Short List: Name of New SVSD Elementary School Narrowed to Four Final Choices

The building is framed, the roof is going on, grass is growing on the future play field –  and after over two months of nominating names and narrowing the final list, the Snoqualmie Valley School Board recently established a short list for the district’s new elementary school scheduled to open in September 2016.

The top contenders are: Cedar Ridge Elementary, Little Si Elementary, Mountain Ridge Elementary and Timber Ridge Elementary.

Architects are incorporating dendrochronology (science of tree ring dating) theme elements throughout the building’s design, alluding to the history of the Snoqualmie Valley – so a couple of the final names play into that theme.

The school will be similar in design to Cascade View, only slightly larger and with a few tweaks. It will have the same three classroom-wing design, along with a central area for the library, computer labs, offices and kindergarten classrooms, with the gymnasium and multipurpose stemming off the other end.

Each wing will have one more classroom than Cascade View, giving the school permanent capacity for around 650 students. The gym and multi-purpose room will also be slightly larger, which was a result of feedback from Cascade View staff.

The school’s construction is funded by a $244 million school bond passed in February 2015. It is located at the corner of Snoqualmie Parkway and SE Swenson Drive and will provide needed capacity in the fast-growing school district and allow for the roll out of state-funded full-day kindergarten and lower class size in grades K-3.

Amy Wright, principal at Opstad Elementary School (OES) for the past four years, will transition as the new school’s principal with the completion of the 2015-16 school year.

Prior to taking the reigns at Opstad, Wright spent six years as the principal at Stillwater Elementary School in Carnation, and completed a superintendent internship with the Riverview School District. She also taught Fall City Elementary School for 15 years.

The school board is expected to announce the name of the new school at its January 28th meeting, which starts at 6:30PM at Snoqualmie City Hall.

For more information on the construction of elementary school 6 visit SVSD’s informational page about the project HERE.