Harvest Hills Public School is reaping the results of seeds sown over the previous school year.
After officially opening to students on Sept. 6, 2022, the school held an open house to allow members of the community to tour the school at 400 Crossland Blvd. in Bradford and speak with staff on Tuesday evening.
“The timing is such that it has allowed the students and staff time to settle into their new surroundings and build a culture of community and belonging that can be showcased at this special celebration,” Jennifer Frans, the school principal, said in an email from the Simcoe County District School Board.
Dozens of families attended the event, with vehicles overflowing from the school’s parking lots onto nearby residential streets.
There are currently 580 students enrolled at the 5,145 sq.-ft. school which offers classes from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 and French immersion Grades 1-8.
The facility includes 19 classrooms, one learning centre, one autism spectrum disorder room, one sensory room and seven portables.
Frans is new to the school this year, but described her experience so far as “amazing.”
"The community's great, the students were so welcoming and inviting. It’s been great getting to know everyone,” she said.
The school also features a gym, a multi-purpose room with kitchenette, a library and coming soon, soccer standards and basketball hoops.
Kindergarten rooms are self-contained with washrooms, sinks and water-bottle refill stations, plus more water-bottle refill stations available to all students to encourage reuseable bottles.
There is also a full daycare managed by Bradford Progress Childcare Centres with their own space, separate entrance and fenced play area. Before- and after-school care is also available on the school side.
“We have a very inclusive, welcoming staff and very inclusive, welcoming students who really embrace everybody, which is so wonderful to see, and I think that is one of our greatest strengths. As a diverse community it’s been a really great opportunity to be able to engage with everyone,” Frans said.
“It’s exciting too because we get to set the tone for that. Scott opened the building and he started the foundation, but we get to pave that way and build on that for the future, which is lovely,” Nadene Fischer, vice-principal, said in reference to Scott Young, former principal.
Frans and Fischer both emphasized the work being done at the school to build on their equity and action plan, as well as building towards the board’s strategic priorities, while helping the students shape the school environment.
“They have a voice in that, which really makes the school their own, so it’s really going to become their own place and their own space of learning,” Frans said
“We’re looking at trying to figure out how their voice can be more included with things they can connect with outside of the extracurriculars,” Fischer added.
Some of those extracurriculars currently include cross country running and flag football, with choir, clubs and more sports expected to come soon.
Fischer noted that one teacher already approached her about the possibility of starting a primary choir, after some of the younger students expressed an interest.
“I think the Bradford community has waited for this school for a very long time, and it’s the start of many great things coming. I have a principal with a passion for music and a vice-principal with a passion for literacy, so watch out; great things are going to happen here,” said Matthew Webbe, superintendent of education.
The parents also seem keen to help out, as more than 19 have already signed up to participate on the school’s parent council, bringing with them their advice for what worked and what didn’t at the various other schools students attended while waiting for Harvest Hills to open.
“We’re really looking forward to hearing their voices as well,” Frans said.
“It’s a nice way for us to hear what they have to say and figure out how it works for our students in this particular community,” Fischer added.
