As many of you may know, construction at the Morven campus of the new school wing is well underway. While the campus was silent during the holiday season, our construction company, Heatherbrae, was busy at work further preparing the building site and bringing in more equipment - including a particularly large crane!

We are on schedule to begin classes in our new school starting September 2014 and are excited with this new phase as we build our new campus and, in turn, build the future of Collingwood. 

Our Glenmore Wing has served us well for the last 27 years. However, the continued success of our students requires learning spaces designed to equip them with the skills they will require in order to succeed in the 21st century. The new Morven will allow us to offer our students more flexibility, more advantages and opportunities, and will open doors to new and exciting futures.

UNCOUNTED OPPORTUNITIES

The new facilities will afford greater timetable flexibility, ensuring our students more choices and fewer conflicts. We will also be able to offer a greater number of classes in new disciplines, allowing students to delve deeper and explore their passion for a particular faculty. Teachers will also have greater flexibility in teaching styles, including the ability to seamlessly integrate technologies into their lesson plans and subject areas.

The advantages go beyond Academics: all four of our strands will reap the benefits from the new facilities. State-of-the-art theatre, dance and music studio spaces will enhance our Arts strand. New gyms (and more gyms) and an all-weather field will improve our Athletics strand. Every student, teacher and staff member will enjoy the benefits that our new school will offer.

IT'S OUR TIME

The total cost of building the new Morven campus is $38 million, of which $28 million has been secured through a bank loan. This will be repaid through a modest capital levy and sale of surplus land holdings.

The remaining $10 million is the goal for Building Excellence: The Campaign for Collingwood. Our campaign to build the new Morven will allow every Collingwood family the opportunity to be a part of building the School's future. Families will be approached face-to-face throughout the next year and invited to make a gift to the campaign at a level that is comfortable for them. There is a strong tradition of Collingwood families leaving a legacy for future generations. Together, let's leave our own legacy for current and future Collingwood families to enjoy.