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Education
May 25, 2011

Laval High in Placentia to Celebrate Official Grand Opening

The Placentia area school community will welcome guests to Laval High School this evening to celebrate the school’s official grand opening, with ceremonies set to begin at 6:30 p.m. The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, will join the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and MHA for Placentia-St. Mary’s, Milton Peach, Chair of the Eastern School Board, and Bob Carter, Manager of Corporate Affairs for Vale operations in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Tonight we will celebrate with students, teachers, staff, parents and others from the school community to mark this important milestone in the education history of the Placentia area,” said Minister Burke. “The Provincial Government has invested $11.8 million to ensure this facility will offer area students the highest quality education, in a state-of-the-art environment, for many years to come.”

The new school, which serves Grades 7-12, is mechanically ventilated, has a skilled trades suite, a home economics room, art room, cafeteria, computer room, and library resource centre. Designed to incorporate new, environmentally-friendly initiatives, it features energy-efficient lighting, occupancy-based heating and ventilation control, water conserving features, and a geothermal ground source heat pump system. Students are also able to monitor the school’s green initiatives through an interactive kiosk displaying the school’s environmental and energy efficient features.

“This is a tremendous achievement for the Placentia area,” said Minister Collins. “I am delighted for those who have worked so long and hard to bring this project to fruition. I have been involved in school restructuring in Placentia for a long time and this is a proud moment for the school community. I am extremely pleased with our government’s commitment to the area and thank Vale for its contribution to this state-of-the-art facility.”

A number of enhancements were made to the school with an additional $1.8 million corporate contribution from Vale, including a larger gymnasium with a walking track incorporated around the perimeter, and an expanded fitness room and music room. A fenced soccer field was also provided adjacent to the building.

“This new Laval High, with its specialized instructional areas, modern classrooms and well-equipped gymnasium will improve programming and maximize opportunities for the junior and senior high students in the Placentia area,” said Mr. Peach. “We acknowledge the Provincial Government's investment in this new school, as well as the support of the Laval High school community for helping to make this new school a reality.”

Since 2004, more than $504 million has been allocated for school infrastructure, with more than 1,500 projects approved during that time. Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador, provides $94.5 million for new and ongoing K-12 infrastructure projects.

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Media contacts:

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca 
Margaret Craniford
Constituency Assistant to the
Honourable Felix Collins
MHA for Placentia-St. Mary’s
709-729-6926
margcraniford@gov.nl.ca 
 
Mary Tucker
Manager, Communications
Eastern School District
709-758-2371
marytucker@esdnl.ca
 

2011 05 25             11:40 a.m.

 
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