Students and staff donned the schoolB次元官网网址檚 blue-and-white and filed into BelmontB次元官网网址檚 new gym for the first pep rally of the year on Friday. It was a special occasion for the Belmont community, marking the first time in almost 20 years the entire student body gathered together in one room.
Principal Ray Miller noted during the rally that none of the students in the bleachers were born the last time BelmontB次元官网网址檚 student body all gathered.
The main gym at the old building could only seat about 400 at a time, which meant that students were separated into shifts for assemblies and other gatherings. But the new gym has the capacity to hold 1,600.
B次元官网网址淲e were a great school in an old, tired building,B次元官网网址� Miller said. B次元官网网址淏ut we had a great staff and community.B次元官网网址� The new building, he added, has created B次元官网网址渁 recipe for magic.B次元官网网址�
In general, he said, the school year is off to a great start and while construction is still ongoing, itB次元官网网址檚 something everyone simply has to wait out. B次元官网网址淓ventually those inconveniences wonB次元官网网址檛 be around.B次元官网网址�
Some of those school-finishing issues, such as a shortage of about 350 lockers, will be solved with the completion of the final block of classrooms. That wing was projected to be done by the end of the month, but a new deadline for completion has yet to be released.
Another issue the school is having is a lack of available parking spaces, but that problem will quickly be solved as the final stages of construction progress.
B次元官网网址淭he spirit at Belmont is just as high as it was in the old school, if not better,B次元官网网址� Miller said.
That spirit is infectious. Teacher Charlotte Haley, new to Belmont, said the construction has brought everyone at the school closer together and has really made them all a team.
B次元官网网址淭he kids have taken a lot of pride in their school,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to when itB次元官网网址檚 done, but theyB次元官网网址檙e still enjoying the facilities.B次元官网网址�
Haley teaches the sports performance rugby class, among others, and looks forward to growing the program and eventually making it an academy program. More than 30 students are registered for its first year.
Tyler Hardy, 15 and in Grade 10, is in his first year as a member of the Belmont community. He spent his Grade 9 year at Spencer middle school before the re-configuration this year.
So far heB次元官网网址檚 found the transition easy. B次元官网网址淚 just found there was more kids,B次元官网网址� he said. HeB次元官网网址檚 excited to take advantage of being on an B次元官网网址渙penB次元官网网址� campus for the first time, meaning students can leave the campus on breaks to use amenities in the area.
He likes how close Glen and Langford lakes are, as well as Goudy Field and the City Centre Park complex.
But Hardy is most excited about breaking in the schoolB次元官网网址檚 new gym as a member of the volleyball team. He is also trying out for the basketball team, but expects hoops tryouts to be tough.
As he was talking, rival teams began filing in to compete in a volleyball tournament that afternoon. They couldnB次元官网网址檛 hide their amazement. Jaws dropped as they took in their surroundings. It seems Belmont students arenB次元官网网址檛 the only ones impressed.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
Belmont secondary:
Funding announced: Oct. 31, 2011
Ground breaking: June 27, 2013
Cost: $50.8 million
Student capacity: 1,200
School colours: Navy and white
Team nickname: Bulldogs
Features:
- Three-story classroom block
- Moveable partitions for flexible teaching spaces
- The largest school gym on Vancouver Island
- Stunning learning commons, overlooking Langford Lake
- Use of Rugby Canada turf fields
- Targeting LEED Gold Certification (green building certification)
