CHS ribbon cutting

Craig and Samantha standing in front of the restored historic Charlotte High School. This first building (commonly called the three story) is the only historic part of the campus.

Charlotte High School as well as several other schools in our county were destroyed by hurricane Charley in Aug. 2004. Rebuilding the campus has been a slow process that is not finished yet. However the freshman and sophomore will have new buildings to meet in when school opens. Most of the junior and senior classes will still be in portables for a few more months. Craig is also hoping that the changes to the dinning room will be done when school starts. He does need somewhere to feed the 2,000 students!

There was a ribbon cutting and open house on July 13, 2009 for the completed parts of the school. The ribbon cutting took place in the new axillary gym. The school board was there.

Jerry Olivio, assistant super intendent conducted the ceremony.

Barbara the school board chair speaking. Jerry Olivio, David Galler (super intendent), and Wayne Goff (a CHS graduate.

Dr Dave Galler was pleased with prospect of the nearing completion of the school.

Barney Duffey, CHS principal, spoke on the excitement of opening the new school and how much tradition is in the school. Wayne Goff also spoke. He told stories about starting 4th grade at Charlotte and continuing until he graduated 12th grade. Mr. Goff was a student at the school when there was only the one three story building.

Samantha snapped this picture while waiting for the ribbon cutting ceremony to start. Craig graduated from the school in 1979, Tony graduated in 2006. We hope Patrick will graduate in 2011 and Samantha in 2013.

This is a picture from inside of one of the new buildings, looking onto the pathway that leads to the cafe dinning room. This is supposed to be done before school starts.

The Tarpon Fish is the school mascot. Samantha is standing next to one of the many tarpons on campus. This one happens to be in the main office.

This is a window that shows the original construction on the historic three story building. This building sits at the front of the campus. In the picture below, Craig and Samantha are standing in front of the three story building.

Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the inside of the new buildings. Not sure what I was thinking there. The new school is very nice. So much technology to be used in the classrooms. This is a nice opportunity for Samantha and Patrick to be students there.