Schools
Grand Opening: Community Tours Quaker Valley Middle School During Open House
Following months of construction, the community was invited to view the $26.5 million finished school from the inside. Many were impressed with what they saw at the Grand Opening Celebration.
Tom Szuba could certainly say that the Quaker Valley Middle School his daughter attends today has been transformed from the school he attended as a youth.
“It looks like we got our money’s worth. I mean it really does,” said Szuba of Sewickley, whose eighth grade daughter attends the school and gave the family a personal tour of all her classrooms.
The community was invited to tour the renovated $26.5 million school on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during an open house celebration. A steady stream of visitors walked through the spacious school at their leisure, enjoying performances and talking to teachers, administrators and staff who were stationed throughout the building.
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Most would agree their favorites were the new wellness center, the integrated arts wing for band, chorus and the arts, Family Consumer and IT classes, and, of course, the new auditorium.
After all the effort and expense that went into the school, Szuba said it was impressive to finally see everything.
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“It’s nice to come in and have our expectations surpassed,” he said.
His favorite part was the classrooms for electives, such as the Family Consumer classrooms.
“It’s exciting to see the kids happy, the teachers happy, and even the community, everybody is just walking around saying ‘wow.’”
Karen Middlecoff was among the many who stopped to check out the new wellness center and all the amenities that included exercise bikes and a large projector screen.
“I’s magnificent from what I see so far,” said Middlecoff of Sewickley. “I keep thinking it’s a high school. I’m really impressed. I wish I could go back.”
Renovation of the school began in the summer of 2011, a little behind schedule, after bids came in higher than expected. Students began classes in the school on Monday, Jan. 7.
Jane Bishop said she was glad to see the school now finished. Her son, a sixth grader, attended Osborne Elementary during the construction while students in grades 7 and 8 attended classes at Anthony Wayne School in Ambridge.
“It’s a beautiful school,” said Bishop, who relaxed in one of the seats in the 500-seat auditorium. “I don’t know if they know how lucky they are.”
What did you think of the renovations? Tell us in the comments section below!
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