Students and faculty share excitement for new Cedar Rapids elementary school

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Friday marked the start of classes at many Iowan schools, including a brand-new elementary in Cedar Rapids.

The now-closed Arthur and Garfield Elementary Schools are combined into one larger, new structure in Trailside.

Students and faculty were much more eager than usual to start school because of that edifice.

Trailside Elementary is a significant improvement over Arthur Elementary, which is located across the street, with its modern classrooms, spacious hallways, and large library.

It’s just so much larger. We were crammed into a smaller space with few options in the previous one. At the new Trailside Elementary, fifth-grader Jack Pasker said, “We got to do a lot more stuff today and we have a lot more room now.”

He claimed that even on his first day, the new structure had significantly changed the nature of education.

Because we simply have more capacities, I would say it also helps us learn more and accomplish more in a day, according to Pasker.

Not just he is thrilled. The new principal of the school reports that staff and parents have shown greater support for the new area than they have in the past.

“I believe they are as excited as our students are. Principal Jennifer Nurre stated, “They’re very excited about the space, the size, the storage, and the newness.”

Pasker claims that despite the new school’s many bells and whistles, one feature is his favorite.

“I get to do whatever I want because I’ve always loved to read and I have all these books and some of my favorite series here.”