A day full of boxes, bags and lots of memories. The students of De Kap primary school said goodbye to their old school building today. After the autumn holidays, a new chapter begins in the brand new De Horizon Child Center on the street of the same name in Klazienaveen.
De Kap had been there for over sixty years, and it was noticeable. “The further we walked back in the hallway, the more leaks there were,” says director Baukje Maria Wiersma. “At one point there were real waves of water in the hallway, as if someone was taking a shower in the toilet.”
Yet the farewell felt double. “We are going to a beautiful new place, but there are also many memories left behind,” she says. “In terms of the building, we are done with it, but it remains a piece of history.”
Today the children had the opportunity to take a look at their new school. They moved their most important belongings with self-colored bags, and each child was allowed to take something personal with them.
Fabiënne (10): “I put a book in my bag. I thought that was important.” Simon (9): “I brought my pencil case, a book, whiteboard markers, bookmarks and my set square. Then the teacher doesn’t have to keep buying new ones.”
The rest of the items will be moved later. All tables and chairs are now stacked in one room in the old building, they will get a second life in Gambia.
The old school building of De Kap had its charm, but was outdated. “Nowadays you want to be able to collaborate and learn outside the classroom,” Wiersma explains. “That’s just not possible here.”
Simon sums it up in his own way: “Well, you finally got rid of that old shit building, haha! The toilets were certainly no longer clean.”
Yet many children also find it a bit exciting. Fabiënne: “I find it quite strange, but also very nice. And also sad that we are leaving now.” Simon: “I don’t really like it when things change, but this had to happen at some point.”
De Kap will soon share the modern building with the Pastoor Middelkoopschool. “We are going to live together, but we will remain two independent schools,” says the director.
Construction took about a year, with a total investment of about eight million euros. The final chores will be completed this week, so that the students can start fresh after the autumn holidays.
During the trial visit, the students were amazed. “I really like that the building is nice and high,” says Simon enthusiastically. When asked whether he would rather sit downstairs or upstairs, he immediately answers: “Upstairs of course!”
Lined up, hand in hand, the children say goodbye to their ‘old’ school. “Hello, school,” the students shout as they wave and head to their new place.