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Abbi Clark, Sports Desk Lead
On Wednesday, October 22, the students of Valle Crucis School stepped out of their cars and hopped off the buses, ready to begin a regular day of instruction. But for them, the day was anything but ordinary. The group had been without a school since Hurricane Helene had destroyed theirs in late September of 2024, over a year prior. The kids have spent the last year learning from Caldwell Community College and the Valle Crucis Community Center. So the students, teachers, and parents of Valle Crucis were more than eager to break in their new school.Â
The construction of the new Valle Crucis School began in December 2022 and was much needed, as the old Valle Crucis School was nearly 100 years old. However, even after the old school's destruction, the new school's construction was still not quite ready, leaving the students to anxiously anticipate its opening.
Middle school teachers, Allen Ingram and Shelby Hatton, stood at the top of the stairs, welcoming the students by playing upbeat music on a speaker. Principal Bonnie Smith went over the morning announcements on the live WATA radio station, and the students watched on the Smartboard. The students wasted no time getting comfortable in their new school.
The first thing students will see as they walk into the new Valle Crucis School is the lobby and waiting area, which opens up to the rest of the school nicely.
Car riders will be able to sit and wait for their name to be called from the lobby during afternoon dismissal.
The school houses Pre-k through 8th grade, so the ground level holds Pre-k through 4th grade, and the upstairs holds 5th through 8th grade.
Classrooms:
Music and Chorus classroom
CTE classroom
Outdoor flex classroom
Middle school science lab
The new Valle Crucis gym will hold P.E. classes for all grades along with volleyball matches and basketball games for the middle school players. Any school wide meetings, concerts, or plays will also be held in the gym with provided seating. The stage is a new feature that wasn't previously provided by the old school and paves the way for the performing arts to showcase their talents.
One of the most noticeable changes to the school is the implication of "flex spaces". Flex spaces are available to all teachers and work as a space to bring classes or small groups.
Flex spaces will be used to change up the scenery for the students and improve learning. Some teachers may bring small groups for more personalized learning, or as a reward for whole classes.
When the students first toured their new school on Wednesday, October 15, one of the first places they got to see was their new library. The entire library took on a modernized look similar to the rest of the school. The seating area takes up a quarter of the library and is filled with cusioned chairs and stools, which will be used for class library time and other meetings.
Grade levels Pre-k through 4th grade all share the ground level academic hall.
The new cafeteria has not only grown in size but also efficiency. The lunch line is built into the cafeteria and kept apart from the rest of the lunch room.
The new school has a much newer system of pipes and plumbing, and an improved water filtration system.
The locker rooms for middle school sports are in gym and separated from the bathrooms.
After years of challenges and perseverance, the students of Valle Crucis finally have the school they deserve. Their new campus stands as a symbol of resilience and opportunity. And most importantly, the students are excited to finally have a school to call their own, where they can rise to their potential today, every day, and for years to come.
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