New facilities on the way for Summit School students

Summit School has come a very long way since being founded in 1963 with all of four students. Now with over 630 students enrolled, the school is just about ready to break ground on “the biggest expansion Summit School has ever had,” according to Susan Kasner, the school’s president.

“We are outgrowing our space,” said Stu Guttman, director of  Development & Major Gifts for the Summit School Foundation. “In order for our staff to be able to continue to provide the excellent services and quality of work that they do for our students, we need to grow. This is the next step in Summit School’s continuing evolution.”

The expansion will see a state-of-the-art Physical Education & Creative Arts Centre be built on the school’s existing land. The project is being funded by a $12.5-million capital campaign led by Jean-François Beaulieu, Robert Collette, Adam Star, Adam Bucci, and Foundation president Joe Rabinovitch.

Guttman says the expansion will also allow two more classrooms to be created in the main building. This opens up more spaces for students on the school’s waiting list, and more students mean more demand for the unique programs the school offers. “There isn’t a creative arts center for the special-needs population in Quebec,” said Guttman.

Herman Erdogmus, Summit School’s director-general said, “This building will grow our dynamic creative and performing arts programs – programs that have already brought original musicals and theatrical productions to stages across Montreal. The new building is an investment in the idea that our students can find identity, confidence and joy through the arts. Now, there will be no limit to what we can do.”

The new gym, fitness, and yoga rooms will also allow for a focus on student health through physical activity and mindfulness. The new music room and visual arts room are designed to provide space to create exhibitions and concerts. “We’ll even have a rooftop activity area for green initiatives. Not to mention we hope to start a school TV station in the new Media Arts Room,” said Rabinovitch.

“We’re changing the dynamic of our building,” said Erdogmus. “It is opening up so many more doors for our children.”

The school is looking to start construction this winter, with the building slated to be ready in time for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.