Sarnia's newly renovated Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School welcomed community members in a blessing ceremony Wednesday.
A mass, led by Bishop Ronald Peter Fabbro, was held in the new gymnasium at the school at 1825 Hogan Drive.
Manager of Facility Services Rachel Chortos said it's an exciting time.
"There's a buzz around the building. The fact it's happening so early into the school year is extremely exciting as well. It was great to see all of the students starting here last week," she said.
Chortos said, in addition to the interior work, they were able to work on the outside.
"We also had the opportunity to replace some of the asphalt in the rear yard and the school parent council was able to fundraise to bring the play equipment, upgrade it a little bit from the Lecaron Avenue site and re-install it here at the new site," she said.
One of the major interior renovations was a brand new gymnasium.
"The old gym was completely demolished, so this whole gym is brand new. The main lobby and the main entrance is brand new and the learning commons was two Grade 8 classrooms, so it was renovated to be our new learning commons. And then our old library was turned into a new meeting and resource space," said Sacred Heart Principal Tina Jarvis.
The project was able to stay on budget and was completed on time.
Jarvis said students started in the newly renovated building last week.
"It's so wonderful to have the students walking the halls, seeing them in the classrooms learning and seeing them running and playing on the school yard," she said.
The school, which was the former Gregory A. Hogan School, went through $3 million in interior renovations.
Students from that school moved over to a new school on Rapids Parkway in March 2024.
Teachers were able to start moving things to the newly renovated building from the former Sacred Heart on Lecaron Avenue in June.
They were able to set up full time a week and a half before school.
"A lot of our staff had been at Sacred Heart for a long time, so they do have connection to the old building but they're loving their new spaces," Jarvis said.
In May, hundreds of community members gathered at the former Sacred Heart to share memories and to step foot in the building one last time.
Parents will be able to tour the school in an upcoming open house on September 18.
