The Thames Valley Public School Board (TVDSB) opened its third new school of the year on Tuesday in Woodstock. Turtle Island Public School debuted mid-year, as original plans were broadened to support its growing catchment area. At the first bell, tradespeople were still busy applying finishing touches as students enjoyed their first chance to play in the schoolyard. Nearby, crossing guard Ann Muller finished up a busy first shift. “It was hectic, but I liked it. You could tell everybody was so happy. Kind of like the first day of school,” said Muller. And in many ways, it was. “It’s in the middle of this neighbourhood. So, we hope that we can be the heart of it,” said an excited principal, Holly Powell, who added that the student population is a merger of overflow students from three rural schools. “So now our kids, who were bused in the morning for an hour before and after school, are walking. We only have three buses.” And those bus rides are much shorter than students, like Darshween Bhasin, have been used to. “And that’s why I like the school so much. That’s like one of the advantages. It’s super close that I can walk. And it’s literally just a ten-minute walk!” said Bhasin. While the school board would not provide the final price tag for the building, a spokesperson confirms it will come in on budget at just under $32 million. It can accommodate 856 students. But with 770 students enrolled, Turtle Island has room to grow, but not much before portables would arrive. “We have room for three more classes in our building,” said Powell. While the library and classrooms are operational, the double gym is not operational yet. It seems students don’t mind. “Everything meets it (expectations), and it actually went up the roof from that!” said Grade 7 student Abbas Issaky. “It’s too good to be true!” The public school board building spree is not over. Four more elementary schools are expected to open over the next 18 months.
