Principal eager to get started at new Milton elementary school

For Principal Sean McCarthy, 650 students and 50 staff members, today is much more than the first day of school.

That’s because today, Sept. 4, 2024, is the day that Cedar Ridge Public School in Milton throws up its doors for the first time.

The newest school in the Halton District School Board, Cedar Ridge is so named because of its proximity to rows of 800-year-old cedar trees near the escarpment in southwest Milton which McCarthy says will serve the students well.

“We have one of the best locations for a school,” said an excited McCarthy just days before the unofficial end of summer. “The architects did a really nice job creating the opportunity for outdoor learning without us having to leave the property. The rolling hills, the trees, it’s all right there in our own backyard.”

Inside Cedar Ridge you will find one of the most modern schools in the country designed for 21st-century teaching with a versatile layout of classrooms and learning spaces, a double gym and childcare spaces.

Cedar Ridge is the only new public school to open this season and will do so along with Halton District Catholic School Board schools St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Elementary School and St. Veronica Catholic Elementary School, both also in Milton, and St. Cecilia Catholic Elementary School in Oakville.

McCarthy’s challenge in opening a new school is making students and their parents comfortable in the new environment. He said those attending school for the first time in Kindergarten and those in senior grades entering after attending other schools will be made to feel right at home in their new setting.

“The staff has worked hard the last few months trying to create a space that is welcoming,” he explained. “There is a real passion here for affirming student identity and creating a sense of belonging.”

He said Cedar Ridge will have a connecting three-pronged vision: belonging, collaboration and academic excellence.

McCarthy said creating a sense of belonging is done by showing the school is an inclusive and equitable place where student identity is affirmed and making sure that families know their children are in a good spot, one that is welcoming and where everyone is made to feel they are part of a community where their individual identities are seen and accepted.

As for collaboration, McCarthy explained that everyone at Cedar Ridge will have an equal voice when it comes to determining the school’s direction.

“We really want to capitalize and collaborate on the expertise of everyone that is part of Cedar Ridge and that means the students, their families and all staff members,” he said. “Parents are the biggest expert on their children so we want to work closely with families to create the kind of school where they feel comfortable and their kids can excel.”

All this, he said, leads to academic excellence.

“The research is clear,” he continued, “that when kids feel a sense of belonging and when they and their families are part of the decisions that are made, when their voices are honoured, then students perform better academically. That why we have are focussing on the three-part vision.”

This is the second new school opening for McCarthy. A 26-year educator in both Peel and Halton Regions, he most recently served as principal at P.L. Robertson Public School in Milton. He is joined by Vice Principal Fatimah Khan.

In the weeks ahead, once everyone gets accustomed to their new surroundings, he hopes to bring parents, students and staff together for an open house and possibly a barbecue.

He also wants to get the school community involved in naming a mascot.

“Getting everyone involved in finding a mascot for Cedar Ridge is a great way to build excitement and create traditions,” he said.

This year, students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 will attend Cedar Ridge and Grade 8 will be added in 2025-26.

With all of the excitement surrounding the opening, the responsibility of being a principal at a new school is not lost on McCarthy. He said he is embracing the challenge which, already, is being assisted by a supportive team.

“There has been no shortage of volunteers, staff willing to help out trying to get things done,” he said. “Everyone feels something special is about to happen and you only get one first year. The school is new and will be here for a long time. We are going to create some good memories.”

An artistic rendition of what this winter may hold for Cedar Ridge Public School in Milton.