Yesterday evening representatives from Riverside School Board came to REACH School in St. Lambert to present the plans for the upgrades to the school that are scheduled to be completed this summer. REACH is the English-language special needs school serving the south shore of Montreal. It is one of the few public English-language special needs schools in Quebec, and the only one in the Montreal area.
The plans include replacing all the windows in the school and substantial upgrades in a number of the classrooms and toilets. In many cases these upgrades are the minimum that would be required for the school to meet current standards for school construction. Improvements will include suspended ceilings in many of the rooms, painting throughout most of the school, new floors and new protected lights in the room used as a gym.
On the second floor, a "quiet room" that is no longer used will be converted into a bathroom, so that both upstairs classrooms will have their own bathroom, and a sink / washing area will be created that is separated from the toilets.
The OT room on the main floor will be enlarged by removal of unused closets and sensory lighting will be installed, in order to create the basis of a "sensory room". (the link gives a generic overview of a sensory room) This will be a room in which sensory stimuli can be controlled to establish an ideal environment for each student to feel secure, at ease and confident, as they learn to explore their feelings, their abilities and things being taught by teachers and other professionals. Further additions to the sensory room at REACH will be in terms of equipment that may be added either now or from time to time in the future.
The other major alteration on the main floor will be the enlargement of the kitchen area, where several students prepare lunch for the entire school one day a week, and the creation of a division between the kitchen and the large adjoining room. After the renovations, the larger classroom will be reduced in size and the enlarged kitchen area will also be able to potentially be used as a model "apartment" setting, where students could practice other independence and life skills, such as making a bed.
No doubt more detailed descriptions will be provided soon to all REACH parents. It was confirmed that these renovations have been approved by the school board and the contract for the work has been signed, although certain modifications to the plans could still be discussed during the next week or ten days.
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