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Weds., September 5, 2012 www.revelstoketimesreview.com Vol. 114, No.36
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Welcome to Begbie View
Clockwise, from right: A beaming Anne Cooper, the superintendent of the Revelstoke School District, stands in the upstairs hallway of Begbie View Elementary.; Beth Sheldon, a grade five student-teacher, will be doing her practicum at the new school. Note the view of Mt. Mackenzie out the window.; The new gym is “super-sized” for an elementary school, says Cooper. Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Times Review
WITH SCHOOL STARTING THURSDAY, THE TIMES REVIEW GOES FOR A TOUR OF BEGBIE VIEW ELEMENTARY ALEX COOPER reporter@revelstoketimesreview.com
After nearly 2.5 years of construction – and many more of planning – Revelstoke’s new schools project will be pretty much done when Begbie View Elementary opens its doors to students this Thursday, Sept. 6. Last Thursday morning the media was invited on a tour of the school as the final touches were being put on the new building. Workers from the builder Graham Construction were finishing up installation of the final items and teachers were setting up their new classrooms. It’s a school that lives up to expectations, with a design rem-
iniscent of the fantastic new high school, but on a smaller scale that reflects the students that will be attending. When the new high school was going up, the media was invited for several tours along the way. We saw it when it was still lacking a roof and again less than two months before it opened, when it was mostly done but still seemed a long way off. This was our first look inside the new elementary school. Many elements of the high school are present – the high ceilings, large windows, excellent lighting, similar use of wood, and amazing views. “The same things we love in the high school, we have in the elemen-
tary school,” said Anne Cooper. “We tried to have the same quality in the elementary school but it’s a little different. We started the tour at the main entrance, with its large glass doors surrounded by red exterior. To the right was the Neighbourhood Learning Centre and to the left the classroom wing. Inside, the library was immediately to the right and across the hall was the office. A large multipurpose room, with floor-to-ceiling windows extending up two storeys was on the left. The room will hold band class and aboriginal education but can also be used for community functions, said Cooper. It’s bright space also gives an open and airy
feel to the entrance, she added. We walked back to the hallway where Cooper proudly presented what she referred to as one of her few good ideas – a water fountain that doubles as a bottling station. A second spout at the top gives plenty of space for children to fill up their water bottles. “It’s my pride and joy,” she joked. Across from the multi-purpose room was the gym. “Oversized for an elementary school by any standards,” said Cooper. A stage is built in at one side for school concerts. Down the hallway was the brand new acrobats centre. Coaches Jef Kline and Heather Cretelli were busy going over the space, with its 30-metre long runway and 9-metre
high ceilings. “With this ceiling and this runway the club will do awesome,” said Kline, giving a thumbs up. “At the old club, some kids had to hold back because they were hitting the ceiling.” An observation area was set up on the roof of the gym storage area for parents to watch their kids perform. The acrobats gym is expected to open on Sept. 17, “If all goes well,” said Kline. Cooper showed us into one room where workers from Interior Plumbing were working on the heating exchange system.
Begbie View, page 10
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