It was a day to celebrate as students, staff, parents and special guests crowded the gym at École Percy Pegler School in Okotoks Nov. 18 for the school’s grand reopening after its $6.9 million modernization.
The reopening ceremony featured a slideshow presentation of school photos, history about the school’s namesake, Percy Pegler, speeches from various dignitaries and entertainment including a special performance from indie hip hop artist Transit.
During his performance Transit, who worked with the Grade 4 classes last year, was accompanies by the students who joined him on stage.
École Percy Pegler School principal Dinah Shortt said Transit’s performance was definitely a highlight of the ceremony. She said it was a day to celebrate all the work that went into the renovation.
Shortt said the new facility will positively impact student learning and how nice it is for students to have classrooms and a gym again.
She noted this is a fresh start for the school including a new logo and school song. She said teachers have been resilient throughout the renovation process and are excited to be under one roof again.
“Never before have I seen a group of teachers so dedicated to supporting one another and that I think comes from some of the hardships. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” said Shortt.
While the school goes through its rebranding, she said its history around Percy Pegler remains important.
“The whole sense of his values and his ideals remain,” she said, explaining how he was hard-working, down to earth, a conservationist and an environmentalist.
“That’s the kind of history which is really cool because you can step forward from that piece, that solid foundation, and then rebrand or rebuild on that part and move forward.”
Pegler’s great-granddaughter, Kathy Coutts, was in attendance to cut the ceremonial ribbon.
She said she knew students, staff and parents have waited a long time to return to the school.
Coutts said she was thrilled to represent the Pegler family, and Pegler’s three daughters, Fran, Ruby, and Winnie (Coutts’s grandmother), would have loved to attend the ceremony. She also said she believed her great-grandfather would have been proud.
“He loved children, he loved education, he believed in lifelong learning. I think he would be proud of the school and also proud of the students who have passed through the doors.”
Foothills School Division superintendent Denise Rose said the school was redesigned around the idea of effective learning spaces.
The school was built in the late 1970s and there have been upgrades over the years, but because they love the location of the school, they decided to modernize it instead of relocating and starting over completely, said Rose.
Foothills School Division board chair Diana Froc said when they were designing the new layout, they wanted to ensure it allowed for more natural light. She said the new space is bright, welcoming and good for students.
While they endured the construction, which was frustrating at times, it is all a distant memory now, said Froc.
“(It’s) exciting that it’s done and we’re moving ahead like a great school does.”
