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POSTED: Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2008

Bellingham's new elementary school opens to smiles

BELLINGHAM - The scene at Bellingham's new school looked just like other schools' first day on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

But what separated Wade King Elementary's first day was that mixed among the students lugging backpacks stuffed with new school supplies and parents clutching cameras and coffee cups were construction crews finishing last-minute details.

The new $11.4 million school opened Tuesday to smiling parents and students, most of whom gave themselves a self-guided tour of the two-story building before finding the proper classrooms.

"I'm looking forward to meeting new friends and going around the school and seeing what it's like having a brand-new school," said fourth-grader Sidney Balfour, 9. "But I'm probably going to get lost going a few places."

Sidney won't be alone in wandering the halls. Her newfound friend, Olivia Brice, already got a bit turned around trying to find her classroom.

"I didn't know where to go," said the 9-year-old, who just moved to Bellingham from Marysville. "But I'm really looking forward to being in school here."

And students weren't the only ones excited about being in a new building. Parents made positive comments about the building and planned curriculum - the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program - as they entered the school and found the classrooms they needed.

"I'm really excited for world languages; I can't wait to figure out what language they decide on," said Kim Ulrich, who has two children in the school. "It's nice to have something different."

While parents like the upcoming programs, students were more in awe of the building, with favorite features ranging from the computer lab next to the library to the fact that you can see the front door from an overlook on the second floor. But second-grader Carson Gutierrez's favorite feature is the view the school has of the surrounding hills.

And what is he looking forward to most this year?

"Just having a good time," he said, minutes before the school year started.