After more than four years of planning and construction, and just a few months in session, Red Pump Elementary School is being dedicated today (Friday).

The $31.5 million school off Vale and Red Pump roads north of Bel Air will host teachers, staff, students, friends and family in the school's gymnasium for the ceremony, during which several items — including a copy of The Aegis — will be placed into the school's cornerstone before it is cemented into the rest of the building.

To attend the ceremony, call Teri Kranefeld, Harford County Public Schools manager of communications, 410-588-5203.

Red Pump opened Aug. 31, two days later than planned because the school system was closed after Hurricane Irene caused power outages and blocked roads. Since then, students, teachers and administrators alike have worked hard to overcome obstacles and have enjoyed all the pleasures that come with a new school.

Blaine Hawley, who was named the school's principal May 2010 and officially started getting to work in January, said the school hasn't had the luxury of relying on past procedures or instances and has had to create everything from the ground up.

"We needed to develop everything right from the beginning, but that's also the exciting part," Hawley said. She not only pulled parents from various elementary schools' PTAs to create their own, but also hired teachers from "more than 15 different schools" to create the kind of atmosphere and learning experience she envisioned Red Pump should have.

"We're all figuring it out together, and that's part of the excitement of opening a new school," Hawley said.

The silver lining: new technology.

"Technology is one of the most remarkable aspects of what we have," Hawley said. "This really is a school designed for elementary school children in this day and age, so it really is exciting."

Those children will be an integral part of today's ceremony.

Hawley said one student from each grade level will represent the entire student body during the dedication to "accept" the new building. Students will also have the chance to "put a little mortar down" onto the cornerstone, "which will be kind of fun for them."

In addition, 52 students will give tours of the school, greet guests, participate in a flag procession and hand out programs. The fifth grade band will perform "America the Beautiful."

Before the cornerstone is put into place, the students, teachers, administrators and other honored guests will put things into the space for posterity. Students and teacher signatures on the schools letterhead, Hawley said, will be one item, as well as signatures from everyone in attendance that morning.

Linda Chamberlin, executive director for elementary schools, will include commemorative coins; a Harford County Public Schools logo pin will be put in by Chief Administrative Officer Joseph Licata on behalf of Superintendent Robert Tomback; and board of education member Allyson Krchnavy will include a board of education paper weight.

Hawley, board of education president Leonard Wheeler, the school's project manager Charles Greby, PTA president Kristina Calabrese and Red Pump Assistant Principal Kathy Garafola will also speak during the ceremony.

"It's a dream come true for people working here," Hawley said of the new school and environment. "Everyone coming together to form the school climate and culture … [There's] nothing like the bonding and trying to work through the challenges together that really forges a really strong faculty."