Spirits were high at the Mat-Valley Adventist School as students and others participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of their new school. Phase 1 will create a 17,000-square-foot building with seven classrooms, a library and a computer lab. The new school, which should be ready by Christmas, will hold about 130 students. A new gym will be built next spring during the second phase of construction.
In addition to Mat-Valley students and teachers, the ceremony featured the school's principal, Ken Nelson, as well as Alaska conference administrators and Neil Biloff, Palmer Church pastor.
The school has been sharing space with the Palmer Church since they vacated the old school located about 8 miles away.
Students, teachers and conference personnel broke ground for the new Mat-Valley Adventist School.
