Scottsdale Unified School District celebrates the completion of the rebuilding of one of its oldest elementary school campuses with a rededication on Friday, Oct. 4. Tours of the new kindergarten wing, media center, computer lab, and classroom buildings will be featured stops at Tavan Elementary School, 4610 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix. Tours begin at 5 p.m., with a rededication program scheduled for 6 p.m. A BBQ dinner will follow. Tickets for the dinner are $3 for adults and $1 for students in advance, or $4 for adults and $2 for students at the door. Additional information is available from the school at 480-484-3500.

Tavan opened in 1955 as West Scottsdale Elementary with 667 students in grades K-8. The school was renamed in 1957 to Tavan, the Hopi name for "west". Today, the school houses 662 students in Pre-K and grades K-5.

The two-phase construction renovation, budgeted at $8.4 million, was completed for the opening of school this fall. Funding for the renovation came primarily from 1997 bond monies, along with state building renewal funds.

Principal Margaret Serna says the renovation was designed "to keep the charm of Tavan as a neighborhood school," which is why the theme for the rededication is: Come home to Tavan.
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