It’s been two years coming as Spring Park elementary students filed into the gymnasium Tuesday morning wearing grey T-shirts that say, “we’re back” on the back.
Finally all the students were back home.
Principal Serge Leduc said it’s good to get the students back under one roof.
“It finally feels like home. I think if you asked the staff and students you’d hear it as well.”
The students were bussed in from their host schools and given tours of their new surroundings before an assembly in the gym where they would meet their new mascot.
The gym erupted as the mascot came running out, the kids stood and cheered as a purple and yellow lightning bolt ran around the gym floor. The lightning bolt was picked through voting.
Grade 6 student Kristen Thompson is excited to have the new mascot at the school.
“I think it’s really cool. It’s really nice for the little kids to look forward to for our assemblies and stuff.”
MacVicar, who had the opportunity to work with all the students while scattered over two schools, said it was special to finally see them under one roof.
“It meant a lot. You can’t replace family and we really are a family,” MacVicar said. “It’s their space and something they can be proud of. They’ll remember this day forever.”
The students were also treated to a slideshow that showed the creation of their new school, filled with pictures and video and the theme song for the day, Home, by Phillip Phillips.
Thompson said she likes the set up of the new school.
“It’s fairly modern. I’m glad they still kept the artwork from our old school. We’re all happy to see it.”
The school was able to save stained glass windows produced by past students and use them in the new school.
“We’re very pleased with how things went. Everybody seems to be settling in; it’s been a good day,” said Leduc.
Although the new school is open for learning, the memories and the time spent in the old school won’t soon be forgotten.
“I still have that old school in my heart somewhere, and I really miss it,” said Thompson.
If being concerned with an out of control multi-million dollar deficit is "petty' then let the pettiness begin! Cutting ribbons for an UNNECESSARY school may appear to serve the interests of Island children . . . but only to the very foolish or those driven by self-interest. What will really harm our children's future is toxic politics that panders to the superficial. Our children deserve better, they need us to attend to what's necessary to secure potential growth. Needless highways and buildings (and that's needless, not necessary infrastructure) may serve instant gratification and key political interests, but it will never serve the interests of our precious children.