Remi Poliquin
Counsel
Welcome to The Garden
submitted by Arla Connell, head teacher
To fully appreciate the warm and welcoming space we so lovingly call The Garden, we have to go back to 2020. Maple Grove Elementary was filled to capacity, facing the wonderful problem of having more students than space.
The decision was made to open two K4 classes within the Lakeside building. Since that pivotal moment, our dedicated Maple Grove wing at Lakeside has undergone a series of incredible transformations. What began as a practical solution to a space shortage has blossomed into something truly extraordinary.
Opening a preschool inside a high school building came with its share of challenges, especially during outdoor playtime. A yard was initially built for our K4 classes, but as enrollment continued to grow at Maple Grove, in 2024 our K5 students also transitioned to the Lakeside building. To accommodate all these students and staff inside the building, we created a dedicated preschool wing for all our K4 and K5 groups. This bright, welcoming wing features six classrooms, a common room, dedicated office space, a staffroom kitchen, and two child-friendly bathrooms. Everything was designed with our youngest learners in mind. The Garden was born!
With this indoor renovation, it quickly became clear that we had outgrown the original K4 yard and needed a larger outdoor space to give our students plenty of room to run, play, and explore. This past summer, what was once a parking lot was transformed into a beautifully designed, child-centered play area.
We officially celebrated the grand opening of our new preschool playground on October 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. We decided to mark this important milestone in the evolution of our Garden campus with a celebration because who celebrates life better than a bunch of 4- and 5-year-olds! Among those in attendance was Sabrina Di Iorio, one of our original K4 teachers, who has watched The Garden space evolve from the very beginning. As Sabrina put it: “It’s a dream that has become a reality. This is what I envisioned since the beginning—a beautiful, child-centered learning environment for our students.”
Sharing a building with Lakeside Academy has provided Maple Grove families with an even deeper connection to both school communities. It has also opened unique mentorship and leadership opportunities for older students, who can often be seen smiling and waving at our preschoolers as they walk outside to play. We are so proud of how this unique community has grown, and we cannot wait to see our littlest seedlings flourish here.
If you were to walk through our Garden doors today, you would step into a vibrant environment tailored specifically to the needs of our youngest learners. Venturing further out into our preschool yard, you would hear the voices of students sharing their excitement about the new outdoor play space. Zoe, a student in K5, says, “It feels good to come outside to play here,” while Harlowe lets us know, “It’s our favourite thing ever!”
Sharing a building with Lakeside Academy has provided Maple Grove families with an even deeper connection to both school communities. It has also opened unique mentorship and leadership opportunities for older students, who can often be seen smiling and waving at our preschoolers as they walk outside to play. We are so proud of how this unique community has grown, and we cannot wait to see our littlest seedlings flourish here.
