The April 28 tornado that ripped through Suffolk leveled homes in the upscale Hillpoint community.

But somehow, the city’s newest school, under construction just a couple of blocks from the tornado’s path at the time, escaped the storm unscathed.

“We were blessed,” said School Board Chairman Lorraine Skeeter on Sunday, addressing the 100 or so residents, parents and school officials who turned out for the formal dedication ceremony of Hillpoint Elementary School.

“The day after the disaster struck, I called the superintendent and asked him what he’d heard about our school. We were so blessed.”

Despite the devastation in the surrounding community, Hillpoint – a $22 million school and the division’s first two-story elementary school – was ready in time for its grand opening in September.

The school occupies 98,964 square feet, with kindergarten, first and second grades on the first floor and third through fifth grades on the second. The administrative and guidance offices, library, cafeteria, gymnasium, art and music rooms and computer lab all are on the first floor.

The building is light and cheerful, with big windows and colorful décor making the school even more inviting for students

As part of the dedication ceremony, Lori Mounie, assistant principal, showed the contents of a time capsule that will mark the occasion. The contents, which reflect the school’s history as well as popular culture, will include a stuffed husky (the school’s mascot), a school shirt, a digital phone, an Ipod, and a camera card featuring images of the school’s first class of students and teachers.