News Archives: NWP Welcomes Next Gen Learners Ahead of Schedule
Monday, September 25th, 2023
In addition to launching another exciting new academic year, Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) recently opened its Fairview campus doors to welcome relocated classes from St. Thomas More (STM) Catholic School.
On September 13, nearly 200 kindergarten to grade 12 students settled into desks in the Fairview Administration, Library and Carpentry buildings. The groups are also making use of the gymnasium while their school undergoes renovations and deep cleaning.
“We understand how inconvenient these types of unanticipated challenges can be for our fellow learning community members,” says Dr. Vanessa Sheane, NWP President and CEO. “When Grande Prairie Catholic School Division (GPCSD) asked if NWP could assist, we immediately looked for a solution that would be as seamless as possible.”
The collaboration between NWP and STM offers a unique opportunity for young learners to get an early glimpse of the post-secondary experience. “There’s really a silver lining in some ways,” adds Dr. Sheane. “As we host the school on the NWP campus, students can benefit from access to our contemporary learning spaces, and we get to plant a seed early about NWP being a great place for an employment focused education with fantastic community connections.”
Indeed, STM students are getting a bird’s eye view of the campus experience and campus amenities as they navigate their day-to-day learning activities, and all parties can feel good about the collective efforts to uplift learners in the region.
“It has been a relatively easy transition thanks to the collaborative efforts from all involved,” says Superintendent Dr. Jessie Shirley. “In fact, this is a really great example of how collaboration and partnerships play such an important role within the community of Fairview."
STM will continue to host classes at the Fairview campus over the next 2-3 months until the work is completed, and students can return to the school.
