(With principal Dr. Shannon McKinney, student Hajo got ready to help cut the ribbon. Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
9:17 AM: We’re at West Seattle’s brand-new public school, K-5 STEM at Boren, which starts classes in about 15 minutes.
(Superintendent Banda with Xavier Nguyen and parents Mat and Tia)
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda is here, as is the regional Executive Director of Schools Carmela Dellino …
… and dozens of excited parents and students already milling around on the south side of the campus, which has been closed the past two years (since serving as Chief Sealth International High School‘s temporary home). The phrase “It’s exciting” has resounded multiple times through the crowd.
From curriculum decisions to enrollment to hiring to building renovations, K-5 STEM at Boren has been “built” in just seven and a half months; as part of a “short-term capacity management plan,” the School Board voted January 25th to create it.
More on the superintendent’s visit and K-5 STEM’s first day, coming up.
1:08 PM UPDATE: Added photos from WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams (including images substituted above for the cameraphone photos previously included):
K-5 STEM is West Seattle’s only public school requiring uniforms. While teachers and students started getting to know each other and their new school, mingling continued in a room near the entrance:
The first PTA meeting, as noted in comments, is September 19th, 7 pm. (added) PTA president Heidi Alessi spoke during this morning’s first-ever assembly, too:
ADDED 8:50 PM: As promised, several more photos from the historic first day – click ahead:
With dice in her hands, Dr. McKinney talked to her new school about community:
Picture-taking was the order of the day – to capture its moments forever:
The details of the day went all the way down to the red ribbon:
And the moments between parents and children – like Kate Godman and second-grader Thomas:
We asked two parents to stop quickly for posed photos – Robin Graham was on the design committee that worked for months to pave the way for everything that began today:
And Anne Higuera from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) had only found out last Friday that her son had moved off the waitlist and onto the official list:
In the end, and this beginning, it’s all about the students and their future:
With the hoopla and history of today over, the learning’s in the spotlight tomorrow – and beyond.
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