Last Thursday August 20, 2026, Mesa View Elementary School (MVES) opened its doors to the public, giving students the chance to bring their families and take a look at their beautiful new school building at 400 Washington Ave. in Grants. My second-born is a fourthgrade student at MVES, and I can already tell that he would not want to miss a day at school since the academic year started.
The parking lot was almost full when we arrived at 5:00 PM. Families were already there, excited to see the prominent brown structure beside the former campus. Principal Kandas Gonzalez and Vice Principal Creigh Russell stood by the front doors with warm smiles. The office staff, who have always been there to assist us with early checkouts, IEP meetings, and school activities, were greeting visitors and this added another familiar feeling to the new surroundings.
We followed the fresh scent of a new school as we walked through the hallways. There was a steady, happy crowd everywhere. Some families were in the hallways, while others were inside classrooms. The children seemed most excited. They tugged at their parents’ and guardians’ hands, as if they were saying, “This is my place. Come and see!”
I could see teachers showing parents and students their classroom bulletin boards and learning materials from the doorways. Some had welcome tables with copies of the student handbook and attendance information, while others had treats waiting for their visitors. The classrooms were clean and colorful, decorated with inspiring quotes, classroom expectations, and student work.
I could not help but be amazed by the row of bag hangers in the classrooms we visited. At first glance, it may look like an ordinary addition, but I thought about how something as simple as having a specific place for bags can teach children responsibility.
I loved the library! Its large windows made the room feel perfect for reading. As someone who was born and raised in a tropical country, I could not stop myself from imagining what this same view would look like when winter comes and snow begins to fall outside those windows. I imagined children reading while watching the seasons change. What a magical kind of learning that can happen simply by paying attention to the world around them.
There was also a computer room surrounded by glass windows. I was guessing it will be used for testing or computerbased learning. More than just providing equipment, students have fun while becoming comfortable with technology in a world where digital skills are a plus.
We lingered in the resource classroom of Ms. Jodi Gann, my son’s SPED teacher. We played his favorite word game. My son may not always say much, but I could tell from his eyes that he was proud that his parents were there. For a moment, we were given an important snippet of what he does best and what his school days look like when we are not around.
That is what an open house is really about. It is not just about showcasing a new building. It is an invitation for parents to meet the everyday superheroes who teach with love and care.
By the time we were ready to leave, it was already past 6:00 PM, and more families were still arriving. I thought we could always visit the school during other activities, meetings, or events. But perhaps that is exactly why this first open house mattered.
We wanted to be there because this was not just any school. This was the first time we could see the place where our children would grow, make friends, and create memories. We wanted to see, for ourselves, the new place our children were already beginning to call their own.
And for the Vikings, this is more than