The story of Pine Grove Elementary School added a new chapter on Thursday with the opening of the new facility on the sprawling Pine Grove campus in north Lowndes County.

The ribbon cutting was followed by an open house, giving students their first glimpse of the classrooms, media center and gymnasium that they will call theirs beginning today.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith welcomed everyone to the $15 million facility, which was paid for through SPLOST funds.

Smith reflected on the journey that brought them all to Pine Grove, a journey that began more than two years ago.

When Smith and Mike Powers, executive director of facilities, maintenance and operations, first saw the property it was farmland, covered with pine and oak trees and open space.

“And the most beautiful pond I had ever seen,” Smith said.

He said he and Powers both knew that this property would be perfect for two schools and possibly even a third down the line.

The environment played a large role in the development of both Pine Grove Elementary and Middle Schools, he said. Both facilities have large windows and stone work that reflect and showcase the natural environment.

That said, teachers, parents, administrators and others all had input into how the school would look and how it would be designed.

Opening a new school is always fraught with challenges, Smith said.

“But we shouldn’t let the challenges paralyze us but rather inspire us to discover who we really are,” Smith said. “Students will be able to enter here in Pre-K and exit over there in eighth grade.”

Powers said this was the third school in three years the Lowndes County School System had opened, a daunting task that could not have been completed without the help of dedicated individuals.

Principal Melissa Fisher then welcomed everyone to the campus. She said the inside of the building is a reflection of the atmosphere Pine Grove will create.

Bright colors and brilliant designs create a happy place for learning, she said.

Each wing within the school is color coded so students as young as four will be able to easily navigate to and from their room. The school has 54 instructional units, and Powers said it is similar in size, but not design, to the old Pine Grove Elementary School.

The move to the new school is a treat for Heather Holguin, a special education teacher. This is her second year teaching and already she has the opportunity to work in a brand new school.

“To be in a brand new school is unbelievable,” she said.

Third grade teacher Susan Middleton never thought she would get to teach in a new school. The veteran teacher is years away from retiring and spent 17 of her 19 years at the old Pine Grove Elementary School in the same classroom.

“The teachers’ needs and requests were certainly integrated into the school as well as what they thought was best for the students,” she said.

Fourth grader Kylie Davis couldn’t decide what she liked about the new school but her excitement about attending was obvious as she walked the halls looking for her new classroom.

“I like it,” Davis said.

The contractors for the project were Pinnacle Prime and the architect was Rusty McCall and Associates.