New school building opened (From Watford Observer)

New school building opened

4:00pm Tuesday 30th September 2008 in St Michael's By Michael Pickard

Watford MP Claire Ward was guest of honour at a Garston school on Monday, to officially open their new £500,000 Sixth Form Centre.

The St Thomas Aquinas Sixth Form Centre at St Michael's Catholic High School, in High Elms Lane, provides somewhere for senior students preparing for their A-Levels to work away from the rest of the school.

The building, a two-year project, was funded both by capital grants from the government and savings made by the school.

Governors and invited guests, including RPL Construction, joined students at a Mass to celebrate St Michael's Feast Day, before Ms Ward cut a ceremonial ribbon. The centre was also blessed by Father Paul McAleenan, Parish Priest of Holy Rood Parish.

The Mass was concelebrated by Father Patrick Foley, Parish Priest of St Helen's in The Harebreaks, Watford, and Father James Fasakin (Holy Ghost Fathers).

The centre was named after St Thomas Aquinas, in keeping with the school's Dominican traditions. St Thomas lived in the 13th Century and was a Dominican philosopher and theologian.

Headteacher John Murphy said: "The Aquinas Centre is a quality sixth form study and research facility which underlines the school's commitment to the highest academic standards."