The long-awaited opening of Belair Middle School is set to arrive on Monday, and in preparation, school staff welcomed students and their families at the 150 Potential Way location on Friday with an open house and ribbon-cutting.
“Standing here in our brand new school building, we are reminded that a school is far more than brick and mortar,” said Principal Ca’Vana Lambert at the event. “It is a sanctuary of learning and a spark of innovation and a home for dreams.”
Parents and their children were able to tour the campus following a ceremony in the school’s gym.
Memorializing Belair’s first student body
During this ceremony, Lambert revealed that through a fundraiser, the school will be using the services of Sheldon Whitfield Photography to line the halls with pictures of the incoming students, who will be the first to ever be taught at Belair Middle.
“When you walk down the halls of Belair Middle from this point forward, we want to have pictures of the very first student body who helped to open up this school and set the foundation for success moving forward,” she said.
Cheerleaders collected funds for this initiative during the event.
Taking learning to a new level
Lambert also highlighted several notable aspects of the new institution, including a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Room where students can engage in critical-thinking activities, as well as outdoor classrooms.
She said these are hoped to help students “take learning to a new level.”
The conclusion of a months-long delay
During the fall semester, Belair Middle students have been doing their learning at Langford Middle School; the construction of the new school was delayed by Hurricane Helene, which struck in September.
At the beginning of September, a tentative move-in date was set for Oct. 21.
“We’re very grateful for the opportunity we had to be there,” said Lambert of the student body’s time at Langford.
Students will have the same schedules, teachers, and bus numbers at the new building.
