One year after Ganns Middle Valley Elementary and Falling Water Elementary merged to form Middle Valley Elementary School, Principal Allyson DeYoung said she and her teachers are still getting used to the "new normal" of a new building and a larger student body.
The students, however, acclimated quickly, she said. Now, it's less about whether they had gone to Ganns, Falling Water or any of the host of schools affected by rezoning last year, and more about being with their new friends.
"Really, the greatest challenges last year weren't even in combining the student bodies," said DeYoug. "It was everyone getting accustomed to the new building and environment."
The building, completed just days before registration last fall, is roughly 150,000 square feet. DeYoung said the old Ganns building would have fit into a single wing of the new facility, located just feet from where the old building stood. The new building features a bigger library, more playground space and up-to-date classrooms and technology implementation.
The remains of Ganns Middle Valley School is loaded for disposal behind last year. The replacement Middle Valley Elementary can be seen behind. (Staff photo by Tim Barber)
Allyson DeYoung, principal of Middle Valley Elementary School, shows off the new leveled book room while leading officials and media on a tour of the school last year when its doors first opened to the public. (Staff file photo)Fourth-grader Preston Hendrix said it was a bit intimidating last year after leaving Falling Water for the new Middle Valley Elementary, but it was something he got over quickly.
"I knew my friends from Falling Water, and I was excited to make new friends," he said.
And make new friends he did. DeYoung said the student body jumped from around 580 to almost 850 students after the dust settled. It was tough, considering how little time the faculty had to prepare.
"Teachers had boxes piled everywhere trying to get rooms ready, and so really, it was a challenge," said DeYoung. "We felt like all year we were doing that."
This year, though, the only real catching-up is happening in the halls. After a year in the building, DeYoung and the students are ready to start establishing new traditions at their school.
Even for some students, the transition was difficult, DeYoung acknowledged, but new friends, classes, teachers and opportunities helped smooth things out.
"I was nervous, but excited, too. I love new places and meeting new people," said fifth-grader Shelby Putt, who attended Ganns prior to Middle Valley's construction.
But for fifth-grader Owen Burk, who formerly attended Falling Water, it took a lot of getting used to.
"I was really used to the old creaky floors at the old school, and the wooden chairs," Owen said. "I was pretty depressed. I really liked Falling Water. In a way, though, this is better. We have more technology and playgrounds."
He and Shelby will have another new school to get used to next year when they graduate to middle school. For the remaining and incoming students at Middle Valley Elementary, though, DeYoung said she's excited at what the burgeoning community can do.