They didn't have a time machine, but students at James Park elementary school in Port Coquitlam travelled 100 years in the space of a few minutes Monday.
One minute they were standing in their well-worn gym singing O Canada and watching a video of school photos dating back to 1912, the next they were walking into their brand new school, with its shiny new floors, open concept plans and environmentally-sensitive landscaping.
"Ooh, I'm definitely excited," said Gavin, a grade 1 student, while he waited to be let into the $14.8 million LEED (Leadership in Environmental Design) school for the first time.
Led by students ringing the school's original handbell, staff and students from kindergarten to Grade 5 walked from their cinderblock, 50 year-old school building to the new one built to the latest seismic standards.
Students checked out their new classrooms, explored the removable walls and glassed in study rooms, listened to the new classroom sound systems, washed their hands in their new sinks, visited the washrooms and played in the gym with its high ceilings and large picture windows looking out to coastal mountains.
A highlight definitely had to be the new metal trough-like sinks outside the boys' and girls' washrooms, so kids can wash together and get help from an adult if they need it. Many tried it out but one boy couldn't quite reach the taps.
"He's gong to need some help," acknowledged principal Petra Kintzinger, while a teacher rushed to his aid. In addition to the plethora of washing up opportunities - each classroom has its own sink - every kindergarten class has its own washroom, she said.
There's also a large learning commons, where children can gather to work, read or play indoors and out, and the library is open to the hallway, as well.
Librarian Joanne Howey said it will take some getting used to, but noted she had a classroom for desk work. Helping her with her unpacking was Jacqueline Ledet, a librarian from École Banting middle school.
The new building is a stark contrast to the old: instead of the traditional one storey and narrow concrete halls and bland linoleum, this one has two-storeys, colourful linoleum, lots of wide open spaces and wood details. Even the outside is different, with rain gardens, multi-layered landscaping and lots of newly-planted trees and grasses.
"This is a very modern approach to teaching and learning," Kintzinger said. "We have really open classes, with sliding doors, and we can move around like a regular community... This is going to open up so kids can work together, it will open up their learning," she said.
But the old building won't be totally demolished, what can be saved will be recycled and the memories will live on, too.
One of the last acts of the students and alumni was to write their names on the walls.
"I think the kids understand their won't be graffiti in the new building," Kintzinger joked.
A formal ceremony to open the building and recognize the funders and builders will occur sometime in the coming months.
