A grand opening was held for St. Raphael School, the Catholic school side of the new joint use-elementary school in North Regina. On Wednesday, Catholic School Board trustee Vicy Bonnell cut the ribbon as staff, students, and representatives from Regina Catholic Schools looked on. Tawâw School, the public school for the joint-use facility at 233 Hamilton St. opened last fall. While Wednesday marked the official celebration of the opening of the Catholic school, students began using the classrooms of St. Raphael School in January. There is also a community centre in the middle of the facility. Two aging Catholic schools were replaced by the new building. St. Peter and St. Michael were amalgamated to become the new St. Raphael School. Tammy Appell, who was chosen to be principal, had served as principal of both the amalgamated schools. “Every school has its own culture, its own heartbeat,” she said. “So, trying to find some common themes at both schools, trying to bring the communities together, forming a joint CTSC group that we could have some common voice from our different parent groups, and really doing some planning together to make sure that everyone felt that they were a part of this new school, and that they belonged here.” Minister of Education Everett Hindley said schools are so much more than just a place for children to gain their education. “I think more so now than ever,” he said. “It’s a centre for the community for this part of the neighborhood in Regina. It’s a school that will serve this neighborhood for decades to come.” St. Raphael was projected to have 400 students when it opened, but that number has grown to about 500 students – requiring some portable classrooms to be added before the new facility even opened.
