Kids right at home in new school

Published 11:10 pm Saturday, December 22, 2007

GRANITE FALLS — The high school students wasted no time in filling their new building with school pride — or class pride, at least.

“Sen-ior pow-er,” thundered the chant in the gym of the new Granite Falls High School at an 8:30 a.m. assembly last week.

Each of the other three classes, juniors, sophomores and freshmen, followed in kind, with principal Eric Cahan cheering the kids on.

“You guys having fun?” he asked, receiving an ear-splitting roar in response.

The sparkling new, squeaky-clean school — its shiny wooden gym floor bearing nary a scuff — had been christened.

Granite Falls High School’s students got their first look at their new, $43 million school at an early-morning assembly. They seemed to like what they saw.

“It has an actual presence, rather than just kind of being there, like the old place,” said senior Chani Enochs, 18, who walked into the school for the first time Wednesday.

School officials arranged a short orientation day for the students to get acquainted with the building so they know where to find their classes on Jan. 3, after the holiday break.

Parent volunteers in Tiger-orange shirts pointed the way to classrooms as the students made short visits to each of their learning venues during the two-hour school day.

The library shelves were still empty, but the 650 students seemed to feel right at home at the new school.

“It’s very open, very welcoming,” said student body president Chris Vergeray, 17, who cut the ribbon for the new school at the assembly.

The school has high ceilings and a lot of glass to bring in natural light. The front entryway and central commons, along with the library, all look south through tall picture windows.

“There’s a full view of Mount Pilchuck on a clear day,” said Kathy Grant, spokeswoman for the Granite Falls School District. “Many of the classrooms have a view of the mountain.”

The school also bears some unusual features. One is a 400-seat performing-arts center with bleachers that roll out into the commons area for more efficient use of space.

While space is being used efficiently, the school is built so it can eventually accommodate 1,200 students, nearly twice the current total.

Another feature is a small outdoor amphitheater that is built to allow sound to carry from the center outward. Classes can be held there, making it a popular feature with the students before they’ve even had a chance to use it, Grant said.

Enochs, an artist, was one of several students who had some input into the design. It was her suggestion to have the amphitheater near the art department.

The design was begun before voters approved $32 million in bonds in May 2005, enabling construction to hit the ground running, Grant said. Work began that fall and was finished on time and within budget, she said.

In 1988, then-superintendent Gale Hogan pushed for the district to buy 40 acres for less than $300,000, according to Grant. It wasn’t known at the time exactly how the property would be used, but Hogan knew the area would grow, Grant said.

Monte Cristo Elementary School was built on 10 of the 40 acres. In 1995, then-superintendent Gary Wall said it was time to build a new high school. The high school at the time, built in 1964, was still in good condition, but the growing district needed more space, Grant said.

Bond measures for a new school failed three times before passing. Now, the new high school will enable the district to turn the former high school into the district’s middle school, and the current middle school into a third elementary school.

A football stadium wasn’t included, although the new school does have a field; a $4 million measure for a stadium is planned for the Feb. 19 ballot.

The high school students couldn’t be happier with their new home away from home.

“Everything is so much better than what we had before,” said senior Hannah Anderson, 18.

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.

Granite Falls High School facts

Address: 1401 100th St. NE.

Cost: $43 million ($32 million in bonds funded through property taxes, $11 million from the state)

Square feet: 133,000

Classrooms: 38, each equipped with a sound system, projector, DVD-CD-VHS capability

Other features: Two business labs; two library-media technology labs; wrestling-aerobic room and weight room; bus loading area separate from main entrance

Gathering venues: Track and football field and eight tennis courts; 1,200-seat gym with three practice courts and eight badminton courts; 400-seat performing arts center; 400-seat commons area; outside plaza area for student or community gatherings

Construction company: Berschauer Phillips Construction, Seattle

Dedication ceremony: 1 p.m. Jan. 19