After years of planning and construction, Forest Grove elementary and junior high school has opened its doors to its first generation of students. Welcoming those involved in the construction and planning, as well as community stakeholders, Elk Island Public Schools celebrated the grand opening of Forest Grove on Friday, Sept. 18.

As part of the day’s events, students in Madame Pickering’s Grade Six class performed an original song inspired by the sounds of a Forest Grove. An amalgamation of two of the community’s oldest schools, École Campbelltown and Sherwood Heights, Forest Grove features three stories, two gymnasiums, and room for more than 1,000 students. “As I look at this new facility, and as we all look at it, you can just picture the generations of students who will come through here, thousands of them,” said Mayor Rod Frank and the opening event.

The journey to the school that now stands at 245 Fir Street in Sherwood Park began just seven years ago. Described by many as a ‘labour of love’, its much-anticipated opening marks a new era for local students. “This project was long in the making and is the culmination of the hard work of trustees, quite a few boards before our current, division leadership, government partners and both the communities Sherwood Heights and École Campbelltown,” said board chair for EIPS Colleen Holowaychuk. “This represents an approximately $50 million investment into our community.

Into the education of our kids for generations to come,” said MLA for Strathcona-Sherwood Park Nate Glubish. For one of the schools two principals, Helene Hewitt, being part of the first administrative team to lead Forest Grove is a full circle moment. Having attended both École Campbelltown and Sherwood Heights as a child, Hewitt later took her first teaching position at École Campbelltown and served as the last principal of Sherwood Heights. “When I was listening to the students sing, I felt so emotional because I had all these memories of my own experiences as a child singing in a gymnasium,” said Hewitt. “Watching this moment where now I’m the adult sitting in the chair listening to this amazing music, it’s just incredible.” Looking forward to the future of Forest Grove, how it grows and fits into the community, both Hewitt and her co-principal Greg Probert said they’re excited to see what the future holds and what traditions unfold as the building that was formerly a dream for EIPS becomes home to Sherwood Park’s youngest generation. “A new school is more than just a building.

It’s an investment in our children, our families, and the future of our community,” MLA for Sherwood Park Kyle Kasawski told The News. Kasawski was unable to attend the grand opening event. TMacLeod@postmedia.com