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Alta Lake School announces new site, new teachers and new programs.

Alta Lake School has been given the go ahead to place two portables at Spruce Grove Park for the next five years. The portables will house the up to 45 kids the school expects to be enrolled this September.

Alta Lake School has been given the go ahead to place two portables at Spruce Grove Park for the next five years.

The portables will house the up to 45 kids the school expects to be enrolled this September.

"The portables will be joined together so it will look like a building," said parent Peggy Vogler.

"The support from the community has been overwhelming yet again. We have received everything from donations of free building supplies to free surveying, general contracting and reduced rates from local contractors."

The school has outgrown its current location and is continuing to search for a new long-term home. In the meantime the portables will house the three classrooms needed as well as washrooms and other facilities.

It’s hoped the original site of the Alta Lake School, off of Alta Lake Road, can be used as a permanent home in the future.

Vogler hopes the school, which follows the Waldorf teaching method, will be relocated within three years.

Originally the school had asked the municipality to let them use the Spruce Grove building, but instead it was given permission to place the portables at the site.

It should work well, said Vogler, as there is parking available and safe playing fields for the kids.

New teachers will also be joining the school.

Lara Bozabalian, who has lived in Whistler for three years and worked with many community programs, has been hired as the Kindergarten teacher. Alison Hill, who is well known in the community for her involvement in Whistler Parks and Recreation programs over the past four years, is the Grade 1-2 teacher.

And taking on the Grade 3-5 class is Angela Prettie, a native of Kelowna with many years experience teaching with the Waldorf method.

New this year is a pre-school program for 3 and 4-year-olds. It will run two days per week, two hours per day under the guidance of Pemberton local and Alta Lake School mom, Lori Johnston.

Johnston has been operating her own home-based pre-school in Pemberton for the past two years.

"The teachers are very excited about the upcoming year," said Vogler.

Bozabalian and Hill, who are both B.C. certified teachers, have just returned from a two week, very intensive training seminar in Sacramento, California where they delved deep into the practical world of teaching in a Waldorf inspired environment.

"They can't wait to meet the families and bring all their new knowledge into the classroom," said Vogler.

There are still placements available at the school and parents are welcome to come by and learn more about Waldorf education at two open houses.

The first, on Saturday, Aug. 10 th , is at the Myrtle Philip Community Centre from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The second one will be held at Spruce Grove Park on Saturday, Aug. 24th, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, or to help the project phone Peggy Vogler at 604-932-4968 or e-mail svogler@direct.ca