As students, teachers, and families prepare for a new school year, a high school in Innisfil is getting ready to expand its walls. Nantyr Shores Secondary School will welcome an extension to its educational walls opening the door for more than 414 new student spaces. Chris Whelan, senior manager of design and construction said the extension will allow the school new areas for students to learn. “All together, we’re 16 classrooms and two new science rooms as well, with some ancillary space, a teacher work room and some facility spaces as well,” said Whelan. Nantyr Shores will now have more than 1600 spaces for students to learn, with the total cost exceeding just north of $13 million. Corry Van Nispen, Superintendent of Business and Facility Services said the investment is the Ministry of Education acknowledging the rapid growth within the Innisfil region. “This just shows that we’ve got many students that have come to Innisfil, and we expect more students to come,” said Van Nispen. “This is supporting the student achievement of our current and future students.” The new addition to the school will remain closed and under construction for the first semester as workers continue to add the finishing touches. Students and parents will notice the change walking into the main hallway with the addition connected by the gymnasium. Nantyr Shores is the only public high school in the region, and the 27,000 sq ft extension is welcomed by school officials “We see a lot of overpopulation in school(s), especially secondary in this area, so it allows us to move some portables off site, get the students in the school properly,” said Whelan. “Bringing the science classrooms really helps bolster that part of their programing.” Students and teachers will benefit from the extension for years to come. “Having them have proper learning spaces and state of the art rooms, the students don’t realize it, but it’s very important with the progress that they’re learning,” said Whelan. “And for our staff to be able to provide that program in the best way possible.” Finishing touches on the new extension are taking place and officials expect desks and furniture to slowly be installed with students walking the new hallways in the second semester of this school year.
