St Malo School state of the art expansion ‘not just rooms’

Students Yannick Lahaie, 13, and Amelia Wiwsionski, 12, cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of their École St Malo School expansion, making all that distracting hammering finally worth it.

Locals got a chance to tour the 10 new classrooms, gym and more after the ribbon cutting Oct. 23. The rooms are filled with the newest technology, including giant touchscreens in each class. The new in-school daycare run by Garderie de Bambins Co-op and Les P’tits Papillons was also on display.

The school’s former principal Julie Karatchuk, who moved this year to École Heritage Immersion in St Pierre, spoke to how far St Malo’s school has come.

“With the state-of-the-art spaces for learning, a new gymnasium, music, science and classes are not just rooms, they are hubs of creativity, collaboration and curiosity.”

“Each space has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the uniqueness of the community and to support learning in profound ways,” said Karatchuk to the large crowd gathered around the poles holding the Métis and Canadian flags outside.

Lahaie and Wiwsionski took their opportunity to speak in both official languages to describe what construction over the years was like, and what they liked about the finished product.

“We love our gym, it’s huge!” said Wiwsionski.

Lahaie, who spoke French to the francophone community members, brought up the improved basics and technical marvels in the washrooms and touchscreens.

The student speakers explained how things got cramped with limited facilities in a school that was at the capacity of about 250 students for a while.

They said the new screens helped make learning more interesting.

They also asked superintendent Brad Curtis if the swings moved to make way for the new indoor space could be returned, which earned a chuckle from Curtis and the crowd.

Curtis thanked the students and staff for their patience during renovations.

Supply chain issues have repeatedly delayed the opening of the 25,600-sq.-ft. expansion first announced in April 2021 by former PC government Education Minister Cliff Cullen. The $16.1-million construction run by Blumenort’s Penn Co. started in spring of 2022.

Karatchuk was poetic about the experience.

“Packing, moving, and unpacking became our rhythm. Excitement filled the air as we witnessed the transformation unfold.

“The sounds of jackhammers, drills, rumbling engines serenaded us — a soundtrack to our aspirations. Each thud and clang was a reminder of the great things to come,” said Karatchuk.

La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth spoke to the importance of the francophone nature of the school and community of St Malo. The school offers both English and French programs.

“St Malo represents what we are all proud of as Manitobans. It’s a francophone community in rural Manitoba with Indigenous heritage, and has a strong understanding of the importance of growing communities through our youth, friends, family and fellowship,” said Narth.