The Blue Valley School District has formally dedicated its newest school Aspen Grove Elementary.
Last week, school officials and students gathered for the ceremony, officially marking the opening of school at 12402 W. 182nd Terrace in southern Overland Park.
“It is our vision of Aspen Grove to cultivate a safe, inclusive and joyful learning community in which every child feels empowered to achieve full potential as a lifelong learner,” said Gretchen Anderson, Aspen Grove principal.
Aspen Grove’s mascot is a fox, and its students feed into Aubry Bend Middle and Blue Valley Southwest High schools.
Aspen Grove came from the 2020 bond
- Construction started on the 67,000-square-foot single-story school building in 2020, and its first group of K-5 students started this school year.
- It is the largest piece of the school district’s 2020 bond issue, costing roughly $27 million.
- The building has 24 classrooms broken into three pods, with each pod featuring a collaboration space and a maker space. Additionally, there are three special education classrooms.
- The school’s gym doubles as a storm shelter able to protect against 200 mph winds.
Aspen Grove Elementary is nature-inspired
Visioning for Aspen Grove Elementary began in 2018, with original stakeholders saying they wanted to create a joyful space that connected students with nature, according to school officials.
Jake Slobodnik, executive director of operations for the district, said priorities for the building’s design included nature, bright colors, safety and inclusivity, and a learning-supportive environment.
“We opened our doors for the first time for the first day of school, and these kids poured in, and our teachers and our custodians and our kitchen staff and our administrators, counselors, social workers — they came in, and they brought life to this building,” Slobodnik said. “That’s what makes this more than a building. It’s a tool; a building is a tool.And I know our teachers will use this tool to guide our students, to instill in them a love for learning and to empower them to reach their potential.”
The name Aspen Grove also nods to the number of aspen trees that can be found on the school grounds.
The building is “designed to bring nature inside and learning outside,” according to the Blue Valley School District.
Natural features are sprinkled throughout the building, including the stone and pebble designed library carpet.
There are also two outdoor learning patios and a space dedicated to outdoor performances, with the intent of bringing nature indoors and learning outdoors.
More Blue Valley news: Blue Valley finishes 2020 bond projects — Here’s what and where they are
Lucie Krisman contributed to this report.
