Greendale elementary school is now Greendale community school.
For more than two years, the elementary school has been working towards community school status, and at last week’s board meeting, without hesitation, trustees approved the community school designation and subsequent name change.
It’s a natural fit for the school and the community, said principal Deneen Scott.
Over the past few years, the Greendale community has had to recover from flash flooding and fires, creating an even stronger bond with the residents of the community than was already there.
The community school will act as a hub for the community, providing a centralized location for students, their families and the larger community to participate in activities they would normally have to go elsewhere for.
“Our school is dark on the weekends far too often,” said Scott. “I would like to see our school with open doors and lights on on the weekends,” and at night. “There’s a real need for evening workshops for all age levels.”
In addition to providing services, the community school will also be a support in times of need.
The City of Chilliwack has approved $12,000 in funding for start-up costs, supplies and materials needed to transfer over to a community school, as well as for the partial funding of a community school coordinator.
Scott hopes to have the new Greendale community school name in place by the end of June.
kbartel@theprogress.com