Some think this change is strictly architectural, that it is only the building changing, nothing else!  Alanna McDougall, a grade 12 student at STA believes “If the students stay the same, and want to keep the spirit going, then it will.” She goes on to explain “The spirit will stay the same.  We will still be the same people, just in a nicer, bigger school!” 

However, some feel that with this new school and the large number of people who will attend, that STA will lose its spirit, and become less of a close knit community.  An STA student who wishes to remain anonymous spoke out with this opinion saying “the reason for our enthusiasm is partially based on the fact that there are so few of us; everyone knows everyone basically, that’s what makes us unique, with the new school we’ll be just like every other high school.”

Nevertheless, the new STA is not yet built but  the old STA is gone.  In the meantime, students are being educated in half the old school and a village of portables, another issue which people feel has impacted their spirit.  Kate Brennan, another STA senior student says; “how can you support your school, when there is no school?”

With this waning enthusiasm, the question remains; will Aquinas regain its spirit with the new building, or will the little school with the big heart be gone when the new school is finally a reality?

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