September 4th, 2018
This morning at 9:00 a.m. Kitchener’s newest and largest elementary school opened its doors for the first time. Janet Metcalfe Public School welcomed more than 550 students and 52 staff into our brand new facility.
Students walk through the doors of Janet Metcalfe PS for the first time on September 4, 2018.
The school is named after Canada’s first ever kindergarten teacher, who taught in Waterloo Region for more than thirty years. The southwest Kitchener school is now home to students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 7, with Grade 8 starting in September 2019. The building also houses a child care space run by Jacob Hespeler Child Care. The building is filled with windows to maximize natural light, is fully accessible and has a designated room for medically fragile students.
As part of the opening celebration, school staff and special guests greeted students and their families at various locations surrounding the school and walked together in groups to the new building. Special guests included Waterloo Regional Police officers, Police Chief Larkin, City of Kitchener Mayor Vrbanovic, members of Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region and Waterloo Region District School Board dignitaries.
Families walk to Janet Metcalfe PS on the first day of school, September 4, 2018.
Superintendent Matthew Gerard, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Principal Janet Hale and her husband, Superintendent Lila Read, Trustee Kathleen Woodcock and Director of Education John Bryant celebrate the first day at Janet Metcalfe PS.
After everyone sang O Canada, Principal Janet Hale and three students officially welcomed the Janet Metcalfe Mavericks into their new school with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Students cut the ribbon and officially open Janet Metcalfe PS.