Dedication ceremony for Sydenham High School's new Wellness Wing

May 08, 2014

While students and staff have been enjoying the new 14,000 square foot addition to Sydenham High School since February of this year, the official dedication ceremony just took place earlier this week.

On May 6, Vice-principal Brent Pickering welcomed representatives from the design and construction firms that built the addition, representatives from the Limestone District School Board, dignitaries, councilors and staff from the Township of South Frontenac, staff from Southern Frontenac Community Services, and the local OPP as well as members of other local school groups. The dedication ceremony, which took place in the school's brand new 90-seat theatre, paid tribute and gave thanks to the many individuals and organizations who helped make the new addition a reality.

The new wing was designed by HM Sardinha Architect Ltd. with construction overseen by David J. Cupido and it includes a brand new gymnasium, a theatre arts centre, a state of the art hospitality/culinary arts facility, and a brand new computer lab, each of which is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional in serving the students and staff at the school.

SHS teacher, Jeff Sanderson, thanked the many individuals who helped make the dream become a reality. He spoke of the naming of the new addition as the WELLness wing, the intent of which is to promote an innovative Live WELL program that will include Work, Exercise, Love and Learning for students both during and outside of class hours. The program, which is well underway in the school, already recently received a $20,000 grant from the Ministry of Education that will go towards supporting further initiatives to increase the number of students participating in physical and other wellness activities outside of regularly scheduled class time. Others who spoke at the ceremony included Director of Education Brenda Hunter, Board Chair Laurie French, Trustee Suzanne Ruttan, South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison and the school's student co-president for the 2014/2015 academic school year, Connor Bayers. Drama club students Noland Beattie, Taylor Drake, Colton Halligan, Daniel Karan and Max Karan under the direction of drama teacher Eirik Rutherford performed a scene from the school's upcoming production “MacDeath”. Following the ceremony students from the school's hospitality/culinary arts program under the direction of Tabitha Kirby offered up an impressive array of delicious hors d'oeuves in the new kitchen facility, after which LDSB representatives posed for photos at a brand new dedication plaque marking the official opening of the Wellness Wing.

Principal Jessica Silver was unable to attend the event due to a family emergency.