About 18 excited M-PHS freshmen and sophomores joined district staff, administrators, and School Board members, along with representatives of building contractor Absher Construction, at the Getchell High School campus in a ceremony that encouraged them to leave their mark on the new school-literally.

The students, representatives from the Bio-Med Academy, International School of Communications and School for the Entrepreneur, will be the first to attend the new high school, which is slated to open in 2011. An aggressive construction schedule may allow the new campus to open as early as 2010.

Armed with fat and pungent permanent markers, both teens and adults enjoyed the opportunity to sign the giant steel beam, inscribing their names, spirited slogans and personal observations. "Go, Chargers!" and sketches of a knight on horseback recognized the school's chosen mascot, while other students showed pride in their particular academic pathway with colorful tags highlighting ISC, Bio-Med or School for the Entrepreneur.

Tracy Suchan-Toothaker, the planning principal for Marysville Getchell High School, explained that the students involved were selected by teachers to represent their SLCs (small learning communities) based on the students' overall leadership, excitement and energy for the project.

"These 9th- and 10th-graders will be in the first graduating classes at Getchell," she said, "and it's important for them to develop a bond with the school that they can help communicate to their classmates."

In a brief address to the students, School Board member Michael Kundu shared that he had been a member of the first class to graduate from his high school. "This moment is important now," he said, "but it will be even more special 30 years from now."

Freshman John Williams was excited about being part of the day's events. His flamboyant signature, sketched in white chalk and topped with bright red marker, includes his 2012 graduation date.

"This is so great," he said as he passed the red marker to fellow student Elizabeth Lefstad, "so make your name stand out!"

After ample time for creativity, the students and district officials watched as the beam was loaded onto a forklift and delivered to the first of five buildings on the school's campus. The heavy steel was lifted by a crane, then lowered into place by workmen as the onlookers cheered and applauded.

While the initial design called for the beam to be covered by construction materials, capital projects director John Bingham said the architects are working on a plan that will allow the signatures to be visible to the school's eventual residents.