At least 200 people crowded into Carolyn Lewis Elementary's auditorium Thursday morning for the dedication ceremony of the new school that opened this year.

"The crowd — everything — was phenomenal," principal Tina Antley said.

People lined the walls after chairs filled up. Children and adults listened to speeches from Antley, superintendent Greg Murry, school board President Bill Clements and Carolyn Lewis, the building's namesake.

Antley said the dedication ceremony is important because it gives the school a chance to tell its story. The district held a closing ceremony for Sallie Cone Elementary School, which has been repurposed, and the dedication marks the beginning of Carolyn Lewis Elementary, she said.

"We wanted to begin our story with something important," Antley said.