CALGARY & OKOTOKS – Calgary’s oldest independent school, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS), opens its brand new $24-million, 100% donor-funded expansion on Tuesday, January 16 for students to experience an innovative approach to learning.
“After much anticipation, our dream is becoming reality today,” says Dr. William Jones, STS Head of School. “It’s not every day you open a new school – in fact, most students and teachers never have the chance to experience this precious moment. Our community will cherish it.”
Inspired by concrete and well-respected research on how spaces and environment can dramatically impact student learning and overall well-being, STS’ new facilities offer an unparalleled educational experience amongst Canadian schools. Careful planning has ensured that the new facility’s design supports STS’ unique and innovative teaching and learning model, where students can be hands-on and actively engaged in their learning.
“This is a unique and inspiring place to learn – it’s an amazing building,” says Dr. Jones, “In all of my travels to schools around the world I’ve never seen a school this beautiful and functional. I don’t think there is another school like it.”
Students and teachers are seeing the new facilities for the first time this week. Move-in activities include all students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 joining in a parade from their old Elementary spaces to the new. Students in all grades will enjoy classes in the new buildings starting Tuesday.
STS’ new expansion has been made possible through the generosity of the STS community including parents, alumni, and faculty and staff, many of whom are business and community leaders in Calgary. The 65,000 square foot expansion complements STS’ existing 220-acre campus, offering stimulus-rich spaces to encourage student-directed, collaborative learning and strategic landscaping to enrich educational nature opportunities offered on STS’s campus.
STS students are most excited for the new facilities as they are the long-term beneficiaries of this community effort. The new building offers an improved Elementary wing, expanded Fine and Performing Arts spaces and a new Heart of the School to create a warm welcome to the STS campus.
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) develops well-balanced students for a life of purpose by inspiring excellence in scholarship, leadership and character. Situated on a beautiful, 200-acre country campus just south of Calgary, STS offers academic excellence as Alberta’s only full, Grades K-12, International Baccalaureate (IB) independent school. With about 700 students, STS offers a rich learning environment where students can expect more, including: small class sizes, integrated learning, over 100 co-curricular activities, city-wide busing and scholarships, in unique, rural surroundings.
