By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Looking back at the past year, the faculty and staff at Thompson High School said they are amazed how far the new campus has come since the building opened to students on Feb. 26, 2018.

On opening day, students were only able to access the main academic building, as construction crews were still on-site completing the school’s athletic facilities, gym, Performing Arts Center and secondary entrance onto Kent Dairy Road.

Today, the entire campus is open to the students, and plenty of memories have already been made at the new school. But for Alabaster City Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers, nothing tops the first day the new school opened its doors.

“The first time I got to see the students’ reaction to the new building,” Vickers said. “That has been the best day of my career. Every kid was excited. All the work and all the preparation we had done was for the students.”

On Feb. 26 of this year, the school’s faculty members gathered at the recently completed THS softball and baseball facilities to celebrate the school’s one-year anniversary with food and a THS-themed cake.

“What a great day. What a special day to do this, because we’re celebrating our first birthday. After year one, look at how far we’ve come and how amazing it’s been,” said THS Principal Dr. Wesley Hester. “We appreciate all of you and all you’ve done to help us have the absolute best school and the best facilities in the state of Alabama and arguably across the Southeast. We’re just so very blessed to be here today to celebrate this.”

Vickers said the building is nice, but it’s “just one piece of the puzzle.”

“What goes on in the classroom and what you’ve done with the extracurricular activities and athletics has been truly amazing. We are destined to be a place that everyone wants to come to. We want the best for the students we serve,” Vickers told the faculty.” It’s just an exciting time for everyone, and it is something to celebrate. All those pieces of the puzzle have come together. The faculty and staff, the coaches, everyone has been great working together as a team making sure we get everything taken care of. It’s wonderful to be a part of this. It’s been a blessing, and the community has been a blessing working with us.”