press release

Poquoson opens doors to new elementary school

Students, teachers have a 'sense of awe and wonder' about the new facility.

By JENNIFER L. WILLIAMS
September 3, 2008

POQUOSON

First days of school are always hectic, but Tuesday was really the first day as the new Poquoson Elementary School opened. Bright, shiny, everything being used for the very first time — with extremely quiet lines of students moving through the halls.

How did teachers accomplish that?

"One is that there's definitely a sense of awe and wonder as they're walking through the building today," said Principal Jeff Carroll. "Lots of deer in the headlights looks on the faces and lots of smiles."

The other reason is that Carroll and his staff worked over the summer on an incentive program for student behavior where one expectation is to walk quietly in the hallways.

Taking care of a new state-of-the-art school facility is part of the reason for it.

"The staff has felt so strongly about the time and effort and money that has gone into creating this building, that we want to be good stewards of this building," Carroll said. "And make sure that just as the other building lasted over 50 years, that this building will last over 50 years for the community of Poquoson."

The front office was bustling and dump trucks out front continued to move debris as a reminder that the old elementary school isn't completely torn down yet. Teachers started to outline their expectations as their charges settled in.

Carole Staton, a third-grade teacher who taught at the old school for 17 years, didn't get her first look at the new school until August.

Tuesday she got students to go into the mega-modern setting.

"Today has been amazingly calm," Staton said. "Everything has worked well. The buses were here and seemed to be pulling in in normal fashion.

"And the children are so excited to be in this new building; and we are, too."

Judy Siler's third grade class was getting acclimated.

"Actually a little nervous about finding my way around because it's a big school," said Kayla Muza, one of Siler's charges. "My friend Emily walked me to my class because I didn't know where it was."

Trevor Ellis, 8, had a busy morning as well. He had already seen the new gym.

"It's big," he said.

Julie Ellis, a classmate and no relation to Trevor, said students would still be able to pay attention despite all classrooms having windows to the outdoors as well as to a common area for each grade level.

"It's very nice," she said. "I like everything. It's pretty usable — we can use everything." Physical education teacher Dave Bush started his ninth year with a serious upgrade. His gymnasium now has a wood floor, better lighting and higher ceilings.

"I feel like I've moved out of an equipment closet into a real gym," Bush said. "It's a lot bigger with a lot more room, a regulation size basketball court, beautiful facility. The kids are excited.

"I'm excited to try and bring more activities to them to help them become more physically fit."

Carroll has seen the plans for the new school become a reality, overseen the move and Tuesday was tackling the first day of school activity there. Everything from fire drill procedures to the location of copier machines had to be nailed down.

"All of those things we're back at square one this year," Carroll said. "So it's been a huge task and my staff has put in lots of time, shared their own time over the summer, in preparing the building. And our No. 1 goal all along was to make sure every classroom was ready for the first day of school today."

VMDO Architects was founded in 1976 and is the youngest firm to receive the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Virginia Society of American Institute of Architects.

For further information, interview, and photography opportunities in reference to this project and VMDO Architects, please contact William Bishop at 434.296.5684, email at bishop@vmdo.com.