Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School, the first new Catholic school building in the state of Rhode Island in 40 years, officially opened its doors on Monday.

“This school is a product of three years of hard work, planning, dreaming and construction, to fulfill a dream of one of the founding pastors of Immaculate Conception who wanted a school,” said Reverend Ronald Brassard, the leader of the Immaculate Conception church. “It’s a great gift to the children of our parish and our school.”

After spending part of the previous week and most of the weekend moving from the previous location of the Cranston-Johnston Regional Catholic School, teachers, staff and students were ready to start their day in the new school Monday morning.

A sneak peek of the facility was given to parents on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m., but everyone else had to wait until Monday to see the $9.5 million, state-of-the-art school building.

“The parents were in awe as they walked from classroom to classroom,” said Principal Sandra Jennings. “The potential here is limitless in terms of the educational opportunities for their children.”

This week’s grand opening began with a mass at Immaculate Conception Church at 8:30 a.m.

Following the mass, Jennings was on hand to give school tours. The first stop was the school’s theater, a room that seats over 200 people and houses a stage area hidden behind thick, royal blue curtains. The stage backs up to the new music room, which is separated by a removable wall.

“The theater is what Father is most proud of,” Jennings said. “The sound is just amazing. It’s a very versatile room.”

Beverly Hopkins, the music teacher at ICCR, said she is thrilled with her new teaching area, and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first class of the day, a kindergarten class, later that morning.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, showing off room features like large floor space, a Smart Board technology system, risers, a new piano and a large storage room.

“The storage room is the size of my classroom in the old building. In the old school, I couldn’t even have the students make a circle on the floor to play music games because there was not enough space,” Hopkins added. “This is everything I could possibly want.”

Throughout the building, which currently houses 26 staff members and 353 students in Pre-K through eighth grade, the students were being led up and down the hallways by their teachers, as they tried to get a feel for where things were.

“It’s good, it’s big,” said student Renee Russo. “I’m nervous to have a locker. I’ve never had a locker before.”

“I’m excited, these lockers are a lot better,” countered Deion Jones, a 12-year-old student.

In the library, a group of sixth grade students were busy getting a feel for the new media center, which connects to the computer lab. The lab has a Smart Board at the front of the room and is large enough to accommodate one computer per child in even the school’s biggest classes, with 30 computers.

The teachers’ room, often not a top priority in school planning, had every last detail attended to. The room has large round tables with chairs for eating, a four-computer workstation for teachers to access computers during their free time, a kitchenette, storage space and two copy machines.

Over in the preschool room, students rotated through centers, working with blocks, legos and crafts.

“My favorite part of the new school is recess,” said Ana Melfi.

Jennings laughed in response.

“Some things never change,” she said.

The gymnasium, another highlight for faculty, is a full court gym with bleachers and new floors. Physical education teacher Jenny Sayles was proud to show it off to incoming students. A ticket and concession stand is located adjacent to the entrance of the gym.

Science teacher Richard Jackson welcomed eighth-graders into the state-of-the-art Stephen Procopiadi Science Center that had lab stations to fit several students at each station.

“This science center was designed on a professional level and has been compared to high school or college science labs by some of the parents who have come through,” Jennings said.

She came from public education and described the thrill she feels with the move to the new ICCR.

“Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional is giving me the opportunity to express myself in every area of my life,” she said. “This is the first time I’ve been able to integrate my religious beliefs with my educational beliefs and the blend has been incredible.”