PECI readies to welcome its first K-Gd 12 student body

Administrator | Aug 30, 2018 | Comments 4

Prince Edward Collegiate Institute has been fully inspected and cleaned and teachers are busily setting up for the first Kindergarten to Grade 12 school year.

Kerry Donnell, Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board communications officer, confirmed teachers began moving in this week and will have classrooms ready to welcome students on the first day of school.

She said there’s been a vast amount of work done to get PECI ready for the upcoming school year.

The work included the renovation of the elementary wing to create four kindergarten classrooms, three special education rooms and two primary classrooms along with a second elevator and a new accessible washroom. Donnell said the construction on the elevator will be ongoing for a short while after school begins.

The second floor of the school will be elementary classrooms with new flooring, ceilings, whiteboards and a fresh paint job. The main gymnasium will have a new floor, a new P.A. system will go in among other upgrades to mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

Outside the school, Kindergarten and elementary students will enjoy their own separate, fenced playgrounds. The parking lot has been completely redone, featuring a new bus loop and new paving.

“PECI is our first K-12 school. Everyone is very excited about the new look inside and out. The entire school team—from the administrators to the educators and support staff—is ready to welcome students on the first day of school,” Donnell said.

Ballpark costs for PECI’s renovations sit around $3.4 million, according to Donnell.

“Although not all of the renovations are related to consolidation, all of the renovations will make PECI a welcoming and safe learning environment for many years to come.”

Parents, students and community partners patiently awaiting ‘First Day Plans’ were thanked for their patience and support during the transition.

The school posted the following on its website and social media to outline first day procedures for student arrivals.

Students who ride the bus to school:
All bus students will be met by staff as their buses arrive. Secondary students will enter the building through the Main Entrance (A) and Entrance B at the front of the school. Elementary students will enter through Entrance C with their staff escort and move together to a gathering place reflective of their grade. Primary students in Grade K to 3 will be gathering in the elementary gym (formerly known as Gym A). Junior and Intermediate in Grades 4 to 8 students will be gathering at the rear of the school.

Students who are dropped off at school:
Secondary students dropped off at school will enter through the Main Entrance (A) and Entrance B at the front of the school. Elementary students dropped off at school will enter through Entrance E (formerly known as Sunnyside and now the Primary ‘Kiss & Drop Entrance’). Primary students in Grades K to 3 will be welcomed by staff and escorted to the elementary gym (Gym A). Junior and Intermediate students in Grades 4 to 8 will be greeted by staff and escorted to a meeting place at the rear of the school.

From the specified gathering spaces, students will be met by their teachers and assembled in to their designated classes according to teachers’ class lists. Teachers will then escort their students to their new learning spaces and the first adventures of learning at PECI, K-12 will begin.

Those with questions regarding these details, are asked to call the main office 613-476-2196.