South Chatham’s new Catholic elementary school remains on track to open in September.
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Last fall, St. Clair Catholic District school board officials announced the new school will be named for St. Teresa of Calcutta.
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“The school is still on track for opening in September 2024,” board communications supervisor Todd Lozon said. “Construction will be completed sometime this spring, with move-in and set-up of furniture and technology over the summer.”
Pupils at Georges P. Vanier and St. Ursula schools had researched various names for consideration. A school transition committee used the Thoughtexchange online tool to consult with families over two weeks in June.
With input from the Diocese of London, St. Teresa of Calcutta was selected as the name most appropriately respecting and honoring the individual and her 2016 canonization.
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The school is located on a three-hectare (7.4-acre) parcel on Tweedsmuir Avenue West at the south end of the Keil Drive extension.
In 2017, the province approved construction of two new board elementary schools in Chatham.
St. Angela Merici Catholic school, on McNaughton Avenue West in the city’s north end, opened in 2020.
The 5,626-square-meter (60,563-square-foot) two-storey St. Teresa school will include: a 510-sq. m (5,500 sq. ft.) gym with retractable stage; a two-storey learning commons; an outdoor classroom; 24 classrooms, including four kindergarten rooms; has 504 sq. m (5,426 sq. ft.) childcare center with three rooms (infant, toddler and pre-school) and separate outdoor play spaces; and roughly 105 parking spaces.
The board had previously approved the consolidation of six Chatham elementary schools — Georges P. Vanier, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Agnes, St. Joseph, St. Ursula, and St. Vincent — as part of a pupil accommodation review process.
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