A ceremony to mark the grand opening of Ecole Champlain on Erinvale Drive in Lewisville was held today.
Dignitaries cut the red ribbon… Ecole Champlain #Moncton now officially open #nbnews #nbpoli #schools pic.twitter.com/UNGA1p8LGf
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) October 12, 2017
The new $24 million K-8 school with nearly 800 students also frees up space at another nearby school, Ecole Le Mascaret off McLaughlin Drive.
Students perform at opening ceremony of Ecole Champlain #Moncton, 39 classrooms, 2 gyms, library, cafeteria, art,music rooms #nbpoli #nbnews pic.twitter.com/MFeOBonDvb
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) October 12, 2017
Stephanie Hopper, chairperson of the parent school support committee, lobbied the province for a new school in the wake of pollution problems the old school faced in an industrial area off Mill Road.
“It’s great. We never thought years ago when we started this, other parents, that we would actually see the day where our kids would be in a brand new school with ncie colours and clean air and celebrating this moment,” she says.
The new Ecole Champlain has 39 classrooms, two gymnasiums, a science lab, library, cafeteria along with arts and music rooms.
However, Hopper notes a new school doesn’t come with recreational equipment and parents are now fundraising with hopes of reaching $300,000 to help purchase playground equipment.