NEWARK - Sixth-grader Mirian Caguana can't wait to walk through the halls of the new South Street School in the East Ward, dissect animals in its state-of-the-art science labs, sit in classrooms without peeling paint, and be part of the campus' first-ever graduating middle school class.

"I'm excited that I'm going to be the first one to graduate in this new school and that I was a part of it," Caguana, 11, said during a beam signing ceremony last week marking progress on the school's construction.

The new 103,000-square foot facility, which broke ground in September last year, will replace the 130-year-old South Street school and open for the 2018-19 school year.

The $66.9 million project on the corner of Pennington and Dawson streets, will be the third new school to open in the city since 2016.

"This is a step today, by bringing this school to fruition, in giving these students and students who are going to follow them the tools that they need to be the real leaders of tomorrow," said Charles McKenna, CEO of the Schools Development Authority, the state agency that oversees school construction.

About 20 students from South Street Elementary School sported yellow construction hats before signing their names on a steel beam that will be hoisted in the building.

"They literally are going to leave their mark on what will be a new educational facility that is going to provide a bright foundation for thousands of Newark students in the years to come," McKenna, who took control of the SDA in 2014, said.

The pre-K through eighth-grade school will expand its capacity to 657 students. There will be 29 general classrooms, two science labs, six small group instruction rooms, a computer/technology lab, a world languages classroom, instrumental and vocal music rooms, an art room, media center, multipurpose room, cafeteria and gym.

South Street students are currently housed in the old Oliver Street School. A new Oliver Street school was opened last year.

"We all know that the physical environment in which school takes place plays a very significant role," said Newark Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf.

South Street School Principal Havier Nazario says the school will be able to expand its pre-K program and market itself as a science, math and technology hub.

"That's really what's going to distinguish us," he said. "I'm hoping that its going to make (students) feel proud of this community and inspire them to continue to put their education first."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.