WENDELL — When the shine wears off the new Lake Myra Elementary School, lake view and all, what happens inside the three-story building will still be going strong.

And how that goes is the challenge in opening a new year-round school, says Principal Jim Argent.

Lake Myra, a pre-K-5th grade elementary school, opened its doors for the first time yesterday. It will serve 1,200 students and has 21 teachers, and a support staff of about 50.

As “gorgeous” as it is on the rolling rural land off Poole Road, says Argent, a new building just means educators have less excuses not to do it right.

“I kind of operate like I do being a daddy,” says Argent, easy-going and friendly. “You’ve got to love as well as have high expectations of them and they can’t get away with not meeting them. That’s what we want for all of our kids.”

Argent says his passion is seeing that every child maximizes his growth from “the high fliers to those with special needs.” “Expectations for children today are high and we have to make sure that we get all of our kids to meet those expectations,” says Argent.

Like neighboring schools in eastern Wake County, the Wendell school has a high percentage of students in poverty. About 50 percent of students at Lake Myra Elementary receive free or reduced lunches.

A collaborations man himself, Argent says teachers also will work together to learn how to reach all students — for those children who don’t get it, and those for whom learning new skills comes easily.

He said adding 10 minutes to the school day and earlier dismissal on Wednesdays will be instrumental for teachers to plan more and work together to target student performance. The school board approved the change last spring.

“We take this very seriously,” he says.

Already, teachers at Lake Myra worked hours to prepare brand new rooms. The school has been open for teachers since June 1 and many came nights and weekends to prepare. Also, many of the teachers just finished their responsibilities at their former schools last week, Argent says.

For Argent, the work started in March. He worked from Forestville Road Elementary School in Knightdale, ordering supplies, hiring and working with contractors to do high maintenance unpacking and consulting with colleagues and the two other Wake County new year-round school principals about how to open a new year-round school.

He also met with parents at schools from which Lake Myra is drawing students to help start Lake Myra’s PTA. It’s official now, with officers, and the school fundraiser, a Fun Run, planned to take place this fall.

Argent says parent support is valued and the school will come up with creative ways of using parents who work. Student involvement is also welcome.

The school’s mascot, the Otter, is waiting for a name to be decided in a student contest.

Parent Cleo Robinson, of Raleigh, is excited about the new school. She stopped by with her son, Darius, 7, to talk to Argent. “It looks nice,” says Robinson. “I was a contract engineer for 10 years and we did Wake County Schools. Mr. Argent’s been great. I think it’ll be a wonderful year.”

For the new principal, just one thing is missing.

“It’s a long journey and I’m missing kids,” Argent says. “To open a new building is exciting, but not having kids around that long makes you realize how much you enjoy having them.”