(Release) Students from the Abbotsford Senior Secondary Drumline set the rhythm at the official opening ceremony today for the school after a $45-million partial replacement and seismic upgrade, to the delight of students, staff, and other guests, including Minister of Finance and Abbotsford West MLA Michael de Jong.
The school, which has a capacity of 1,100 students, features a dramatic three-storey central rotunda that branches off to new classrooms and workshops for the school’s trades and technical programs which include culinary, hair design, automotive repair and green construction courses. Wood beams from the original school have been retained as seating in the new rotunda.
The gymnasiums, music area, community theatre and some classrooms were retained from the original school. Work was facilitated through the Seismic Mitigation Program and this project was the largest and most expensive in the district to date.
The on-site Abbotsford Community Library, funded by a $4 million contribution from the City of Abbotsford, brings students and the community together to share its extensive collection and computer resources.
The school also hosts the Sweeney Neighbourhood Learning Centre which will offer a wide range of programs and services through a partnership between the school district, municipality and agencies such as the City’s Parks, Recreation and Culture department, Fraser Health and the United Way of the Fraser Valley.
