The words of excitement echoed through the hallways.

“Amazing!”

“Exciting!”

“Awesome!”

“Incredible!”

“Best school ever!”

Last Wednesday morning, about 100 Revelstoke Secondary School students got their first taste of the new high school. They gathered in the entrance of the old school, waiting to be led out to the new building.

There were cheers as the students made the walk to the new building, with principal Mike Hooker in the lead. He led them past the main entrance and around the corner to the community entrance across from the Revelstoke Forum, where school district superintendent Anne Cooper was waiting.

Once at the door, they could not be kept out. They pushed their way through the open doors, desperate to get a look at the new building.

Once inside, the excitement built again. They gathered just inside the entrance and Hooker stood on the staircase to welcome them. He pointed out the wood ceiling some 50 feet above their heads. It was made from trees logged around the Alkolkolex. he pointed out.

The students then flowed up the stairs to the upper floor, where they stood in awe as they gaped down at the multi-purpose room, with its floor-to-ceiling windors, below. They gaped through windows at the gym below.

“Mr. Hooker, I must say I am completely satisfied,” one student said.

That was it for the organized part of the tour. Once let free, off they ran, like kids at an amusement park. They scampered about the upper-floor classrooms and science labs. They tested out the bathrooms (“It’s like a shopping mall.”) and then they ran downstairs to the bottom floor and the wood and auto shops, the band room and the changing rooms.

“I’m liking the showers,” said one student as she walked out of the change rooms.

One girl stopped to take a drink from a water fountain.

“How’s the water?” she was asked.

“It’s alright,” she replied.

Then it was back up to the main floor, where students checked out the teacher’s lounge and were running around the office as Brenda Deibert was testing out the phones. Outside on the large deck, a game of hacky-sack broke out – one of many new school firsts that are sure to happen in the next few days.

There was a lot to impress them as they snapped pictures with their cell phone cameras One student commented on the green paint job in the classrooms. Others remarked about the large windows in each classroom. “When you’re in a classroom you can see out!” one exclaimed.

“I’m so excited about the high ceilings,” said another.

The school wasn’t quite finished; workers were assembling desks, some lockers were missing doors and a fence still surrounded the school, but it was pretty close to being ready.

Soon the fun was over and principal Hooker used his megaphone to round up the students and make way for a second group.

“This is the best school ever!” said one girl. “I love it.”

“It’s awesome!” said another. “I don’t want to leave.”

That’s probably the first time a student ever said they didn’t want to leave school. Fortunately for her, she didn’t have to wait long to get back in – classes started in the new building on Monday.