Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is excited about the facility renewal advancements being made to create an outstanding learning environment at Harmony Public School.
The following is an update as of September 4, 2014. Student and staff safety and well-being continue to be our priority.
Students will go to school on Monday, September 8. Harmony Public School will not be open. Students will be bused to three alternative locations, as noted below.
Although the school is not ready, we have made short-term plans for students to take their regular buses and attend class at three Belleville schools starting Monday, September 8th. The plan is as follows:
- Primary students whose teachers are: Cornall, Cox, Crothers, Ford, Nash, Reid, Sakellis, Shillington, Slater, Tebo and Wanless, will go to Sir Winston Churchill Public School, located at 301 MacDonald Avenue.
- Primary and Junior students whose teachers are: Graham, Little, Petch and Vella, will go to William R. Kirk School located at 224 Palmer Road.
- Junior and Intermediate students whose teachers are Crawford, Kerr, MacDonald, Marcotte, Shortland, Vivian and Wong, will go to Quinte Secondary School, located at 45 College Street West.
"Our priority continues to be student safety and well-being. It was our intention for students and staff to be in the new school on September 2. Our decision now to delay entry for students will provide stability for families and will ensure that students are in school and learning. It will also allow time for our construction partners to continue the work. Plans for a smooth transition to our new school will be announced as soon as it is ready," said Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education.
School start/end times and busing
- The school day at each site will start at 9:55 a.m. and end at 4:15 p.m., which is 30 minutes later than the normal times.
- Normal bus pick-up times will occur in the morning and students will take their regular buses.
- After school, buses will depart at 4:15 and return students home on their normal routes.
- Parents/guardians should contact Tri-Board Student Transportation Services if they do not know their child's bus number, 1.866.569.6638 or [email protected]
We expect these arrangements to be in place for at least three weeks. The first day at the new school will be communicated as soon as possible.
A voicemail message is being sent to students' homes this afternoon.
We appreciate the patience and understanding of our families, students and employees as we continue to work towards the new school being ready for students as soon as possible.
Background on the new school
In January 2013 the Ministry of Education announced funding in the amount of $11.6 million to build a 59,000 square foot replacement school to accommodate 590 students. The new school has been under construction since September 2013. Projected enrolment for September 2014 is approximately 540 students.
Significant delays in recent weeks resulted in families being asked to keep students home for the first four days of school.
It was necessary to demolish the old school during the summer to allow for underground cabling and other services to be trenched and installed from the road to the new school.
For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]