The gymnasium of Richard Bulpitt Elementary was filled with the sound of music as students and teachers, along with Education Minister Peter Fassbender and the Langley board of education, officially opened the school today.

The school is named after Richard Bulpitt, a former Langley superintendent who dedicated his life to education. The family of Richard Bulpitt attended the official opening and presented a special gift to the school - a mural created by Corey Bulpitt - that now hangs proudly in the school foyer.

The $13.4-million Richard Bulpitt Elementary can accommodate up to 510 students from kindergarten to Grade 5. It features a Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC), which provides pre-school, before and after school care, and other day-care services. The NLC also is home to the Active Kids after-school program, which teaches physical literacy skills. The school has been built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(R) Gold or equivalent environmental standards and utilized B.C. wood throughout construction.

Student enrolment in the Yorkson-area of Langley continues to rise, which is why the government committed $52.5 million to create three new schools in Langley. This includes $13.4 million for Richard Bulpitt Elementary, $26.2 million for a middle school which will open next year, and $12.9 million for Lynn Fripps Elementary, which opened last year.

After the official opening, Fassbender and every student picked up their favourite books when the clock struck 11 a.m., to celebrate Drop Everything and Read (DEAR). Each year the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association (BCTLA) urges all British Columbians to take time to participate in DEAR by reading for 20 minutes on the fourth Monday in October.

Today is also National School Library Day, which celebrates and promotes school libraries across Canada. Earlier this month, the government proclaimed October as Library Month in B.C.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education -

"It is a joy to come back to Langley and officially open Richard Bulpitt Elementary with students, teachers and the whole community. I am glad to have the opportunity to celebrate an important milestone for this new school, and at the same time participate in Drop Everything and Read with students.

Congratulations to the Langley Board of Education and our community partners on this beautiful new school for everyone."

Rich Coleman, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove -

"Langley has grown rapidly in the past few years, especially as more families work and live in the Yorkson-area.

As a parent, grandparent and a resident of Langley, I am excited to have a new school, Richard Bulpitt Elementary, in our community. This school is not only great news for our students, but for parents as well as they access the day care services at the school's Neighbourhood Learning Centre."

Mary Polak, MLA for

"This is an exciting day for students and parents in Langley. Richard Bulpitt elementary not only creates a modern learning environment for students today, but also offers an exceptional new facility that will benefit the entire community for years to come."

Wendy Johnson, Langley board of education chair -

"I'm excited to welcome students to Richard Bulpitt Elementary, a modern learning facility benefiting the entire community. The education legacy of Richard Bulpitt will continue to live on in every classroom and I can think of no better way to honour his memory."

(flickr.com)

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $43.9 million in the Langley school district on capital projects, full-day kindergartens and seismic upgrades.
• Since 2001, the government has spent more than $2.5 billion to complete 99 new and replacement schools, 151 additions, 27 renovations and 26 site acquisitions throughout B.C.

Learn More:

Drop Everything and Read: http://www.dropeverythingandread.com/

Official Proclamation Of Library Month: http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/oic/2013%20Proclamations/procs/LibraryMonth2013.htm

BC's Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963