Renovating routes to graduation: North Vancouver School District officially opens Mountainside Secondary
November 15, 2013
On Thursday, November 14, 2013, the official opening of Mountainside Secondary was celebrated in the North Vancouver School District. Operating since September of 2012, the official opening marked the completion of significant renovations to the school district’s facility at 3365 Mahon Avenue.
Supporting students in Grades 9 – 12, Mountainside Secondary provides alternative pathways to graduation as well as specialized supports for students with social and emotional learning challenges. Approximately 180 students are currently enrolled at Mountainside. The facility was also designed to accommodate 40 – 50 staff and outside service support workers.
Renovating the school followed an intensive community consultation process to bring together a variety of alternate programs under one roof and “umbrella” of services. As well, the newly upgraded site includes the North Vancouver School District’s Distributed Learning School, creating a centralized, multi-purpose learning and service environment.
“Mountainside Secondary serves as the centre-point for how we care for youth in a way that is welcoming and tailored to their needs,” says North Vancouver Board of Education Chair Franci Stratton. “We thank everyone who recognized the uniqueness of the students who attend Mountainside, and the importance of having a well-designed and high-functioning school to support them at this stage in their lives.”
Renovations included:
- New offices for counselling, administration and partner agency services
- Specialized classroom spaces suitable for small group learning
- A welcoming and spacious main entrance
- A new teaching kitchen and servery
- New conference rooms and multi-purpose learning spaces.
The project cost of $3 million was funded through the Board’s local reserve capital and annual facilities grant.
One of our key objectives in the North Vancouver School District is to encourage the growth of collaborative, adaptive and personalized learning environments,” says Superintendent John Lewis. “The new Mountainside Secondary is another step forward in our vision to provide welcoming, safe and sustainable facilities that enhance the learning and teaching environment.”
For further information:
Victoria Miles, Communications Manager
North Vancouver School District 604.903.1254
vmiles@sd44.ca
Distributed Learning and Mountainside Secondary renovations update
July 25, 2013
Phase I of the renovation for Mountainside Secondary and the District Learning Centre (DLC) will be complete for the beginning of school in September. After a year in temporary classrooms on the site, Mountainside students will begin the next school year in newly renovated learning spaces.
On July 2nd, the Distributed Learning Centre reopened for Summer Session in its new location. Teachers are available throughout the summer months for face-to-face tutorial support and test/exam invigilation.
Planning for Phase II of the renovations to provide spaces for additional NVSD programs including Band & Strings, records management and library services has started. The portables that were moved to the site to accommodate students during the rebuilding of Carson Graham Secondary are no longer needed, and the School District is in the process of securing a buyer for them.
