Construction during a warm fall has meant construction remains on schedule for the $12 million St. Simon Catholic Elementary School, a new home for 542 kindergarten to Grade 8 students near the Hwy 400 and Wilson Avenue corridor.
Scheduled for completion by Sept. 2017, the new, state-of-the-art, two-storey, 5,300-square-metre school, which is being built just a short walk from the old school’s location at 20 Wallasey Avenue has been the centre of busy activity since the first shovel was put into the ground back in May.
Residents would have noticed the steady hum of heavy vehicles over the past few months that were used to demolish the old Melody Public School on the site. This was followed by extensive excavation work to facilitate the pouring of the building’s foundation and concrete slabs.
Depending on the winter weather, the second floor and canopy should be in place by early spring. Brick cladding, roofing and windows will then give shape to the new building shortly thereafter. 
The old school sat on a small 1.83-acre site with students crammed into six portables. When students enter the new St. Simon they will be able to use a fully equipped gymnasium, stage and multi-purpose room. WiFi will be available throughout the school, with classrooms equipped with SMART Boards. Plans include a kitchen that can be used for students and staff. The new facility will be open for community use outside of school hours and on weekends
One of the other unique features is that students will also have immediate access to more green space due to the public park next to the school.
Toronto Catholic School Board Trustee Sal Piccininni who represents the Ward has been a tireless champion for the new school.
“This area is one of the best places to live in Toronto and the community deserves a new school that is going to benefit our students and families for many generations to come,” he said.
“This is a wonderful example of how great things can happen when we all work together.”
Piccininni acknowledged the assistance and support of local York West MPP Mario Sergio to ensure the project would be fully funded by the Ministry of Education.
Monthly updates are being sent home with students to keep St. Simon families and community members up to date on progress. These construction status reports are also available on the TCDSB website.