Aquinas students to move into new school next weekBy Dominik KurekOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFThe opening of the new St. Thomas AquinasSecondary School building was delayed earlierthis year, but since then things have goneaccording to plan and students will be movingin on Feb. 2On Wednesday morning the students andstaff will start the day in the gym of the oldPHOTOS BY MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER building before walking over to the new build-FINISHING TOUCHES: Workers (above) put the finishing touches on the new St.Thomasing. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremonyAquinas Catholic Secondary School,which is scheduled to be open on Wednesday.The new facilityand an opening assembly presentation to markincludes an atrium (right).the occasion.The school is not yet entirely complete, butThe school was originally going to open atSome of the highlights at the new buildingthe Halton Catholic District School Boardsthe start of the school year, but due to a delayinclude new science and computer labs, newsuperintendent of facility management servic-in the issuance of a building permit from thevocal and instrumental music room and a 380-es Giacomo Corbacio said it will be byTown of Oakville, the start of construction wasseat theatre and dramatic arts classroom, aWednesday.postponed from spring of 2009 to the summer.Specialist High Skills Major program inWere moving forward. Were all set to go,The new building is larger, with more class-HealthCare with a new health care classroomhe said. The contractor is working hard to getroom space and will be home to about 800 stu-and lab, a range of classes in technologicaleverything ready for the students. Were justdents.studies such as design and communications,hopeful that we can meet that date.When the school opens it will not be fullytransportation, construction and hospitality,The second semester officially starts onfinished. Its theatre and library are expected toalong with the schools already established cos-Tuesday, Feb. 1. However, Corbacio said thebe competed by the end of March, while itsmetology.semester at Aquinas will begin a day later toshop wing will not be operational until theThe school will have two full-sized gymna-give the students and staff one extra day for thestart of the next school year. siums with an indoor track, new fitness studiomove. The two buildings are on the same prop-Shop and industrial classes are currentlyand weight room and in the outdoors there willerty.being offered to Aquinas students at St.be a new all-weather turf field and a six laneWe thought wed give ourselves an extraIgnatius of Loyola and Holy Trinity Catholicsynthetic track.day just to be on the safe side to set up, he said.secondary schools. That will remain the caseThe building will also feature a number ofThe move actually begins today and contin-until the next school year.environmentally friendly features such as aues through the weekend.The school will not reach 100 per cent com-green room, rain water harvesting for toiletThe staff will be in there on Jan. 31 andpletion until September, by which time the oldflushing, solar thermal hot water system andFeb. 1 to set up and the students move in onbuilding will be demolished and converted intothe use of sustainable and high efficiency build-Feb. 2.a parking lot and portables are removed.ing materials.Vision To be the most livable town in CanadaNotice of adoptioncopy of the appeal form is available from the OMB website Inquiries may be directed to Ita Waghray, planner, Adoption of Official Plan Amendmentat www.omb.gov.on.ca.Planning Services department at 905-845-6601, extension 3264 or email at iwaghray@oakville.caPalermo Village north of Dundas StreetThe proposed official plan amendment is exempt from Town InitiatedThe personal information accompanying your submission is being collected approval by the Regional Municipality of Halton. The File: 42.12I.15under the authority of the Planning Act and may form part of the public decision of the Town of Oakville Council is final if a notice record, which may be released to the public. Questions about this of appeal is not received on or before the last day for filing Take notice that the Council of the Corporation of the collection should be directed to the Records and Freedom of Information Officer at 905-815-6053.a notice of appeal.Town of Oakville passed By-law 2011-003, which adopted Official Plan Amendment 306, under Section 17, of the Last date for appeal is February 17, 2011Only individuals, corporations or public bodies may appeal a Planning Act on the 24th day of January, 2011. decision of the municipality or planning board to the Ontario Municipal Board. A notice of appeal may not be The purpose and effect of Official Plan Amendment 306 is filed by an unincorporated association or group. However, a to integrate land use with the cultural heritage of Palermo Village, introduce opportunities for streetscaping, as well as notice of appeal may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or the group on its complement the policies found in proximity to the area.behalf. The proposed official plan amendment makes changes to No person or public body shall be added as a party to the the North Oakville West Secondary Plan. The properties are hearing of the appeal unless, before the plan was adopted, located in Palermo Village, north of Dundas Street. These the person or public body made oral submissions at a public lands are also subject to PL 090614 (North Oakville West meeting or written submissions to the Town of Oakville Secondary Plan).Council or, in the opinion of the Ontario Municipal Board, Any appeals to the proposed official plan amendment there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public must be filed with Cathie Best, Town Clerk, 1225 Trafalgar body as a party.Road, P. O. Box 310 Oakville, ON, L6J 5A6, setting out the Copies of the complete proposed official plan amendment reasons for the appeal and the specific part of the proposed official plan amendment to which the appeal are available for review at the Town of Oakville, Planning Services department at 1225 Trafalgar Road, during regular applies together with a certified cheque or money order in business hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the amount of $125 payable to the Minister of Finance. A www.oakvillebeaver.com OAKVILLE BEAVERFriday, January 28, 2011 8