

The Board is spending more than $90 million in new school construction over the next two years.

Specifically, the new school details are as follows:

● In Burlington, an elementary school will open on Sutton Drive, located in the Orchard community. Students from Orchard Park and Alexander's public schools helped ceremonially turn the sod to kick off construction of the new building.

This new JK-Grade 8 elementary school, with a student capacity of more than 700, will help address growth occurring in north Burlington, and specifically relieve accommodation pressure at Alexander’s and Orchard Park public schools. Construction of the Orchard #3 school is well underway, with the official opening anticipated for September 2011. 

The two-storey school will feature barrier-free accessibility for students, staff and visitors, a double gym, separate bus and car drop off areas, and will accommodate the delivery of an all-day/every-day Kindergarten program.

The Board has awarded the architectural tender to Hossack and Associates Architects of Mississauga, and the construction contract to Everstrong Construction Limited of Orangeville.

● In Milton, a new high school is under construction to help address growth occurring in south Milton, and specifically will replace E.C. Drury High School, with the official opening anticipated for September 2012. 

The two-storey school will feature barrier-free accessibility for 1200 students and staff, a triple gym, studio/theatre, food school and technical educational facilities, and an all-weather running track. 

The Board has awarded the architectural tender to Allen & Sherriff Architect Inc. of Richmond Hill, and the construction contract to Percon Construction Limited of Mississauga.  

● In Oakville, a new high school is being built to help address growth occurring in the Westoak Trails community. Construction of the high school will begin in January 2011, with the official opening anticipated for September 2012. 

The three-storey school will feature barrier-free accessibility for approximately 1200 students and staff, a triple gym, studio/theatre, specialty classrooms and an all-weather running track. 

The Board has awarded the architectural tender to Hossack and Associates Architects of Mississauga. The construction contract will be tendered in late fall. 

Meanwhile, Halton District School Board is proud to have opened three new elementary schools in the current 2010-11 school year. The three public schools are:

● Tiger Jeet Singh Public School, 650 Yates Drive, Milton (770 students)
● James. W. Hill Public School, 2860 Kingsway Drive, Oakville (410 students)
● Palermo Public School, 2561 Valleyridge Drive, Oakville (705 students)
(For an explanation of the name for each school, click the ‘Schools’ tab on the homepage of the Board website, www.hdsb.ca)