The grand openings of the new schools set to accept students in Airdrie in September are one step closer after principals were confirmed by Rocky View Schools (RVS) March 1.
Heloise Lorimer School – a kindergaren to Grade 8 school opening in the community of King’s Heights – will see Brenda Valerio taking on the role of inaugural principal.
“Nothing is in place before you get there. That’s good and bad,” she said. “You can create a culture that is going to be more aligned with the vision and the mission of the community. Yourself, teachers and staff – you have to create everything.”
Valerio previously served as principal at Meadowbrook School and as assistant principal of Glenbow Elementary School in Cochrane. She said preparation for the new school’s opening would involve collaboration from parents and staff.
“(The philosophy is) inspiring, defining and engaging. That will be ongoing,” she said. “The people that are involved right now, they are into the inspiring, defining phase. We’re getting into the engaging phase.
“What do we value as a staff, as a parent community? How does that manifest into our mission and vision? That becomes our narrative.”
Cooper’s Crossing School, the new kindergarten to Grade 4 school which will serve the communities of Cooper’s Crossing, Morningside and Hillcrest, will see Todd Hennig step in as principal.
“This is a great opportunity to establish culture and work collaboratively with parents, with the staff that will come on board, to really try and start strong so that student needs are met,” Hennig said.
With construction on the new school still underway, Hennig said he was excited to get into the school and start determining how best to utilize the space.
“I’m excited. On the blueprint, there is a lot of open space,” he said. “Lots of space in the hallways, which I am very excited to see that becoming extensions of classrooms so that there are lots of different learning environments the kids can thrive in.”
Henning moves to Airdrie after 10 years at Prince of Peace Lutheran School in Chestermere.
“I bring the values that over my 25 years of experience have borne out to be truly valuable for kids. That’s putting students first and really working with parents,” he said. “It’s about making sure those basic needs are met in the context of real world living and experience so students can apply what they’re learning in real ways.”
