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Return to Joamie

Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Feb 28/05) - Jayko Lyall-Ritchie, 10, can't contain his excitement.

"It's 22 steps away from my house," said Lyall-Ritchie of the new Joamie school in Iqaluit. "I'll never be late for school again."

Lyall-Ritchie was carrying supplies from his current classroom in the French school over to the new Joamie with fellow schoolmates Isaiah Patterk, 10, and Jayko Akoak, 10, helping.

"I'm biking down," said Akoak about attending the new school soon.

An electrical fire that started in a crawl space completely destroyed Joamie school on July 4, 2003.

Two hundred and twenty students and staff have been borrowing classroom and office space in three different Iqaluit schools since September 2003. The new Joamie cost $11 million to rebuild.

Principal David Serkoak is thrilled with how quickly the new school has come to life. He said the first day of classes will be March 1.

The big move starts Feb. 18.

The school plans to have an official open house for parents and the public on March 11.