Marvista Elementary in Normandy Park welcomed students in a brand new building when bells rang on the first day of the school year, Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The main components of the building -- classrooms, lunchroom, and common areas -- were completed on time and on budget. Finishing touches, such as landscaping and playfields, will be completed in the next few weeks.

The community is invited to a Grand Opening Celebration scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will be a short program beginning at 5:45 p.m. with tours and dinner following.

Principal Rebekah Kim commented, "There has been so much collaboration and hard work that has gone into the design and completion of our building. We are so thankful and blessed to have this beautiful new home. We can't wait to open our building for the community to see later this month."

PTSA President Ashley Fosberg said, "Its even more spectacular than we could have imagined. We're thrilled to have a beautiful and functional place for our children to learn and grow. Now we can be just as proud of our building as we are of all of the activities and learning it supports."

Special features of the new school include a Flex Room - designed for use by the visual arts program, providing students with art classes.
In addition, classroom art docents can utilize the room to create clay projects with the built-in kiln. This will also be the PTSA gathering space for a monthly meeting.

Marvista is the twelfth new school to be completed in Highline since 2004. Bonds approved by voters in 2002 and 2006 have financed the construction projects.

Prior to 2002, no school construction bond had been approved since 1986. During that 16-year period, the district was unable to replace aging buildings.

"We had a long list of old and outdated schools that needed to be replaced," said Superintendent John Welch. "We are grateful that the community saw that need and approved the funding to allow us to build schools that are safer and provide the current technology our students need to compete in today's world."

TCF Architecture is the architect and Kassel Construction is the contractor for the project.