Classes begin in Scott County school's new building

Friday, March 2, 2018

NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- As students and staff of Kelso C-7 Elementary settle into their new school building, the community is reminded of the need for that new space but also the heart of its people.

Wednesday marked the first day of student attendance in the new facility after a week-long break to move furniture, equipment and other items from the previous school on State Highway A in New Hamburg to the new 21,000-square-foot space located less than a mile east but still on State Highway A.

"The first day was amazing," Superintendent Kim Burger said. "Not even the rain could have dampened our spirits. We were excited to see our kids after the move break and to begin the first day of many in our forever home."

Caleb Vetter was so excited to see his new classroom, the first grader went back for a glimpse three times during the open house for students on Tuesday, his mother said.

"He wanted to keep looking at his classroom," Kristina Vetter said about her son.

Caleb's excitement -- along with his fellow students -- carried over into the first day of school.

"It's hard not to get emotional, especially when you see the building through our students' eyes for the first time," Burger said. "During open house, we had families of three and four generations coming in together to experience this historic moment together. It's representative of the excitement and community support, but it also represents the level of pride and tradition that is deep-seated in our school and community."

The district now has a new 21st century learning environment facility that has been completed within budget. The school, for preschool and kindergarten through eighth-grade students, was financed with a $3.25-million bond issue approved by voters in August 2016.

The outside of the building features stone matching New Hamburg's landmark, St. Lawrence Church, and bears the district's name and logo and boasts the blue and yellow school colors with gray accents.

First through eighth grades are arranged in a modern-design classroom pod concept and located around two team rooms and a central library. This is to allow for more collaboration or group activities between students that can be done outside of the classroom and within the team rooms and library, the superintendent said.

The team rooms contain large, glazed, overhead doors that can remain closed for smaller, group activities or opened up into the library for larger, school assembly-type activities.

Clerestory windows are included in the central library to help provide plenty of natural daylight. Also, included are teacher resource rooms that can be utilized for more personal one-on-one activities that may be needed outside of a typical classroom or team room.

Everything in the library is mobile, including shelves and tables so the space can be designed around events or activities.

Also included are administrative offices, multipurpose room and kitchen. The multipurpose room will be used for lunches, recreational activities and other assembly events. The design also allows for future expansion for a gymnasium and another classroom pod addition.

"I love it," Randy Kern said at the open house. "I think it looks awesome. I wish I could have went to school here (in this building)."

Kern said he was so excited to see the new school, he decided to come along to the open house with his daughter, Nicole Wilson, and his grandson, Kade Wilson, who is a fourth grader at the school.

Four generations of Kern's family -- he, his mother, daughter and grandson -- have attended the school, he said.

"I'm just glad the community has a place for all their kids to go," Nicole Wilson said about the school.

Wilson said she liked the modern look of the new building.

"Every teacher has their own spot," she said, referring to the pods.

She also liked seeing some of the old school photos and plaques on display in the library.

Dorothy Deason, who is the district's special education/federal programs coordinator, said she saw a lot of smiles during the school's open house as students and their families walked through the building.

"This is so amazing," Deason said. "This is a very functional space and layout."

Deason also attended Kelso C-7 and served on the district's Board of Education, and her three grown sons are also alumni.

"We're so thankful to the community," she said.

Laura Orr, who is marking her 30th year of employment in food services and transportation for the district, is adjusting to her new work space in the kitchen as well as modified bus routes that came with the move.

"It's exciting. I went to school up there; I graduated from there. It's kind of surreal to see the kids I've taken to school on the bus, and I am now taking their kids to school," Orr said.

She paused.

"It makes me feel old sometimes," Orr laughed. "But I wouldn't trade it for the world."

The teachers are also excited about their new work space.

"There really is a lot to an environment in school and how students learn so I'm excited for how much more the kids can learn in this space," second grade teacher Tara Glastetter.

Fifth grade teacher Melissa Schiwitz said among the aspects of the new facility she likes are the regulated temperatures and ample space in the classrooms.

The new facility also incorporates safety and security features such as lockdown capabilities and security cameras to help protect the students and teachers while at school.

Office staff at the main entrance on the west side will use a video system to permit visitors before unlocking the doors. The visitor then must sign in before entering the rest of the building.

The new facility also includes two storm shelters designed according to Federal Emergency Management Agency standards to withstand a tornado event and are built with reinforced concrete masonry units and concrete roof all of which is contained and separate from the exterior building structure. A fire alarm system to help protect students and teachers is also included.

The superintendent noted there is some site work still to be completed. With the freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, ice and snow over the past couple months, the contractor had not been able complete the final grading, grass seeding, parking lot pavement and prekindergarten playground area.

However, the site work is anticipated to be completed in the early portion of spring this year and will resume again as soon as weather conditions improve, she said.

"This building process -- from the bond campaign to the first time we opened our doors to our families -- has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had," the superintendent said. "To be a part of a community that comes together to rally behind their school with such passion, generosity and overall sense of community is amazing. Our students are so blessed to have a community like ours behind them."

Thank you can't be said enough to the community, the superintendent said.

"Everything from yes votes during the election and helping move multiple times over the past couple years to bringing food to volunteers and teachers, our community never fails to show the best feature of Kelso C-7 -- the people," Burger said.

For students, staff and community members who've seen the new school, it's still hard for some to believe that day had actually arrived.

"Their excitement is off-the-charts," Burger said. "We had an open house for our families to help them become acquainted with the building and basic procedures, but we are planning a bigger celebration later for our extended community. The details of the official ribbon cutting and community celebration will be coming very soon."

Glastetter said the teachers and students are so grateful to the community.

"It really touches your soul," the second grade teacher said.

And in the meantime, students and staff at Kelso C-7 will continue to get acclimated to their new space.

"All you have to do is look at their faces," Glastetter said of the students. "You see how excited they are and all the great opportunities these kids are going to have that they deserve."

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