GREENVILLE — Kay Bartley spent 23 years teaching at Beverley Manor Middle School. That came to an end last spring when the school closed, making way for two new middle schools in Augusta County.
This year the business teacher will be in a brand new classroom in a brand new school. Bartley is one of the staff members at Riverheads Middle.
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"I loved every minute at Beverley Manor," Bartley said. "It was bittersweet. It was emotional there at the end. All your stuff was there and all your memories of your students that you've had. It's a great community for both schools."
While she'll miss the school that was home to her for more than two decades, it is nice to be in a brand new school.
"It's beautiful," she said.
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She said a new school offers excitement for all the students, three grades of kids who will be walking through the hallways for the first time on Wednesday when school opens.
Riverheads and Buffalo Gap both will open new middle schools this year, with students from Beverley Manor parting ways to go to the school in their district. Buffalo Gap celebrated its open house July 31 while Riverheads did so on Friday, Aug. 2.
Riverheads Middle attaches to the high school at the kitchen in the back. The entrance faces Riverheads Elementary across the road. The main floor will have seventh- and eighth-grade classrooms, as well as the main office, media center, art, band, choir and agriculture rooms. Upstairs will be sixth-grade classrooms, while the gym and cafeteria are downstairs. The gym is the former alternate gym at Riverheads High School.
Riverheads Middle was budgeted at $35,270,891.
Maile Argenbright will be a sixth grader this year.
"I think it's pretty nice," she said. "I actually really like it. It's going to be exciting and I'm really glad we get to have lockers."
She said lockers will allow her not to have to carry her book bag around all day, a relief for the rising middle schooler.
"I'm pretty excited to meet all my teachers," she said.
John Ward represents the Riverheads District on the Augusta County School Board. Speaking before the open house Friday, he thanked the Riverheads community.
"You won't find a community anywhere in the state of Virginia that supports its schools like Riverheads does," Ward said.
He also thanked the other school board members, central office administration and the Augusta County Board of Supervisors for helping make sure the school was built.
"They've worked to make sure we have great facilities for our kids," he said. "We want our great kids to have a great future."
— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick . Subscribe to us at newsleader.com
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: 'It's beautiful': Riverheads community celebrates brand new middle school
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