Cape Dorset high school lost in fire has 4 new portable classrooms

After months of juggling schedules and chaotic classroom sharing arrangements following the fire that burned down Cape Dorset's Peter Pitseolak High School, students finally have a few classrooms of their own.

Since last fall's fire at the school, 150 students and staff have been sharing classroom time in the elementary school. It's meant irregular schedules and classes that run late into the evening for some students. The Government of Nunavut estimates it will cost $34 million to build a new high school in the community by 2019.

In the interim, four portables have been shipped to the community by sealift to make up for the lost classroom space. The portable classrooms will be ready to use as of next Monday.

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Some students had a chance to get a preview of their new classrooms this week.

"It's exciting," says Kellypalik Ashoona, a Grade 10 student.

"The portables are cooler than the classrooms at the elementary with bigger tables and chairs," says Aaron Qayaq, also in Grade 10.

"I'm so happy our school is finally coming back together," says Alisa Alloolloo, in Grade 12.

For Ruth Jaw in Grade 9, the best part was "finally going to school in the morning again."

Christa Borden, Peter Pitseolak's acting principal, agrees that it's an exciting time for the community.

"Some of the students who may have lost interest in the past and are still in the age to come back to school have decided to come back," says Borden.

"We're very fortunate and lucky that these modular classrooms are equipped as they are and that we have people very excited about going to school in Cape Dorset."