Willoughby slopes families will soon see work begin on the new $15-million, 21-classroom elementary school and Neighbourhood Learning Centre slated for this rapidly growing community.

With shovels in hand, local kindergarten students officially started construction on their new Lynn Fripps Elementary school as Education Minister George Abbott, Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman, parents and Langley school district officials gathered in celebration.

The school has been named for Lynn Fripps, a tireless Langley volunteer who lost her battle to cancer in 2005 - but not before years of dedication to the community.

The school will help meet the enrolment demands in the Langley school district. Three of the classrooms at the new school will provide 60 student spaces for full-day kindergarten, with the remaining 18 classrooms providing space for up to 450 students in grades 1-7.

The school's Neighbourhood Learning Centre component is currently undergoing community consultation to determine which programs and services the centre will provide at the school site. Once completed, the Neighbourhood Learning Centre will be a community hub where people can come together to access services that will help meet their needs. Construction is set to begin sometime in June 2011 once the contract has been awarded. The school and Neighbourhood Learning Centre are expected to be completed by September 2012.

As part of the Province's $144.5-million capital commitment to full-day kindergarten, Langley is also receiving funding for one new modular classroom at James Kennedy Elementary.

Quick Facts:

• The new $15-million, 21-classroom Lynn Fripps Elementary school will have capacity for 450 students in grades 1-7 and 60 full-day kindergarten students.
• As part of the Province's $144.5-million capital commitment to full-day kindergarten, Langley is also receiving funding for one new modular classroom at James Kennedy Elementary school.
• Modular classrooms are unique learning centres that are bright and open, with high ceilings and windows for plenty of natural light and cross-ventilation, and are a permanent, versatile solution with the same lifespan as a standard school classroom.
• These new classrooms will be constructed to meet the commitments of B.C.'s Wood First Act and will include high-performance building envelopes to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• The $144.5-million full-day kindergarten capital investment is being provided in addition to B.C.'s three-year, $365-million commitment to implement full-day kindergarten.
• Full-day kindergarten will be available for every eligible five-year-old starting school in 2011.
• Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $30.7 million in the Langley school district on capital projects, including the new R.C. Garnett Elementary Demonstration school and the expansion of Langley Fundamental Middle/Secondary school.
• During that same period, the Province has also spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83 new and replacement schools, 149 additions, 26 renovation projects and 22 site acquisitions across B.C.
• By the end of 2010-11, the Province will have committed more than $3.9 billion in school capital and maintenance projects throughout B.C.

Learn More:

• Watch B.C.'s new modular classrooms being built and see how the Province is creating learning spaces for full-day kindergarten
• Learn more about full-day kindergarten programs
• Artist rendering of Lynn Fripps Elementary (flickr.com)
  

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963