Waterford students adjust to intermediate campus

On May 5, the Grand Erie District School Board unveiled the Waterford Public Intermediate Campus with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new wing. From left are (front) Waterford Public Schools students Otis Anger, Lily Acland, and Lily Payne, (back row) Adrienne Cunningham, Principal WPS; JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education; Regan Vankerrebroeck, Superintendent of Education; and Susan Gibson, Chair of the Board. 

Brenda Moser

Advocate Correspondent

As the population of Waterford grows, we have seen an increase in the school enrollment.

It became apparent to the Grand Erie District School Board that some changes had to be made to accommodate the increasing number of students.

Waterford District High School underwent some carefully planned interior changes, creating a new Intermediate Campus dedicated to just Grade 7 and 8 students, a ‘school within a school.’ The consensus is that it is working out and both the elementary and high school students have adjusted quite well.

On May 5, the Grand Erie District School Board unveiled the Waterford Public Intermediate Campus, located at Waterford District High School, with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the new wing.

Principal Adrianne Cunningham and Vice Principal James Snell were on hand to welcome everyone to the new ‘home’ of about 64 Grade 7 and 8 students and staff. While it may be housed at the high school, the space is only accessible to the Grade 7 and 8 students and supporting staff. They have dedicated times for gymnasium use and a dedicated area for their use only during recess times.

Susan Gibson, chair of the board, was guest speaker for the May 5th dedication.

“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration,” said Gibson. “It reflects Grand Erie’s shared commitment to providing the best educational environment for all learners. Thanks go to teachers from both campuses for their co-operation in this project and to the Director of Education JoAnna Roberto.”

“We believe in building environments where students, families and staff thrive, where curiosity is encouraged and everybody is inspired,” said Roberto. “These students here today are the first students in the GEDSB to ‘hit’ this building before Grade 9. It is a modelling to other elementary campus students and I want to say thank you for your leadership.”

Roberto went on to thank all of the teachers and administration.

While some students may have been apprehensive at first, their opinions seemed to change.

“It’s not so scary anymore. We have more responsibility and it’s changed my thoughts on high school,” said Lily Payne. “The classrooms seem bigger here. We have a locker now and we have gym every day. We go to assemblies at Waterford Public and we still have our reading buddies at WPS.”