SILVERDALE — The community broke ground on April 14 on the Klahowya Secondary School improvement project.
“This is an exciting day for all of us,” Klahowya Principal Jodie Woolf said.
The project, funded by a school bond approved in February 2016, will add a 45,300-square-foot building with an auxiliary gymnasium and fitness classroom, a second music room, 12 general- and special-education classrooms, three labs, and field improvements.
“As some of you know, [Klahowya] means ‘Welcome, friends,’ ” Woolf said. “Even back then (1997-98 school year, Klahowya’s first), people saw what a welcoming place we’d become. A student wrote in that first yearbook, ‘The only better name would’ve been one that meant, Welcome, family.’ That still rings true.
“Recently, our family grew with the introduction of sixth-graders. And now, our nest is about to grow with us.”
The groundbreaking ceremony consisted of brief remarks by the principal, Central Kitsap School District Superintendent David McVicker and capital projects director Robin Shoemaker. Three students told their schoolmates what they’re looking forward to in the bigger, improved school. Then, the ceremonial shoveling of dirt to signify the start of construction.
One student, Selena, said, “I’m really excited to see new study spaces and the courtyard that is going to be in the new addition, as well as the new choir room and the advances to that.”
Another student, Willow, said, “I’m most excited about seeing the art that’s going to be displayed on the new murals with Seabeck’s history and the new track.”
Tyler, another student, said, “I’m most excited for the wrestling room and new football field, so our student athletes have an adequate place to practice and have competitions.”
Shoemaker told the Klahowya staff and students gathered for the groundbreaking that this time last year the district was well into planning for the improvements. “I want to give kudos to the principal and the administration and staff members who were working hard with us to expedite the planning for this facility. We had a fairly aggressive schedule: We wanted to be under construction this spring, and we are under construction this spring.”
The addition is scheduled to be complete for students by the start of the 2018-19 school year, with some parts ready for students to use by the beginning of the 2017-18 school year.
McVicker said, “This project will do much for Klahowya. This is just the start of a lot of work in our schools this year. It’s part of our long-term efforts to make schools safer and make sure that we give students like you the learning environments you deserve.”
For more information on this and other CKSD projects, visit ckschools.org.
Michelle Beahm is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. She can be reached at mbeahm@soundpublishing.com.
Klahowya Secondary School Principal Jodie Woolf talks to her students about what the addition to the school campus will include. Michelle Beahm / Kitsap News Group
Ceremonial shovel turn at the Klahowya Seconary School improvement project groundbreaking April 14. Michelle Beahm / Kitsap News Group
Ceremonial shovel turn at the Klahowya Seconary School improvement project groundbreaking April 14. Michelle Beahm / Kitsap News Group
Central Kitsap School District Superintendent David McVicker takes a “selfie” photo with the Klahowya staff and students at the end of the groundbreaking ceremony April 14. Michelle Beahm / Kitsap News Group
