Hundreds of fifth graders and their parents got a sneak peek Wednesday night of Butler Middle School before the start of classes Tuesday.

Formerly the junior high school, the building will house fifth and sixth graders this school year. Smart boards are in every classroom, and there's a refurbished library, a new blacktop playground and a STEAM Lab — all changes made over the summer. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Julie and Pete Sebock of Butler Township walked the halls with their son, 10-year-old Logan, who attended McQuistion Elementary last school year.

“It's a different approach. We're trying to be positive,” Pete Sebock said.

He and Julie both attended the junior high in the 1990s. Last night was their first time back in the building since they were students as was the case for many of the parents who visited.

“Fond memories are coming back,” he said, pointing out locations of classrooms where teachers they knew used to be.

But at the same time, Logan was eager to show his parents the STEAM Lab, equipped with dozens of computers and three 3-D printers. The walls in the three-room lab are decorated with bright orange, green and blue paints.

The Sebocks will be doing another walk-through at the school tonight with their son Dylan, who is in sixth grade.

The newly formed middle school is part of a consolidation plan the Butler School Board approved in May. Five of the district's 11 elementary schools closed in June, and all remaining schools had grade reconfigurations.

Center Avenue Community School, a special needs and alternative program at one of the former elementary buildings, also was created in the consolidation process.

Jenifer Henry came to the school with her children, 13-year-old Rebecca and 10-year-old Brayden.

“The building looks great,” said Henry, of Meridian. “They did a really nice job. I'm a little nervous because it's such a big change.”

While Brayden attended Meridian Elementary last year, Rebecca attended the junior high as a seventh grader. She will attend the intermediate high school this year.

“It looks a lot better,” she said of the middle school. “Everything just looks more colorful.”

Additional lighting, fresh paint and new carpeting in every classroom are among the smaller changes.

Another big change Rebecca saw: No more up only or down only stairwells. Junior high students could only use stairwells in one direction while changing classes.

Fifth and sixth graders at the school will be placed in academic teams, so they'll be in one cluster of classrooms that are beside one another for most of each school day.

Brittany Warfle of Lyndora and her son, 10-year-old Ryan Allison, had just met his new teacher, Dave McCool. Ryan attended Center Township Elementary last year, and his friend Jerad Soose, also visiting with them, attended St. Wendelin School. Jerad will attend the middle school, too.

“It's a lot bigger. There's a lot more space,” Ryan said, comparing his old school to his new school.

His mother also attended the school as a junior high student.

“It's extremely different. The library looks more age appropriate for fifth and sixth graders,” she said. “I'm very excited for him.

“I think it's a really great thing they merged the schools. It's progress that we need.”

Diane Rundle of Meridian toured the building with her daughter Caroline, and also liked what she saw. She was particularly fond of the library changes.

“I'm impressed so far. I have two old boys who've come through. I've seen the transformation,” she said.

Her sons Dylan and Sean are now 16 and 20 years old, respectively.

Rundle also said the STEAM Lab looks good.

“It looks totally inviting with the fun, bright colors. The teachers seem really excited and happy to be there,” Rundle said.

She still has a big concern about next school year: The limited amount of parking.

“I got here a half-hour early because I was concerned about parking,” she said.

All Butler district students begin classes Tuesday.