Granite Ridge open to students

Jeff Green | Jan 14, 2014

It wasn't exactly easy or smooth, but on Sunday afternoon, January 5, the Limestone District School Board received an occupancy permit for Granite Ridge Education Centre.

The next morning, the school was ready to receive students, although the fact that the first day of school ended up being a snow day was not unwelcome to staff, who were still setting up their classrooms and work stations.

Tuesday morning ended up being the real opening day of Granite Ridge, and although there were still trucks parked outside, some of the trades-people were still finishing up their work, and the wind was howling as the students made their way from the buses to the front door, it was a very bright and happy day for the Limestone District School Board and families in Central and North Frontenac.

Principal Heather Highet welcomed the secondary students in the new cafeteria, which for the moment is open to the school's full-sized gym. Trustee Ann Goodfellow and School Board Director Brenda Hunter were on hand as well. Heather Highet talked briefly about the layout of the school and then the teachers led the students off to their new home rooms.

One of the major features of the school is the surrounding environment. There are very few spaces in the school that do not have at least one or two windows to the outside, and natural light infuses all the classrooms.

All of the technology in the classroom is another feature. There are SMART boards in every class, and the in-class sound systems are integrated directly into the teachers' own computers. Not only is the sound quality good, but the walls to the hallways are insulated so the sound stays in the class.

While Tuesday was the first day of classes after the break and secondary students have exams to prepare for, some of the younger elementary teachers were starting the new year by taking their students on tours of their big, new school.

Granite Ridge includes classrooms for all of the secondary school programs that were available at the former Sharbot Lake High School, including a wood and auto shop, music, art/fabric art room and a kitchen class.

Added features and upgrades from the previous school include a 6,300 square foot gymnasium, two separate change rooms, a fully equipped weight/powerfit room, a cafetorium with a 1,000 square foot stage, seating for 250 for concerts and performances, and a retractable wall that will open up to the gymnasium, allowing for large assemblies and events to permit seating for over 600.

While the school is up and running now, it will take some time for all of the moving in to be completed. The library is still filled with boxes of books, for example, which is something that will be sorted out in a matter of days. It will take longer to remove the former Sharbot Lake High School building and complete the landscaping plan that will make full use of the surrounding landscape.

Fortunately, few students were complaining about the lack of outdoor recreation areas on the first day of classes at Granite Ridge. Somehow the -20º temperatures and high winds made the students happy to explore inside, within the building itself.

The public will be invited to view the new building sometime later this winter.