New Blue Mountain Elementary West in Friedensburg set to open today
Aug. 31—FRIEDENSBURG — Youngsters who can forever claim to be its first students got a first look at the new Blue Mountain Elementary West building Monday evening.
Though much work remains to be done on the modern $27 million structure, it got an A-plus grade from students and parents who turned out for Back to School Night.
"We're excited," said Brandi LaFountain, who recorded the moment by taking a photo of her son, Grant, at the "Welcome Back" sign in front of the school. "It's his first time in school, and he's going to a brand new school."
Principal Kristin Frederick and Ace the Eagle, the school's mascot, greeted students and parents as they filed into the building.
She acknowledged that the gymnasium is not finished, the vestibule needs floor covering and the main corridor lacks signs. Also, there's considerable landscaping and other exterior work to be performed.
"We have all the things we need to keep kids safe, so we're ready to go," Frederick said. "We have all the basics. We just need the extras."
Students report for the first day of classes Wednesday at the new school along Route 443, which replaces a previous school on the same site.
The older school, which had grades kindergarten through third, closed before the 2019-20 school year after mold was detected. It was subsequently demolished to make way for the new school.
Grades kindergarten through two attended school in the former St. Ambrose parochial school building for two years while the new school was under construction. Grades three through five attended Cressona Elementary school.
The Blue Mountain school board voted earlier this year to consolidate grades kindergarten through five at the new school. About 480 students who were at St. Ambrose and Cressona Elementary, which has been closed, will attend BMEW.
Small school design
Designed by Crabtree, Rohrbach & Associates of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, the new school is built in an "E" pattern.
Off a wide corridor, dubbed Main Street, there are three separate classroom complexes on the first and second floors.
Grades kindergarten through two are on the first floor, and grades three through five on the upper floor.
"The grade level complexes are like small schools within a big school," Frederick said.
The grades are color coded, and the paint scheme is incorporated into classrooms and hallways.
Starting with kindergarten through fifth grade, the colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, respectively.
The administration informed students and parents of their respective grade colors prior to Monday's open house.
Down yellow hallway
In keeping with the color scheme, yellow is incorporated into the hallway, classrooms and even designs in the hallway floor of the second grade complex.
Students filing into Melissa Liptock's room were given assigned seats, while a standing-room-only crowd of parents listened to orientation.
Students are seated at desks in clusters of four. When school starts, 23 of the 24 seats will be filled.
Entering the classroom, students are reminded of rules posted on the wall: "Listen when someone is talking"; "Follow directions the first time they're given"; and "Treat everyone with kindness and respect."
Liptok informed parents there will be no spelling tests this year. A new reading program has a good spelling component, and it will be used to teach spelling, she said.
There's no homework as such, though Liptok will alert parents if a student needs extra help at home.
Her students will receive a daily recess period, Liptok said, preferably outdoors. When that's not possible, each grade has a collaborative room that's spacious enough for activities and exercise.
All students will receive an iPad, she said, but parents are responsible for supplying earbuds or headphones.
Teacher's reassurance
Ben Haslam, who's going into second grade, had a look of fright on his face as he was introduced to Liptok, his teacher.
Ben's mom, Julie Haslam, explained that her son had never been in a school classroom before.
"He's a little nervous," she said. "He's been taking classes online for the past two years."
Ben was about to go into first grade when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. He did kindergarten on Blue Mountain's online system, and first grade on Edmentum, an online learning platform provided by the district.
Liptok reassured Ben that he had nothing to fear. BMEW is a new school to everybody.
"You're going to have so much fun," she said. "You'll make 22 new friends."
Ben's mom was confident her son would be in good hands at BMEW.
"Blue Mountain has the greatest teachers," she said. "If I can't be here, I know that he will be hugged the same as if I was here."
Ellen Vega said her daughter, Gabriella, is going into second grade and her son, Brandon, is going into first grade. They're both excited about attending the new school.
"I'm hoping that we can get back to the structure that existed before the pandemic," said Vega, 28, a Cressona resident who has administrative responsibility for several Burger King locations.
Ebonie Alvarado said her daughter Journee is elated about going into third grade. Journee, who is 8, likes the school's color scheme.
"I want her to get the best education she can possibly have," said Alvarado, who lives near Schuylkill Haven and works in a production setting. "I want her to enjoy learning."
The shelves in the school library were stacked with books, and librarian Stephanie Gaddy says there are hundreds more from Cressona Elementary yet to be displayed.
"Kids need to be reading," said Gaddy, who divides her time between the East and West elementary schools.
On a library table, a copy of the BMEW pledge was displayed. It's read every morning on the public address system, Gaddy said.
Beneath Ace the Eagle waving an American flag, it reads: "I am an Eagle. I will show effort and accountability for my actions. Gratitude, leadership and encouragement will guide me through my day. I am an Eagle, you will see me soar."
Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007
