Byron Center — Before cutting the ribbon in front of administrators, staff and community supporters, Tom Trout said how proud he was to be the first principal of the new Nickels Intermediate School.
“I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas every year since the bond passed,” he said. “Today, it’s finally Christmas.”
Inside the Nickels’ media center, several people shared remarks and gratitude for all the moving parts that made the new building a reality.
“Teachers have been involved with this project from its grassroots,” Trout said. “We’re here for kids and are excited for the community.”
Sixth-graders Lilia Damsgaard and Alexa Barr also spoke and offered their thoughts about being two of the first students to attend school at the new Nickels.
“I was one of the first students to tour this school when it was only under construction and I’m really excited to be a part of the first sixth grade group to actually go to this school,” Alexa said.
Lilia added: “I’m so excited to have the privilege to learn in an environment with so many new resources.”
Funded by an $80 million bond proposal passed in May 2020, the new fifth- and sixth-grade building, at 3100 84th St. SW, is built to house 900 students.
Outside of the media center and down the hallways, families toured the new cafeteria, fine arts room, gymnasium and STEM classrooms. Both floors feature brand new lockers, break-out study rooms and flexible seating spaces.
In one of the study rooms, the Neisen family said they enjoyed being able to look at the school’s windows and see nature outside.
“This school is a lot bigger than our old one and we’ll be the first class to go here,” sixth-grader Grace Neisen said. “I’m really looking forward to having classes upstairs and all the new rooms.”
Read more from Byron Center:
• Fifth- and sixth-graders to start school in new building
• New buildings, new friends to be made
