Penhold Crossing Secondary School is almost ready for students and staff and school board officials can hardly wait.
On June 20, a group of select individuals, including the Board of Chinook's Edge School Division, Town of Penhold employees, and members of the media received an informal tour of the new Penhold Crossing Secondary School – and high words of praise were plentiful.
“This is an amazing building,” said Colleen Butler, chair of the board, during her tour. “It is beautifully built, large and open facility that I am sure the students will enjoy. Our partnership with the Town of Penhold makes this even more flexible with the multiplex ice and gymnasium so close, in addition to the shared library.”
She added the new school is really a win-win for both the town and the school division.
While the school is currently receiving finishing touches, attendees were dazzled with the wide-open hallways and abundance of light in classrooms and halls.
“The cafeteria will not only serve food for the students, but also be part of the home economics program so students will get real-life experience,” said Mark Crawford, who will be the principal of the new school. “That too, is a win-win scenario, much like Lindsay Thurber and Innisfail Jr/Sr High school.”
Close to the centre of the school, the new music room boasts a unique feature, which principal Crawford showed off.
“If you look at the ceiling, you will see that the lights are not on but the room is almost fully lit,” said Crawford. “That's because we have glass block skylights with louvers to brighten the room. If someone wants to watch a video, they can turn the light down. I think this room will be everyone's favourite.”
The Grade 7 to 12 facility is designed for a maximum population of 600 but the initial number will be around 200.
“For the first year we will have the River Glen kids and we are getting inquiries for registrations every day,” added Crawford. “As people realize that we are closer than Red Deer and their students don't have to bus an hour and a half to school, we will get more local kids.”
He noted the first Grade 12 graduating class will be between 10 and 12 kids, with up to 60 students in each of the other grades.
Myra Binnendyk, manager of the Penhold Library, was looking forward to more students using the shared facility.
Mayor Dennis Cooper said the opening of Penhold Crossing Secondary School was “good for Penhold”, adding it is one of the few schools in Alberta that has combined a community facility like the multiplex and education so closely.
“We have a good relationship with the Chinook's Edge School Division and the result is what we have now, a cutting edge joint facility,” said Cooper.
The Town of Penhold will be holding a public open house on July 1 for the community and the grand opening will occur in October.
For more information on Penhold Crossing Secondary School, go to http://www.penholdcrossing.ca/
