Letter to families about the renovation and addition at Centre Hastings Secondary School

Letter to families about the renovation and addition at Centre Hastings Secondary School
Posted on 04/09/2020

April 9, 2020

Subject: Renovation and addition at Centre Hastings Secondary School (Pdf version)

Dear Centre Hastings Secondary School and Madoc Public School Families:

We are writing with an update about the renovation and addition project at Centre Hastings Secondary School. During this time of pause in our home, school and work lives, we acknowledge that the current circumstances related to COVID-19 are beyond control.

Throughout this school year, you have heard us talk about putting all students first. The health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff are top priorities as we all engage in new ways of learning, and also as we plan for the consolidation of Centre Hastings Secondary School and Madoc Public School.

The most recent announcements from the Premier of Ontario that schools will be closed until May means a shift in focus. At this time, all efforts at the school and Board levels are on planning for and supporting students and families for learning at home.

The additional announcements that workplaces and construction sites are shut down means the renovation and addition project is on hold. A project of this scope and magnitude takes an immense amount of time, planning and school board personnel to make it happen_all of which are now focused on supporting students and families with learning at home.

We have been part of meaningful discussions with the school board senior team about next steps for the renovation and addition project. This collaborative approach has enabled us to share our school community perspectives.

Although this project pause will cause a delay, planning and work will resume when we are all back to calmer and more familiar times. At this time, we anticipate that our new school will open in September 2021. We will continue to work together to create a welcoming and inclusive, modern K-12 community school that will serve the students of Madoc and the broader community for years to come.

We encourage you to keep in touch with your child's teacher(s) about learning at home and please feel free to contact one of us with questions about the renovation project.

We are committed to being as responsive and forthcoming with accurate information as we possibly can. Thank you for your understanding as we navigate this most unusual time in history.

Take care and be well.

Dayna Scaletta
Principal, Centre Hastings Secondary School

Ruth-Ellen Cummings
Vice-Principal, Centre Hastings Secondary School

Kim Reid
Principal, Madoc Public School

Paul Longhurst
Vice-Principal, Madoc Public School