Michael Petter is one of the staff enjoying the new space at the Pictou Landing First Nation School. ADAM MACINNIS/THE NEWS

Students at Pictou Landing First Nation School enjoy playing in their new gym, which unlike their old gym, is heated. ADAM MACINNIS/THE NEWS

Nicole Gardner and Sylvia Francis are loving the new kitchen at the school. ADAM MACINNIS/THE NEWS

Evan Beadle and Nicholas Strickland sit in a common area of the new Pictou Landing First Nation School. Students moved into the new building this month. ADAM MACINNIS/THE NEWS

Students in Pictou Landing now have a state of the art school. There are currently 62 enrolled at the school. ADAM MACINNIS/THE NEWS

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It’s been a long time coming, but given the reaction from staff and students it appears to have been worth the wait.

On Feb. 11 Pictou Landing First Nation School students and staff moved into a new home – a state of the art facility that offers top of the line technology as well as a bright learning environment.

“It’s been a long time waiting for this,” said receptionist Karen Prosper, who worked at the old school for 20 years.

She said students are enjoying the culture based approach to learning.

“They seem to like learning the language and revisiting our roots,” she said.

In the kitchen, Sylvia Francis is enjoying additional space and better equipment for preparing lunch for students.

“It’s a huge improvement,” she said. “There’s no comparison to the old school.”

The gym is one of the areas students say they are enjoying most.

“For starters, our last gym didn’t have heat, so we’re going to be warm in here,” said Melinda MacKenzie, while instructing a class.

“We don’t have to wear layers, so we can move around better. The acoustics are better. I think it’s just nice that we get to build up new respect for our new space.”

Grade 7 student Evan Beadle said he loves the new gym and the layout of the new school.

“We’ve got a lot more space,” he said. “Our older school was more cramped.”

Nicholas Strickland agrees.

“It’s 100 times better, easily.”