KITTANNING, Pa. — The first day of school will look a lot different for high school students in Kittanning and Ford City, with the long-time rival schools newly united to form the Armstrong Junior-Senior High School.
"Everyone that walks in here is, like, awestruck would probably be the best way to describe it," one student said of the new building.
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After decades of being rivals on the football field and attending high schools a few miles apart, students from Ford City and Kittanning will become classmates.
"I don't think it's so much the Ford City-Kittanning that's scary. I think it's the new school. They're not going to be used to it. I think that's what's the scary part about it," said senior Kendra Claypool.
Principal James Rummel took Channel 11 on a tour of the new building.
He showed off the new auditorium, which seats 1,000 people, and the main gym that overflows with Riverhawk pride.
Even though the school will house more than 1,600 students in grades 7-12, junior high students and high school students will be separated.
"We have separate hallways. The first and second floor will be junior high and the first, second and third floors will be senior high." explained Rummel. "We have two cafeterias, two gymnasiums."
Students from both previous high schools helped craft a constitution and rules, a key part in making the transition to a united Armstrong Junior-Senior High a smooth one.
"I'm more excited about meeting people, making new friends. And we get more opportunities, more classes," said senior Gina Roncher.
The first day of school is Tuesday.