The first week at Airdrie's newest school, Windsong Heights, has been a success.

Windsong Heights School. (Photo Courtesy: Penny Beaudry)Principal Penny Baudry said the atmosphere at the school, which welcomed students for the first time on Tuesday (September 5), is one of excitement.

"The kids have come with great excitement and joy to be in their neighbourhood school, I think, and also with new friends and the possibilities. Parents, I think, are pretty happy that they have a nice, new facility and that it's so close to many of their homes. And the staff are just thrilled, they were bursting with excitement as well the first few days that we were prepping."

There were some challenges that the school had to overcome. Beaudry said some spaces at the school are not quite complete. The Science Lab still needs plumbing, the Performance Area for dance and drama still needs flooring, mirrors and a ballet bar, and the Shop and Food Lab are also not quite finished. There is also some outdoor areas that need landscaping and fencing. Despite the challenges, Beaudry said everyone has been understanding, and have in fact pulled together, which has led to a real sense of community at the school.

Penny Beaudry stands in front of the school. (Photo Courtesy: Penny Beaudry)

"Typically you like to have everything in place much before the children arrive, but what's happened is we've had a huge community pulling together. We've had parents in volunteering, we've had kids offer to help in any way they can with set up and staff have been working incredibly hard."

The ongoing work is not impacting any of the classrooms.

 As for attendance, Beaudry said the school is pretty much at capacity.

"We're full. Almost all of our classroom spaces are being used right now. Once in a while at a school you have a few families that are still on vacation, so we're just waiting to get the absolute numbers, but we're over 720."

 

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