It was so much fun meeting Adrienne Schwab, the Principal at the new Viera Elementary School. She is the former Principal at Meadowlane Intermediate and she was born and raised here in West Melbourne, Florida. It is obvious from just meeting her that she is very passionate about making this school an amazing place to learn.

Adrienne was kind enough to invite me in to see the progress of the school’s construction. You would not believe it from these pictures but according to the head contractor, David Romero, they are supposed to be done with construction in just two weeks!

When you first walk into the school you will enter a lobby style check-in area, with security doors on either side leading to each area of the school. I was able to walk through and tour most of the school including the classrooms, cafeteria, music room, art room, media room, and play yard.

All of the classrooms are currently empty with two large white boards and wiring for a Promethean Board in the center. Promethean boards are being used to replace projector screens and will allow for a more interactive learning experience. If you are still confused, David told me to think of them as a giant iPad. Each learning space truly offers something special to offer, like the white board in the music room that has the music lines already drawn out.

While all of the rooms amazed me, the media room in this school is really something special! According to David, this is the largest media room in Brevard County and also the largest he has ever built, including high school media rooms. It will include the CCTV lab and edit room where they will shoot the morning news, a Maker Space, 3D printers, and more.

Just off of the media room are what were originally two computer labs, but after realizing a second lab was not needed it was turned into a STEM lab. It will include a Lego wall and an eyewash station.

Outside the buildings, the landscaping is beginning to come in and the foundation has been laid for a 110 x 80 foot blacktop that will hold a basketball court and sensory path. I was also told the school board recently had a security assessment done of all of the schools and it was decided they would have fences 8 feet tall.

Adrienne and the contractors have put so much thought into every detail. All of the classrooms have beautiful wood floors and modern cabinetry along with acoustical ceiling tiles to limit noise and some rooms have even been carpeted. In addition, Adrienne picked out bright colorful desks for all of the children. This will really brighten up all of the classrooms to create spaces children will be excited to learn in.

As a future first grade parent of the school, I am very excited about the new Viera Elementary School and even more excited to have been invited back in a few weeks, once it is complete. I look forward to sharing it with you and would love to know any thoughts or questions you have about the new school!

The Viera Mom

Along the way I will be sharing information about the building process including the day at the design center, DIY projects, and final decorating.  We will also be sharing our journey building roots in this town while attending events and building traditions and memories with our family!  Please subscribe and follow along!