Four new classrooms filled with excited young learners at Colwood's John Stubbs Memorial school are serving families in the growing Sooke school district.

Education Minister George Abbott visited one of those classes today. While at the school, Abbott participated in the annual Great BC ShakeOut, a drill that encourages students to "Drop, Cover and Hold On" during earthquakes.

The four new classrooms - two for full day kindergarten and two to meet enrolment pressures - were built for $1.9 million and created 12 new jobs for the area. This project is part of government's $144-million commitment to provide classrooms for early learners now that full-day kindergarten (FDK) is available for every eligible five-year-old in B.C.

Under the FDK initiative, the Sooke school district was provided $12.6 million to provide eight modular classrooms at six schools, and 19 new classrooms through expansion at John Stubbs Memorial and three other schools.

John Stubbs Memorial school is on Royal Roads University lands and has been leased to the school district by the Department of National Defence. With many military families close by and a rapidly growing suburban community, John Stubbs Memorial, opened in 2008, has already needed to expand to meet growing enrolment.

Total enrolment at John Stubbs Memorial, from kindergarten to Grade 9, is currently 734 students. That number will undoubtedly grow as enrolment projections prepared by BC Stats indicate that school-age enrolment in the Sooke school district will increase by 28 per cent over the next 10 years. Exceptional recreational facilities, combined with relatively affordable housing, has made the area a popular choice for young families.

Quick Facts:

• The Province is investing more than $12.6 million in additional space for full-day kindergarten in the Sooke school district.
• Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $52 million in the Sooke school district to complete six capital projects.
• Throughout B.C. during the same period, the Province has spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83 new and replacement schools, 149 additions, 26 renovations and 22 site acquisitions, and has now committed more than $3.9 billion overall to school capital and maintenance projects.

Learn More:

John Stubbs Memorial school: http://www.grahamarts.net/

Great BC ShakeOut: http://www.shakeoutbc.ca/

Contact:

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