Members of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Elementary School community – including staff, students, family members and supporters – came together on June 25th to celebrate the official groundbreaking for a new Our Lady of Victory school.

Wearing buttons that read “OLV ONE,” students lined a play area as they listened to a number of speeches from Niagara Catholic and community dignitaries before the sign was unveiled and sod overturned.

Director of Education John Crocco, Board Vice-Chair John Dekker spoke about the Board’s excitement at having the $4.6-million construction project funded by the Ministry of Education and what it will mean for students to attend class in a state-of-the-art new school. Principal Theresa Murphy talked about the enthusiasm felt by staff and students at the school, who look forward to becoming “One OLV” in September 2011. That sentiment was echoed by Grade 6 student Hunter Ryan, who spoke on behalf of students about how they look forward to watching the new school take shape throughout the coming school year.

Randy Paura, Chair of OLV’s Catholic School Council, also expressed his gratitude for the funding for a new OLV building.

Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin, Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor and the Hon. Rob Nicholson, MP for Niagara Falls and Canada’s Justice Minister and Attorney General, also spoke during the celebration.

James Woods, Niagara Catholic’s Controller of Plant, and Tony Ferrara, from the Board’s Plant Services Department, unveiled the sign depicting the design for the new OLV school prior to the ceremonial sod turning.

Niagara Catholic’s Faith Animator, Father Paul MacNeil, presided over the blessing of the sod during the sod turning ceremony. There was a great deal of excitement from students as Mrs. Murphy appeared in the schoolyard driving an excavator. She turned the machine over to Mr. Crocco, who then drew cheers from students as he hoisted a large clump of sod in the excavator’s basket.

The celebration concluded with a song from the school’s Victory Vocalists, and a flash mob dance routine.

Construction will begin on the new OLV this summer. It will be ready in time for the start of the 2011-2012 school year.