Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

VALLEYVIEW SECONDARY

Valleyview Secondary expansion on track, as student enrolment increase squeezes in

Sep 10, 2021 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — With hundreds of students on the go, COVID-19 protocols to keep up with and an active construction zone within arm’s reach, Valleyview Secondary Principal Barb Hamblett says staff and students are doing well amidst the organized chaos.

“There’s so much work that goes into everything at this point that makes it feel like it opens tomorrow.”

Construction is coming along for the school’s $34.5 million expansion project — which Hamblett says is still slated to open in the fall of 2022.

“We’re right on track, the field is looking pretty good, and there’s a lot of excitement in the area actually as you can see things getting closer and closer.”

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Once the expansion side is opened, the school will have another 20 classrooms, a brand new gymnasium space, gender-neutral washrooms and several multi-purpose rooms to offer different classes and activities.

“We’re as a team looking at; how do you outfit a photography film studio, what do you put in a robotics lab, what about a Makerspace? And so all of that ordering is being done right now.”

Once of several schools in Kamloops operating over 100 per cent capacity, Valleyview has more than 900 students enrolled — though the space was built for around 675. Once the addition is completed, it’ll bring the school capacity to 1,200 students.

“We’re up slightly this year, we’re still kind of in that pandemic place where there are still some students who are choosing to do their schooling online. But yeah, a slight increase in population and people coming from different places. We’re had a number of students come from Alberta, which is really interesting.”

Currently, there are 12 portables used to accommodate the overflow, but the school is hoping those will all be gone by next year.

“We’ll be able to be together as staff and students, all in the same place again which will be so good.”