The students may be returning to class this week, but they’re all entering the halls of Canyon Falls Middle School for the first time.

In fact, they’re the first students to be gracing the halls of the brand new school, the first middle school to service the Mission.

Wow! Canyon Falls Middle School opening for students this school year. pic.twitter.com/zxK5sW1qLL — Ryan Stierman (@stiermania) August 30, 2019

"As students walk through the doors of a brand-new Canyon Falls Middle School, they are entering a learning environment that gives them the best chance to thrive under BC's new curriculum," said Rob Fleming, minister of education.

"This is a great new facility that will benefit families in this community for decades to come, while also providing more space for students at other nearby schools."

Canyon Falls is a modern facility that will service 750 grade six to eight students per year.

It promises a “21st-century learning environment” that includes learning commons, flexible classrooms and a new sports field.



The school also houses a neighbourhood learning centre that’ll be used by SD23 for child care and other community programs.

This year, only grade six and seven students from Chute Lake, Anne McClymont and Dorothea Walker elementary school will attend.

Next year, the school will start enrolling grade eight students.

The staggered change over two years allows Okanagan Mission Secondary to become a grade nine to 12 school, while the Mission’s elementary schools can change from kindergarten to grade five.

You can find the school at 1211 Frost Rd., where it offers an incredible view of Okanagan Lake and the valley.