This past week the final boxes, desks, chairs and “all things academic” were unloaded and moved into Westside School’s new facility in the former E.C. Hughes building in nearby West Seattle.

The daunting task of moving an entire school took just three days, according to Admission Director David Bergler. Teachers have been arriving earlier than in past summers, anxious to set up their new classrooms. Westside School (www.westsideschool.org) currently offers classes from Preschool through 5th grade.

The school, formerly located in Arbor Heights, will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 7th at 4pm. The first day of school is the following day, Wednesday, Sept. 8th.

Here’s more info from our friends at Westside:

Westside School parent volunteers are giving up their weekends to help ready the new campus for students and families for the big ribbon cutting on Tuesday, September 7th at 4:00. Volunteers have been supporting the move with a variety of tasks including landscape work and setting up the new library. Pictured above is a group of volunteers helping assemble the new playground structure.

“One of the cornerstones of Westside School is the high value that is placed on a caring community,” said Bergler.  He adds, “That spirit of community can be seen in the tremendous support we have had from our families during our move.”

Westside School, technically located in Arbor Heights, but close enough to White Center to be considered “local,” is in negotiations with the Seattle Public School District to lease the historic E.C. Hughes School building at 7740 34th Ave SW, with hopes of starting the 2010-11 school year there in the fall.

“All the lease options for the inventoried Seattle Public School buildings were presented at the School Board meeting last night, and the vote will take place May 5th,” said Jana Riggin, Westside’s Director of Marketing & Development.

Here’s more info provided by Jana:

Westside School has put in a proposal to lease the E.C. Hughes building on 7740 34th Ave SW, and hopes to start the 2010-2011 school year in this new location.

Westside has been growing since 2006, and has outgrown its current location at 10015 28th Ave SW. Portable buildings have been the short-term solution, but the school is excited about this new building that has enough square feet to meet all its current program needs.

Next year, Westside will have about 230 students, grades preschool – 5th, and has not only run out of classroom space but also room for other important programs like PE, music and art. Currently, Westside shares its space with another independent, private middle school and both schools need more room.

The move to E.C. Hughes will give the needed space for all day PE classes, office space for our Spanish and Chinese teachers, and classrooms for music and art while allowing every classroom to be in one building and bring our community together.

Westside School’s current location goes back to 1993, when they made a deal with the Highline School District to take over the former North Shorewood School on 28th Avenue SW.

And now, like the 230 young kids they teach, they’re growing again.

On a personal note, Hazel Schaefer, grandmother of Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer, once taught Kindergarten at E.C. Hughes, and if all goes according to plan, Schaefer’s own daughter will be attending school this fall in that very same building.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons]

Westside School, which is located nearby at 10015 28th Ave SW, is holding a fundraiser to help send its 4th and 5th graders to Islandwood, and outdoor educational facility located on Bainbridge Island.

All you have to do is mention this code when shopping at any Barnes & Noble, including the one in nearby Westwood Village:

584235

Here’s more info:

Westside School Bookfair December 3, 4, 5 and 6: Help Our 4th and 5th Graders go to Islandwood!

On December 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, you and your family can support the Fourth and Fifth grades’ 4-day trip to Islandwood by doing some holiday shopping at ANY Barnes & Noble in the country!

Please give your friends and relatives this number, 584235, to use any time on those days and 10% or more of the sales will come back to Westside School.  Locally, the 4th and 5th graders will be running activities tables and reading to kids in the children’s section of the Westwood Village store so that parents can shop unimpeded.

They will also man a “wrap for tips” table at the entrance of the Westwood village store.

Vouchers, in the form of bookmarks, were handed out to the students on Monday, November 30.