The Blue Valley School District will have a new addition to its 36 schools next year. Aubry Bend Middle School, located in Blue Valley Southwest’s backyard, will open with approximately 610-615 students in the fall of 2011.
“We have had some weather issues with snow, ice and rain, but the crews are really working through them and making up good time,” Aubry Bend Principal Diana Tate said. “We plan to be in the building in early summer.”
The new building features many unique designs unlike other Blue Valley middle schools.
“We have a three-story academic wing and a wonderful exploratory hallway,” Tate said. “The main exploratory hallway is wide open to the room and is a beautiful mix of stone and tile and glass. We’re excited that there is so much natural light in the entire building.”
With all its new technology and facilities, students are sure to look forward to the all the benefits Aubry Bend has to offer.
“I think the coolest thing about Aubry Bend is that it has so many stories,” freshman Ethan Carney, who has a 6th grade sister and 7th grade brother who will attend Aubry Bend, said. “I feel like it will be a neat experience for them.”
Prospective students are thrilled about the final opening and their attendance next year as well.
“I can’t wait to go — I heard it’s huge and great,” 7th grader Keaton Stein said. “The coolest thing I think is we’re going to be similar to Southwest, since we’re the wolverines.”
Such optimism is bound to come with doubts and unease.
“Well, I’m really sad to be leaving a lot of my friends, but I know people from [Blue Valley Middle School] too, so it’s okay,” Stein said.
Despite some uncertainty, Aubry Bend staff members are gearing up for a year to remember and putting forth effort to establish an encouraging environment.
“I want the school to be a very comfortable, friendly, safe-feeling place,” Aubry Bend science teacher Sara Talley said. “I think that building a sense of community will be important. When people feel connected to each other and the building, it leads to a more productive and enjoyable environment.”
As for the future relationship between Blue Valley Southwest and Aubry Bend Middle, the administrations of both schools are currently planning some collaborative activities. In the coming months, Aubry Bend students will be using the Southwest facilities for meetings with school officials.
“We hope that we’ll be able to plan some activities that integrate both student bodies in some community-building activities,” Tate said.
Like the current Southwest National Honor Society and Timber Creek Elementary partnership, Aubry Bend is looking for cooperation in not only academic but after-school programs that would need the assistance of Southwest students.
“We hope to provide opportunities to build a grades 6-12 relationship with BVSW,” Tate said. “I think that we can really tap into the experience and expertise of high school students to enhance both our academic and activity programming. The mentorship opportunities are endless for the high school students, and with some structure, we think this could develop into an amazing programmatic experience.”
In working together, the Southwest community may provide great help to the new, yet enthusiastic, middle school.
“We want the community to know that we’re committed to a strong focus on kids and their social, emotional and academic growth,” Tate said. “We love what we do and can’t wait to get started.”
