SRSS Ready For Students

Steinbach Regional Secondary School has been planning and building since May 2010 and on September 3rd teachers and students alike will be able to utilize and enjoy the new facility with all it has to offer.

Campus Administrator Luis Reis explains the original building will be mainly grade eleven and twelve students and will be referred to as the Black Wing. The addition will be mainly grade nine and ten students and will be referred to as the Gold Wing, since the school colours for SRSS are black and gold.

Reis says he's very excited about welcoming the grade nine students into the school and is also looking forward to the different opportunities this will allow for the school and the students.

“Having grade nine's in our building allows us to create junior varsity sports because grade nine and ten's are included in junior varsity sports. Having the grade nine's has also allowed us to open up our vocational programs and improve them and to create more opportunities for kids such as our Try-A-Trade program. We just think that the grade nine's belong to our school.”

After four years of planning and designing finally coming to fruition, Reis notes it's a surreal feeling. He adds looking back he thought about the challenge it was going to be and wondering how they were going to make it happen. Reis says it seems like a long time, but comes quickly when you're in the building 200 days a year watching everything happen.

Reis explains it's neat to see everything finally come together with the support from superintendents, trustees and building construction companies (Penn-Co and Stantech Architects). He says everyone has worked well together and that can be seen when the teachers and students were allowed to implement their thoughts and ideas, the construction team took those ideas and made them happen.

Reis notes he has many favourite areas, including the learning commons, gym and multipurpose area as well as the hairstyling and aesthetics department.

“It's our opportunity to finally host provincial tournaments which we haven't been able to do because we only had one gym. Having this second gym allows for a tournament style opportunity where we can utilize both gyms at different times.”

Friday, September 5th will be the first day when all students and teachers grade nine to twelve are in the school. Reis says he's looking forward to seeing how the students interact because even though the nine and tens are in a different wing then the eleven and twelve students, they're all apart of one school community.

“I know it's an exciting time of year. I know that a lot of kids, even though they miss their holidays, they are looking forward to coming to school and reconnecting with their friends from other communities. I'm just excited about the interactions, watching the kids and their reactions to the new building, the windows, the light, the learning commons and the gym. I'm just really excited about that newness in their face.”

Reis adds on September 11th at 6:30pm is the regular meet the teacher night. There will also be opportunities for parents and students to tour the building. As well on Tuesday, September 23rd at 11:30am there will be a grand opening ceremony where everyone involved in the producing of the building and putting it together will be invited for a ribbon cutting, key passing ceremony along with thank you's to show gratitude to everyone who has been involved in making the opportunity possible.