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St. Thomas Aquinas to get new addition with gym and classrooms

June 3, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) Catholic Secondary School in Tottenham will be expanded to include a new gym and eight new classrooms to accommodate a growing student population.

The announcement was made by Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey, during a press conference at the school on Thursday, May 23.

MPP Saunderson also announced that a brand new Catholic elementary school will be built in the community of Angus in Essa Township.

The STA addition will be built on the north side of the existing school building.

“The government has committed $8.6 million dollars to expand the school,” MPP Saunderson said during the announcement. “It will create another 217 students spots, that’s a 20 per cent increase to the current enrolment and at the same time, the government is committing $26 million to create a new Catholic elementary school in Angus. That’s around $34 million that is being invested in Simcoe-Grey for new schools in the Catholic School Board. This is very important news and it is part of this government’s commitment to making sure that that our students get the best education to move them forward. We have doubled the capital budget this year to enable that. Simcoe-Grey is receiving around $120 million this year for new schools. That is a  very significant investment, and a much needed investment because this is a quickly growing area.”

MPP Saunderson mentioned the Honda Plant expansion, which will bring more people to the area and increase the population.

“We are expanding the Honda plant, and Mayor Norcross is very involved in that as is the County,” MPP Saunderson said. “We are working to make sure we are creating an environment for our communities to be sustainable, reliable, and affordable. We are making sure we have education facilities to handle growth in the area and make sure our students getting the education they need, the skills they need, as well as the counselling they need.”

Catholic School Board Trustee Janice Hutchison said the announcement will open an exciting new chapter for education in the region.

“As a Trustee representing this area, to hear this announcement that the Ministry of Education will fund the expansion at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School and the new Catholic Elementary School in Essa Township,” Ms. Hutchison said. “This financial commitment ensures our students have the necessary space and resources to succeed. We are looking forward to these new chapters at the Simcoe Muskoka District School Board as we continue to grow and move forward together.”

The new expansion at STA is planned to be completed for the 2026 school year. 

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