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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The jackhammers were pounding as school officials toured St. Joseph School last week, with six classrooms and a kindergarten wing set to open at the end of this month.

"Oh my heavens, this is gorgeous," said principal Flo Campbell, snapping photos. "I'm just speechless."

The first phase of the school's $27-million makeover is ahead of schedule. But 127 English pupils in Grades 6, 7, and 8 will remain at St. Joe's Middle School, housed at William McDonald School, for another year.

A gym, staff resource centre and student support offices are expected to be complete by June. Then the rest of the school will undergo construction, scheduled for completion by July 2010. Six modular classrooms and three portables will be removed.

"It's been a long time coming, and it's just so exciting to see it's here and it's real," Campbell said, checking out one of the large kindergarten rooms with a skylight.

"The light is amazing," said Mike Huvenaars, assistant superintendent.

The Catholic school's retrofit has been ongoing since June, 2008. A fire in August, 2006 sped up plans to upgrade the 30-year-old building, Huvenaars said. The project is being paid for by the Government of NWT public works department.

The new classrooms feature bright colours and big windows, providing natural light. An original concrete floor was preserved and dyed dark green for the new wing of classrooms, which will eventually house French immersion students.

"We wanted to save a bit of history," Campbell said.

The school will host a community celebration and blessing ceremony to mark the completion of the first phase in May.

"When it's finished, it will definitely be state of the art," Campbell said. "There's nothing we're not touching."