The keys have been officially presented for the brand new French immersion public school, École Barrie Wilson School.

In a ceremony last week, the keys were handed to Principal Chris Good, while the man whose name is carried on the school, Barrie Wilson, stood happily nearby.

“This is very, very humbling, let me tell you. It’s really humbling. There are so many outstanding educators with whom I’ve worked over the years, and I think I’m just a product of the benefits of learning from them,” said Wilson.

He taught in the Red Deer public school system for over 30 years as an educator and principal. He is currently retired, but still has a great depth of interest in the development of Red Deer’s school systems.

Wilson expressed his confidence in the leadership of Good, and was pleased to note that his daughter would be among the teachers employed at the school.

The French immersion school has programs from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5, and also features a brand new branch of the Red Deer Public Library. The classrooms are designed to initially provide space for 500 students, although some of the classrooms are expandable so as to make room for up to 600 children.

The school features 20 spacious classrooms, a large gymnasium and a large library. Desks, chairs, books, school supplies and other amenities will be added as part of an ongoing process leading up to the official first day of Sept. 2nd.

Bev Manning, Red Deer Public School District Chair was also present at the ceremony, and is eager for the halls to be full of people.

“You go to schools all the time, and you can sort of feel the culture that develops over time. These kids will be breaking ground and developing a new culture and home here, at École Barrie Wilson,” Manning said.

Good is looking forward to breaking in his position after spending the last year overseeing the development of the school as district administrator for Red Deer Pubic Schools.

“All the work, all of the things we’re doing are all about the students that are going to be attending here. We do have some focus areas, such as project-based learning, and have access to state-of-the-art technologies as a new school.”

Colette Pedde will be transferring from her job as vice-principal of Mattie McCullough Elementary School to resume the same position at Barrie Wilson.

kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com