NOCATEE, Fla. -- As the school year winds down in St. Johns County, some high school students and teachers will start the next year at a brand new school: Ponte Vedra High School.

The new school is nearing completion in the middle of the growing community of Nocatee.

Amid the construction workers, the school's principal is also at work getting the facility ready for the 1,000 ninth- through 11th-grade students who will come through the doors in August.

Principal Craig Speziale said opening a large, state-of-the art high school is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"To see it erected ... you'll know every nook and cranny from the get go," Speziale said. "You'll have a better opportunity to know every staff member and to know the kids as well."

On Thursday, Channel 4's Ashley Townsend got a tour of some classrooms and the cafeteria, the gym and football stadium where the Ponte Vedra Sharks will play stadium, and a greenhouse.

Yes, this school built next to a nature preserve comes with its own greenhouse.

"It's kind of interesting how it sits in the corner of the courtyard and the school," said Paul Rose of the St. Johns County School District. "It has easy access to the wetlands for their studies."

While the school won't be officially open until August, the school's Web site is up and running, offering updates and a "Shark Shop," where future students can already purchase hats, shirts and other times to show their school spirit.

Ponte Vedra High and another new high school, Creekside, will offer some relief to the four existing high schools in St. Johns County.

While most of Ponte Vedra's initial students will come from Nease, Speziale senses a rivalry with the county's other new high school to open this fall, Creekside High School, in northwest St. Johns County.

"I think initially, we'll have a rivalry with Creekside, just because they're in the same boat as us: They're starting off new, they have ninth thru 11th," Speziale said. "We're actually going to play them in a spring game this Saturday."

Rising seniors who live in the districts for Ponte Vedra and Creekside high school will finish at their current schools. For the 2009-2010 school year, each school will add a senior class.