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Students Feel Right At Home

CANDACE C. MUNDY/TAMPA TRIBUNE PHOTO

Students, parents, administration and staff gather outside of the new facility for the Berean Academy Friday for the official ribbon-cutting and opening of the school, now located at 17951 N. US 41 in Lutz. The 47,000 sq. ft. building on Lake Stemper will provide room for more than 350 students.

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2008

LUTZ - It was the first day of school for a second time.

Families pulled into the parking lot and studied arrival and dismissal rules. Parents walked their children to the front entrance, posing them for pictures and marveling at the size of the 47,000-square-foot building.

Swags of red ribbon draped between the thick columns.

Berean Academy had planned for this day for five years. On Jan. 11, students returned from Christmas vacation to a new building, the first one the private Christian school has owned since opening 12 years ago. Berean had leased space from University Church of God, near Interstate 275.

Casey Crane, who is in 11th grade, said though the church had served as a great host to Berean, heading to class in a new building had a special feel.

"It was like coming home," he said.

Crane, 17, was one of the Berean representatives selected for the ribbon-cutting. After prayers and Scripture readings (and an announcement to please enjoy refreshments outside), the school was open, and families streamed in to see the results of the construction.

Children sprinted through the halls and up the stairs, opening classroom doors and rushing inside. They stood in awe at the doors to the gymnasium, which was roped off to allow the shining floor to dry.

Elementary Principal Martha Crane, Casey's mother, greeted everyone in front of her office door with hugs and handshakes.

"I don't even have words to say," she said of the new building. "We couldn't have dreamed it would be anything this wonderful. I'm overwhelmed at what God can do, and what he's done."

The $12 million building offers a library, computer lab, science lab, music room, art room and fields and playgrounds that overlook Lake Stemper. It enrolls 180 students in kindergarten through 12th grade and has enough space for up to 400.

Debra Donaldson and her son, Reid, had watched the building rise off U.S. 41 as they drove into Hillsborough County from their homes in Pasco County. Finally, over Christmas break, curiosity got the better of them, and they pulled over and peeked in the windows.

On opening day last week, they got a better look, touring the science lab and the other rooms where Reid would have classes. Donaldson said the drawings she had seen of the plans didn't do it justice.

"The pictures are gorgeous, but you still need to see it," she said.

Second-graders Brooks Lynch, Kiara Nodal and Camryn Herr headed straight from the front door to their classroom and found their seats. They were impressed at the baskets underneath their desk chairs.

"I like it," said Kiara, 8. "You can put stuff in your chair."

They would have sat there until class started, but someone mentioned checking out the upstairs.

"There's an upstairs?" Kiara said.

"I thought it was just windows," Camryn said.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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