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Schools back in session
New Calvert Middle opens to students; ribbon cutting held Monday
Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL
Calvert Middle School seventh grader Chantal Wentling, 11, gets a hug from library assistant Roxanne Barnes on Tuesday before entering the new school.
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The first day of school was an old tradition in a new building for Calvert Middle School students who started the 2010-2011 school year Tuesday.
The new Prince Frederick school, which was $23 million in construction costs according to Calvert County Public Schools Director of School Construction George Leah, replaced one of the oldest schools in Calvert County, now left vacant.
The new school is located on Chesapeake Boulevard.
"The kids are very excited … I think each time they build [a new school] they get a little better," said Calvert Middle School Principal Bruce Hutchison, who said he was particularly excited about the school's "gorgeous" gymnasium, its courtyard and the fact that it had windows in every classroom.
"You're either looking on the courtyard or you're looking at Mother Nature somewhere," he said.
Hutchison, who started working in the new building during the second week of July, said the new school was somewhat "bittersweet" for those who attended or worked in the old one.
"It's like a ghost town over there," he said.
The official groundbreaking for the new building was held in November 2008.
On Monday afternoon some Calvert Middle School staff and students joined local elected officials and Calvert County public school system central office personnel for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the school.
Calvert County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith, Calvert County Commissioners President Wilson Parran (D), Calvert County Board of Education President William Phalen, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George's), Maryland State Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-Calvert, St. Mary's, Charles), Del. James E. Proctor (D-Prince George's, Calvert), Del. Sue Kullen (D- Calvert) and Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert, St. Mary's), all attended and spoke at the event.
"I'm just so happy I won't have to go to another eighth grade graduation in that gym," laughed Kullen of the former building, which Parran said was built in 1947.
Parran remarked that the formula the commissioners used for funding the school system "guarantees the commitment to public education in this county" which meant more projects like the new school.
O'Donnell said he hoped elected officials would not endanger public education by spreading resources too thin in other areas and Proctor, a former principal, told Hutchison he was "a lucky man."
Miller said the students were also fortunate to be experiencing a school environment he never saw growing up.
"This looks like a college campus," Miller said, calling the new school, "a combination of everything good coming together."
On Tuesday morning as they were getting off the bus, Calvert Middle School students had their own opinions about their new place of learning.
"I think it sort of looks like a courthouse but I hope they don't treat you like it's a courthouse," said seventh grader Andre Jones of Port Republic.
Andre, 11, said it was not his first experience in a new building as he attended Barstow Elementary School when it opened in the fall of 2008.
"I'm surprised I'm in another new school," he said.
Sixth grader Willie Coates of Prince Frederick, who admitted wishing it was still summer vacation, said he was surprised by the spaciousness of the new building.
"It's huge; it reminds me of Huntingtown High School," said Willie, 11, who had already been inside the building Monday for sixth grade orientation.
"I think it's really nice; it's really pretty," said seventh grader Julia Roth of Prince Frederick, who said she was looking forward to the first day of school so she could see all of her friends.
The new school, the 12-year-old said, "has a lot of extra land space for when you do gym and other stuff."
Hutchison said he was pleased by how smoothly the transition was going so far.
"Everything isn't perfect, but it's pretty darn good," he said.
