Vinson-Owen School Prepares Move to Parkhurst

For the next two years, the students at will be attending school a half mile away at the newly renovated Parkhurst Elementary School.

In a continuing effort to make the move as smooth as possible, the V-O PTO and , held a meeting to fill in parents concerning everything they need to know about the switch.

“It's going to be a difficult transition,” explained V-O School Psychiatrist, Andrea Thurk. “Parents are stressed, the staff is stressed, so, we just need to take a big breath and relax. If we are stressed, the kids will be stressed. It will be hard behind the scenes, but we are focused on keeping that stress off the kids through preparation.”

Thurk suggested parents to keep the lines of communication concerning the move open between both kids and staff. Other advice from Thurk included: practice walking or driving by the Parkhurst to familiarize the kids with their new school, explain the reason behind the move and prepare before and after school routines.

But McAlduff said that everything should be set at Parkhurst for the school year to begin on August 30.

“If the schedule breaks down we could delay opening for a few days, but we are very confident we will stay on course,” McAlduff said.

To assure the schedule remains as tight as possible, the PTO and McAlduff have put together five transition committees comprised of PTO members and Vinson-Owen parents. The five committees deal with making sure technology is up to date at Parkhurst, packing/moving, social aspects of the move, communications between staff, administration and parents, a site and play committee dealing with the playground and recess space at Parkhurst, and a committee focused on transportation at the new school.

“The high school and middle school and other schools have wireless internet, Parkhurst will be wireless as well,” McAlduff said.

Concerning transportation, McAlduff said: “We are finalizing plans for busing and pick-ups, drop-offs. We expect within the next three weeks to have a regular route planned out. Late fees for bus sign up for V-O parents will be waived this year as well.”

McAlduff explained that there will be three different bus routes that are expected to be planned out.

As for the particulars, McAlduff assured parents that everything is being done to maintain the art projects and other iconic pieces of V-O, right down to the children's cubbies.

One tough spot could be the wall tiles in the Vinson-Owen gym. McAlduff and those behind the construction are trying to devise a way to safely remove the tiles, but fear the art projects from classes past, may not be able to be saved.

“We wish we can save everything, but a project like this, somethings get lost, that's the reality. But, we will do our best to find a way to save those tiles,” assured McAlduff.

For more information on the V-O-Parkhurst transition, visit the Vinson-Owen PTO's website.