Westside School families, staff celebrate their new campus

This afternoon, Westside School‘s head of school Jo Ann Yockey led a joyful ribboncutting ceremony outside Westside’s new campus – the old EC Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights – just before hundreds of students and parents streamed in to get a look at the spruced-up classrooms and other facilities, the night before classes begin. Their tour guides were incoming 5th graders, who’ll be the new campus’s first “graduating class”:

Inside the school, which has been vacant for 2 school years, since South Lake High School used it as a temporary campus, cheerily labeled classrooms beckoned:

In one of those classrooms, a friendly, furry face drew attention:

Fresh paint and polish made the school’s classic features gleam – including the auditorium/cafeteria space:

Westside families and staffers followed their tours with a celebration on the playground, where two of Seattle’s famous street-food vendors were catering: Molly Moon Ice Cream and Dante’s Inferno Dogs. Earlier in the day, by the way, the neighbors from Fire Station 37 (whose own new location will open soon) had stopped by to help put up a sign over the front door:

Thanks to Westside’s David Bergler for that photo (our video and other photos are by WSB staff). He says Westside will have 235 students, preschool through 5th, when classes begin tomorrow morning. It’s only been five months since the school announced (as first reported here) it would lease the Hughes campus – which has room for Westside to grow, unlike its former home on 28th SW south of Roxbury, where some of its students had long been in portables.

3 Replies to "Westside School families, staff celebrate their new campus"

  • Silly Goose September 7, 2010 (9:13 pm)

    This is so wonderful news that this beautiful old school is being used again. So happy that it wasn’t torn down. My 92 year old neighboor use to be a teacher at this school. It was very emotional for her to hear the news that it was open again!!

  • madashell September 7, 2010 (10:26 pm)

    This is great! A school that was considered “surplus” and decrepit, is cherished by new occupants. The Seattle Public School district needs to do a better job managing its assets and putting them to good use. I wish Westside the best. Put I still want public schools to be free and accessible to everyone.

  • Jim & Claudia Thomas September 25, 2010 (11:38 am)

    Jo Ann, we are so happy for you and proud of you and your accomplishments for Westside and your students. Ross would be so proud.

    Love and blessings,

    Jim and Claudia

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