Bernie Custis opens its doors as Hamilton students head back to class

At Bernie Custis secondary school,students are taking in their newdigs as classes are held at the new high school for the first time.

The newly built,three-storey central Hamilton schoolhas a professional kitchen space, self-contained classes for students with learning needs, and a learning centre that looks out at Tim HortonsField.

Bernie Custis was originally planned to open back in 2015 after the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board voted to consolidate six high schools into two. But political issues pushed the date back to this September.

Hailee MacLeod and Zoe Nevdorfareentering Grade 12 at Bernie Custis. Theypreviously went to Delta secondary school before being sent to this one.

While these students leaders are a bit nervous about starting somewhere new for theirlast year of high school, they're mostly positive about the change.

On Tuesday morning, they wore t-shirts with 'Bernie Custis' written across the front to show their school spirit whilevolunteering to help other studentsfind their classes .

"There's so much potential for so many great things to happen," said MacLeod. "We'll be the first graduating class of a new school...I think that's really cool."

"I'm really excited to work with all the kids...to build the school from the ground up and choose exactly how we want it to look," said Nevdorf.

Delta, Sir John A. Macdonald, and Parkview secondary schools closed to make way for Bernie Custis. The other new build approved by the board, Nora Frances Henderson Secondary School, will consolidate Barton, Hill Park and Mountain secondary schools.

The school was named after Bernie Custis,the first black quarterback to play as a regular starter for a professional football team in North America. Hestarted with the Tiger-Cats in 1951.

Sue Dunlop, the superintendent for Bernie Custis, was at the school last week when students had the chance to tour the classrooms and play games. Shesays that the students' good attitudeshavebeen contagious.

"This is the first high school we've opened downtown Hamilton for 50-plus years, so the excitement and anticipation has been building," she said. "We really believe the beautiful facility and the coming together of this really vibrant community will create something special."

Dunlop said that the Ministry of Education has also identifiedBernie Custisas an urban and priority high school,which means that they get extra funding to support students. Some of that money will be used to bring in additional staff like a mental health worker and another student success teacher.

In a letter to parents from the principal of Bernie Custis, Angela Ferugson said that over 100 staff would be available to support students at the school.

The brand new facility will also givestudents the chance to create a high schoolexperience that works for them.

"We're offering more traditionally academic courses in a classroom, but we're also offering all these other different kinds of technical courses [like hospitality and auto]," she said. "Kids have a wide range to be able to choose what interests them."

Students say that the availability of things to do is both exciting and overwhelming.

Temitayo Janet Babalola is a Grade 11 student who used to go to Delta. She says that while the new science labs are drawing her eye, the idea of everything being 'new' is a bit daunting.

"I'm mostly nervous about the organization of things," she said. "A lot of new people, a lot of new teachers, a lot of new programs, a lot of new clubs...But I have faith in our school."

While there are no official numbers yet,Dunlop estimates that about 1000 students will be hitting the books at Bernie Custis.The sheer amount of students is a challenge students are nervous about, but ready to face.

Leena Aug is a Grade 12 student who was previously on student council at SirJohn A. Macdonald. Shesays the jump in numbers is intimidatingbut it makes her more dedicated to ensuring that students share her school spirit.

"This is a completely new student population," she said. "It's going to be really hard to impress everybody, get everybody involved...I'm hoping this year as a new student council, we can completely change it up."

Aung said she wants to collect suggestions from the students so that they have a voice in planning student events.

"Not gonna lie, it's kind of terrifying," she said. "But I'm all about thinking outside of the box."