Province Announces New Liverpool School Site
Students and families from Liverpool will soon have a new school to replace the aging South Queens Junior High on the same site.
The province is investing $15 million for the South Queens school construction project, with $8.5 million as part of the 2012-2013 capital plan. The school will be the first in Nova Scotia designed to support project-based learning, a modern and innovative method of teaching and learning.
"The province is putting kids and learning first by building a school that will provide learning opportunities for students to thrive in a changing world," said Vicki Conrad, MLA for Queens, on behalf of Education Minister Ramona Jennex. "It is wonderful for families in Liverpool to have a new school built in the heart of their community."
Students across Nova Scotia will benefit from an almost $110-million investment in new schools, renovations, buses and the continued expansion of the province's student information system because of the province's 2012-2013 capital plan.
"This is an exciting day for the children and, indeed, for all the residents of south Queens," said Vernon Oickle, school steering team member. "It is with much enthusiasm that we embrace all the wonderful opportunities this project represents for the Liverpool area."
The school's design vision for project-based learning will meet the needs of 21st century learners. It includes a focus on open-concept teaching spaces where students can work collaboratively on projects with close access to resources. The design philosophy has resource areas such as family studies, technology innovation, visual arts, a multipurpose science lab and library, and will allow students to move easily between work areas to complete a broad range of project work.
"The Region of Queens is delighted with the announcement that the new middle school for South Queens is going to be sited on the current campus property." said John Leefe, Mayor of the Municipality of the Region of Queens.
South Queens Junior High School has about 300 students in Grades 7 to 9. The new middle school will be for grades 6 to 8, with Grade 9 students going to Liverpool Regional High School.
The capital plan, which will invest millions of dollars in projects to make life better for families, will create good jobs, grow the economy, and provide better healthcare and education for all Nova Scotians. The capital plan invests in projects that are most important to Nova Scotians like schools, emergency rooms, courts, roads and hospital equipment.
The school is expected to be completed in September 2013.