Gove Elementary administrators and teachers are thrilled to welcome their students this new school year in a brand new energy-efficient, environmentally friendly campus. The center features 924 student stations, state of the art media center, a covered outdoor pavilion, 3 playgrounds and much more in 18 acres of land.
“I am overjoyed with the ability to provide our students with a safer learning environment where all their needs can be addressed,” said Mr. Darren Edgecomb, principal. From the administrative point of view the campus will serve better because of all the new features, like the bus loop and parent pick-up/drop-off area being separate, allowing arrival and dismissal times to run smoothly. This area now has a covered walkway, which is ideal for rainy days and organization.
There are textbook storage rooms on both floors and one specific for testing materials like FCAT, CELLA and diagnostics. The media center has more than 5,000 sq.ft., including a reading room, computers and planning areas with different resources for teachers to plan their lessons and activities.
Students will have access to the latest technology in the classrooms as they are equipped with projectors and smart boards with the capability to interact with each other and their teachers. More than 6,000 sq.ft. of the new school have been allocated to address the needs of students with disabilities (ESE) including classrooms, offices and one of the three playgrounds.
This “green” campus has 12 ice storage units to help with the school’s cooling system and offers an open lighting concept with more windows to allow natural light to come through. All closets, classrooms, restrooms and offices have sensors that turn the lights on and off, decreasing the amount of energy that is consumed.
The new location is adjacent to the previous one that originally opened in 1964 and added a new office building during the 1970’s. “I am grateful to have a new campus for students and families to enjoy. All of the teachers can’t wait to see their new classrooms and get ready to start a great school year in this new facility,” added Mr. Edgecomb.
The school’s open house is scheduled for September 4, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Gove Elementary is located at 1000 S.E. Avenue “G” Belle Glade, FL. School hours have been adjusted to 7:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
For more information contact Darren Edgecomb at (561) 993-8700 or via email at darren.edgecomb@palmbeachschools.org.
About The School District of Palm Beach County
The School District of Palm Beach County is the eleventh largest in the nation and the fifth largest in the state of Florida with 185 schools, serving more than 177,000 students who speak 150 languages and dialects. As the largest employer in Palm Beach County, the School District has nearly 21,000 associates, including 12,627 teachers. To learn more about The School District of Palm Beach County, please visit www.palmbeachschools.org.
