Powell's two new schools were dedicated Thursday with brief ceremonies and open houses.Principal Ginger Sleep opened the celebration at Southside Elementary. She introduced school board chairman David Northrup, who spoke briefly, thanking all the individuals and companies who had contributed to the design and development of the building. Northrup read a letter a letter from U.S. Sen. John Barrasso congratulating the Park County School District No. 1 for completing the new building.Fifth-grader Trey Ouellette, president of the Southside student council, echoed Northrup's thanks to those who contributed to the school's construction and then invited those in attendance to tour the school.“I'm going to use my presidential powers to call in Mrs. Sleep to organize things,” Ouellette said, before joining other student council members to lead the tours.At Powell High School, Northrup opened the ceremonies with thanks, then introduced Barrasso, who spoke about the importance of education and praised the Wyoming Legislature for creating the Hathaway Scholarships for Wyoming students.“You have great opportunities here,” Barrasso told the students in attendance.PHS student body officers Gavin Mills and McKenzie Danforth spoke about memories of the old building and opportunities for new memories in the new one.Billie Kasinger, a member of the PHS class of 1961, the first one to graduate from the old school, spoke briefly, telling the students to “remember, the best years of your life are now.”“Be the best that you can be,” Kasinger said.Members of the district school board then stepped forward to cut the ribbon on the new school, and everyone stepped inside to inspect the new facility.

Powell's two new schools were dedicated Thursday with brief ceremonies and open houses.Principal Ginger Sleep opened the celebration at Southside Elementary. She introduced school board chairman David Northrup, who spoke briefly, thanking all the individuals and companies who had contributed to the design and development of the building. Northrup read a letter a letter from U.S. Sen. John Barrasso congratulating the Park County School District No. 1 for completing the new building.Fifth-grader Trey Ouellette, president of the Southside student council, echoed Northrup's thanks to those who contributed to the school's construction and then invited those in attendance to tour the school.“I'm going to use my presidential powers to call in Mrs. Sleep to organize things,” Ouellette said, before joining other student council members to lead the tours.At Powell High School, Northrup opened the ceremonies with thanks, then introduced Barrasso, who spoke about the importance of education and praised the Wyoming Legislature for creating the Hathaway Scholarships for Wyoming students.“You have great opportunities here,” Barrasso told the students in attendance.PHS student body officers Gavin Mills and McKenzie Danforth spoke about memories of the old building and opportunities for new memories in the new one.Billie Kasinger, a member of the PHS class of 1961, the first one to graduate from the old school, spoke briefly, telling the students to “remember, the best years of your life are now.”“Be the best that you can be,” Kasinger said.Members of the district school board then stepped forward to cut the ribbon on the new school, and everyone stepped inside to inspect the new facility.