A new era for Sunnyside Elementary was celebrated with the official opening of a $14.9-million replacement school which will serve families in the Grandview Heights area for generations to come.

There was story-telling magic, face painting and reading galore as Surrey Libraries kicked off a month-long celebration of family literacy activities at the Guildford Town Centre today.

An innovative approach launched last year to increase the number of B.C. children who are engaged, competent readers is seeing great success.

The province's largest school district officially unveiled 180 new student spaces as Education Minister Peter Fassbender and Surrey-Panorama MLA Marvin Hunt helped open a nearly $6-million, eight-classroom addition to T.E. Scott Elementary.

School may be out for the summer but construction work on Surrey school projects is full speed ahead. Five projects totalling nearly $59 million are under construction and when completed will create 1,840 new, much-needed student spaces for fast-growing communities in the district.

A celebratory feast highlighted the signing of a second Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement for the Surrey school district.

Students at Clayton Heights Secondary school gathered at their library today to hear the good news many Surrey families have been waiting for - a new school in the Clayton North area of the community.