By Colleen Flanagan, The Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows News
Teachers at c’usqunela elementary finally started unpacking equipment and supplies Monday morning setting up for students whose first day will be on Wednesday.
The school was a hive of last-minute activity with labourers putting final touches of paint in the halls and decals on the front office windows.
Delivery trucks carrying books and other supplies lined the front of the school.
Chairs and tables were being wheeled along the hallways to their destined classrooms.
This day has been a long time coming for principal Jon Wheatley after the opening day had to be delayed by three weeks because the building’s mechanical systems had to undergo testing.
Since Sept. 3, c’usqunela students and their teachers had to attend different schools in the eastern part of the district.
Wheatley is in awe of the architecture and design of the new building now that he is finally in it.
“The heart of c’usqunella is around First Nations, beliefs and community,” said Wheatley.
“Our gym is built to look like part of a long house. So we’ve got some beautiful wooden beams in here as well the multi-purpose room for all of our fine arts programming is placed right beside the gym so we can open the doors and we can have performances at any time. It’s a wonderful space for kids,” he said.
The school is comprised of pods that have three classrooms surrounding a common area for students and a common door leading outside. The area on the outside has a covered work space where students can garden or do woodworking. There is also a ‘breakout’ room attached to each pod where students can go if they need a quieter space to work by themselves or with a teacher.