After five years, Sacred Heart school officially complete

After five years of planning and construction, Regina’s newest Catholic elementary school is fully operational.

The construction of Sacred Heart Community School came to a close Thursday, with a capacity of up to 700 students from pre kindergarten to Grade 8.

The building replaced the former Sacred Heart School, which opened back in 1928.

Principal David Magnusson joined the school three years ago, right when ground was first broken for the new building.

He said students have taken every step of construction in stride since they were moved into the new building in April 2017.

“We’ve really seen them take pride and ownership of the school and just flourish and just be proud of the school and want to be here every day.”

Grade 8 student Devin Aisaican said the fresh start will give many of the younger children a place for new experiences and friendships.

“It’s one of the greatest schools I’ve ever seen, it’s really good, it’s really fun,” he said.

A new gym was at the top of the school’s wish list after the score clock fell off the wall at the old location, leading to the gymnasium being condemned five years ago.

Magnusson said the students used a wide variety of locations, including turning the church into a gym.

In order to use the makeshift gym, students had to walk through a tunnel.

“This winter, especially with it being cold, it meant dressing up, putting our boots on, heading over there, changing, we’d lose a little bit of time each time and it was a lot of extra work for staff and students to get over there just for some exercise and to do phys-ed,” Magnusson said.

That will no longer be the case, with a brand new gym which features a fitness room attached to it.

Magnusson said he wants to make Sacred Heart the centre of the community and a place where families can go. He said the school performs reading nights once a month and have started family fitness nights as well.