With less than a year to go before opening its doors, South Surrey’s newest elementary school is standing tall as it nears the completion of the construction phase.
Located at the corner of 20 Avenue and 165 A Street in Surrey, Ta’talu Elementary is one of two new schools actively under-construction for the school district. The other, Snokomish Elementary in the South Newton neighbourhood, broke ground earlier this school year.
Ta’talu, coming from the SENĆOŦEN language, translates to ‘little arms’. This special name, gifted to the district by Semiahmoo First Nation Chief Harley Chappell, is in reference to the Campbell River and its tributaries, which are known as the little arms of the river.
“The opening of this school and the naming using the traditional language of the lands is great for the relationship building between Semiahmoo and the school district, students, staff and local residents,” Chappell said in June 2023.
With a capacity for 655 students, the three-storey structure is on track to open its doors in January 2025.
Meanwhile, some existing schools in the Surrey school district are under construction for additional space that will be added to the structures, including the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s South Meridian and Semiahmoo Trail Elementaries, for eight and 10 classrooms, respectively.
Both schools are expected to open the additional classrooms next year; South Meridian in September 2025 and Semiahmoo Trail the following May.
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