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Topsail High School opens doors to new building
by Amanda Hutchenson, Topsail Voice

HAMPSTEAD – After a ribbon-cutting and open house on Friday, students and staff at Topsail High School were eager for the first official day of school in their new building Monday.
Before cutting the ribbon at the Jan. 2 open house, officials and volunteers at all levels spoke about the process of making the new building a reality.
“This is a really big day in my life to have come this far and succeeded,” said NC Representative Carolyn Justice (R - Pender, New Hanover). “It only succeeded because the people of Pender County put education first.”
Charles Boney, Jr., also spoke to the crowd. Boney compared the dedication of the new building, of which he was one of the architects, to the dedication of the original building.
My grandfather over 80 years ago designed the original Topsail High School,” Boney said. “Topsail High School must have been dedicated in a time of economic uncertainty when people needed uplifting because the people of Pender County believed in the power of education.”
Lorri Luhring of Pender Citizens for Schools spoke of the work she and the other “bond girls” did to make the new facility a reality.
“I cannot tell you how long I have dreamed of this facility,” Luhring said. “Through these doors we will see many students pass. We can expect great things from all of them.”
“I never thought I would see this day,” said Diane Rand, one of the “bond girls,” after the ceremony. “It was real exciting. I just really couldn’t believe this day would come.”
While touring the school and locating classrooms and lockers Friday morning, Rachel Rhine, 16, and Georgia Littlejohn, 15, both sophomores, said they were excited to attend classes in the new building.
“It’s amazing, definitely,” said Rhine.
“I’m extremely excited,” said Littlejohn. “I didn’t expect it to be this nice.”
“Or this big!” Rhine added.
Teachers and school district officials worked over winter break to move furniture and items from the old building and spent weekends unpacking to ensure the building would be ready to go on the first day of the spring semester.
“The move went well,” said Topsail Principal Marcus Skipper Friday, adding that the building contractors had even come out to help move furniture and equipment. “We’re very excited for Monday, very prepared for the kids, as prepared as we can be. The staff are going to greet students with open arms.”
Penny Luft was taking advantage of the Friday open house to finish setting up her Spanish classroom. After teaching in trailers and one of the old building’s smallest classrooms, she said she was excited to be teaching in a bigger room.
“To have this space is tremendous,” Luft said. “I can’t wait for the kids, to see their faces. It’ll be really nice to have everyone in one building. I don’t know how long it’s been since Topsail High School was all in one building.”
Keil McMurray, the school’s music director, said he is excited to have separate rooms for chorus and band, each with acoustics specific to group meeting in it.
“It’s a dream,” McMurray said. “We finally have a facility we can grow in. The acoustics are amazing.”
“My crew has worked every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” said Pender Chief Technology Officer Landon Scism at the Friday ceremony, adding that his crew was going to work over the weekend to finish setting up technology throughout the building. “It’s a lot of hard work but it’ll pay off.”
After the ribbon cutting on Jan. 2, students had a chance to take tours of the new building, though teachers were still ready with maps on the first day to help students find the way to their classes.
One school counselor said she thought the new building would be a boost to student morale as she helped students find their homerooms Monday.
“I think just being in a new building, it’s like being in a new house,” said Marcy Plesha.
She added that the old building had not had enough lockers for each student, a change she thought would be an additional boost for students.

http://www.topsailvoice.com/articles/2009/01/12/topsail_voice/news/doc4964beaad
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