The new Kingston elementary school that will bring together students from First Avenue and Frontenac Public Schools will be named Molly Brant Elementary School when it opens in 2016-2017.
Trustees with the Limestone District School Board decided on the name at its regular board meeting June 17.
Molly Brant Elementary School was chosen from a short list of four names provided to Trustees by the Kingston North Integration Committee. The final four names – First Frontenac Elementary School, Molly Brant Elementary School, North Oak Public School and Polaris Elementary School – were selected from a variety of suggestions provided by the school and broader community.
“The members of the Integration Committee were impressed with the diversity of the names suggested by the school communities,” said Area Trustee and New School Integration Committee Chair Alec Ross. “Molly Brant Elementary School is a wonderful choice for the new school. We look forward to building a facility with modern, accessible and sustainable features with unique learning opportunities.”
The naming process was overseen by the Integration Committee. The committee was tasked with gathering input from the school communities and provide recommendations for a new name. The committee sought suggestions from students, families, staff and the broader community through an online and hard copy balloting process which resulted in 144 submissions. The ballots were sorted by historical, local and geographical significance and narrowed to 11 choices that best represented the suggestions and aligned with the Board’s Naming of New Schools administrative procedure. The choices were then short listed to the final four names following a voting process.
“The selection of the school name is an exciting and important first step in the creation of a school community and identity,” said Frontenac Public School Principal Michael Blackburn, who will preside over the new school. “The Integration Committee did a fantastic job at considering the many ideas submitted and we appreciate the consideration given by the Trustees to the recommended names. Molly Brant Elementary School is a great choice.”
In addition to choosing the name for the new Kingston elementary school, Trustees also confirmed the general contractor for the construction project. Tambro Construction will work with Colbourne & Kembel Architects, Inc. on the $10.4 million project. Preliminary construction work will begin this July on the Lyons Street site. A ceremonial groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for September 2015.
The coming school year will also see the Integration Committee work with students, staff and families on the selection of new school colours, mascot and motto.
The new school will feature modern classrooms and specialized spaces including discovery centres, a kitchen lab and technology room, learning commons (library) area, gym with performance space to provide maximum flexibility, outdoor recreation areas to enhance student health and fitness, day-care facilities to serve families from the community, and multi-use spaces for shared school and community use.
The 49,000-square-foot building will also feature modern electrical systems that will efficiently and effectively support 21st century technology, energy efficient heating and lighting systems that will provide greater control and comfort, and accessible features to meet the requirements of the Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Release source: Limestone District School Board