By Charles Lefebvre

Grand opening for Monsignor McCoy modernization

Mar 1, 2018 | 2:52 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Students and staff at Monsignor McCoy High School took a moment to celebrate their new school.

The school celebrated the grand opening of the modernization Thursday afternoon, with a ceremony in the gymnasium, tours and a ribbon cutting.

“We’re excited for the grand opening today,” said Paul Bauche, principal at the school. “It’s been several years of hard work and visioning to create the spaces we’ve done for our students and staff.”

The modernization for the school was announced in 2014, with construction getting underway in February 2015. The cost was approximately $9.5 million.

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

13h ago

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

“It’s taken a while, but it’s allowed us to take our time and do a really good job with it as well,” said Bauche.

The modernized school features a new gymnasium, a fitness centre, a learning commons area, new chapel space, a foods lab and new classrooms, among other new features.

Bauche says the modernization has captured the abilities of all of the students at the school and how they learn.

“With the high school redesign philosophy, it really allows for students to use flexible time and flexible learning environments. Our our building didn’t allow that,” he said. “What this does is allow our learning philosophy to be captured by the physical structure of the building to support student learning.”

Bauche adds the feedback from staff and students has been positive.

Although the modernization is mostly complete, some small projects still need to be finished, says Bauche, who adds crews will undertake work in the offices during the summer.

Among high schools in the region, Medicine Hat High School opened its modernization last October. Eagle Butte High School is also scheduled to be modernized in the near future, though a date for construction is not yet known.