As I toured the newly expanded Steinbach Regional Secondary School (SRSS) with Campus Administrator Luis Reis it was hard not to think back to when I had graduated from that school and how much things have changed.
Some of that change is the result of advances in technology that has and will continue to change our lives. Today schools are so “connected” to the world by the internet that it permeates the entire building.
One of the things that Mr. Reis emphasized on our tour was how the design of the school was intended to create places and spaces where students and also staff would meet and congregate. These meeting places are not unlike the broader community itself, recognizing that the school is a community within a community. The changes extend to the classrooms as well. New and unique seating arrangements have replaced the static chairs in a series of long rows that were the staple of classrooms for many years. There is also a greater emphasis on natural light and it works to provide an exceptional learning environment.
The new SRSS incorporates an outdoor classroom, a new gym (which will allow the school to host provincial tournaments), a modern Salon that is open to the public but that is also a teaching facility, and modern training in other vocational areas. That is also one of the key differences that has occurred since I attended the SRSS as a student. Today vocational training and the possibility of pursuing a trade as a career is looked upon as both a rewarding career track and one with great earning potential. Gone are the days when only academics were viewed as desirable career options. This shift in thinking reflects the reality of the job market and the value that is placed on the trades and the technical skills that are required in today’s trades field.
The expansion of the SRSS of course also reflects the growth of our City and the surrounding region. The 2,000 strong student body of the school is culturally diverse. All of these changes mean that schools adapt, both in terms of instruction and in the buildings themselves.
The community and the region should be proud of the new school and residents should take a bow for making it happen. It has only happened because residents have made our region one of vibrancy and growth warranting the need for the expansion. And of course residents provide the economic base and the tax dollars to ensure these facilities are built. Congratulations to the residents of Steinbach and the region for making this important project a reality.
