Grand opening held for CUSD's Satoshi Hirayama Elementary School, construction still underway

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Monday marks the archetypal time of schoolhouse for the Clovis Unified School District.

Principal Laura Reynolds is conscionable days distant from welcoming students backmost to school.

"I deliberation each twelvemonth for each principal, it's a premix of excitement and nerves, conscionable similar our kids," Reynold said.

This year, astir 450 students volition measurement onto the brand-new field of Satoshi Hirayama Elementary School.

"We privation kids to truly consciousness similar they're a portion of thing caller and that they are astatine the opening of a agelong bequest for us," Reynolds said.

The 35th simple schoolhouse successful the Clovis Unified School District is named aft long-time Clovis Unified Teacher and Japanese American, Satoshi Hirayama.

He experienced internment arsenic a child, played shot astatine Fresno State, served successful the US Army successful the Korean War and was the archetypal Japanese American to play successful Japan's nonrecreational shot league.

A emblem sent from that Japanese league was draped implicit a chair, holding Mr. Hirayama's spot astatine the school's expansive opening Thursday.

His nickname "Fibber" was besides connected display.

Kevin Hirayama, 1 of his sons, gave a code but did truthful with his father's contented successful mind.

'If I were to accidental 'Dad, I got to marque a code astir your school.' Typical Fib, 'Hey, marque it quick.'" Kevin said.

With dozens of Hirayama household members successful the assemblage to witness, Mr. Hirayama's 3 sons and Hirayama's 101-year-old member helped officially chopped the ribbon.

"I deliberation my dada would beryllium precise humbled, proud. He would accidental the aforesaid happening I conscionable said -- unbelievable. What a facility," Kevin said.

Attendees went from the dependable of drums to the dependable of moving crews conscionable outside.

Principal Reynolds says pupil services specified arsenic the cafeteria, library, caregiver and bureau volition each beryllium disposable connected time one, but the field is an progressive operation site.

"We are acceptable for kids, we've got plans to support them safe, we're communicating that volition our families regularly." Reynolds said.

The location of "the Heat" volition beryllium nether partial operation until mid-October.

Full completion is expected by January.

In the meantime, immoderate students volition larn successful marque caller portables brightly decorated and acceptable to invited them to class.

Kevin Hirayama says his dada loved kids and wants the students volition consciousness that connected this campus.

"I anticipation the kids cognize that they're going to get a large accidental astatine a large school," Kevin said.

Thursday evening, students and parents volition beryllium connected field arsenic teachers invited them successful for back-to-school nighttime up of the archetypal time of school.

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