Gallery • 3 Photos

Photo by Sid Talukder

Pictured here are students utilizing the spaces during the school day, including before and after school. They use the brand new library and learning stairs to work collabortively together or simply getting their homework done. The library and steam room also feature new furniture and meeting rooms for students as well. Pictured above the football team uses the learning stairs to go over different strategies.

Students and staff returned to the new school year with new construction, learning tools, and many changes to the school’s infrastructure.

Over the summer the high school made renovations to two classrooms in the A wing and relocated the library, the testing center, and the English and business department offices. The school has also added the learning stairs and four new classrooms in the designated STEAM area.

According to Evan Bartlett, sophomore, the new additions play an important role in his daily life at school, and he has enjoyed the new features.

“I really like the new features of the building. I feel like it has a big impact on me because it’s refreshing to have a new learning environment, change of scenery, and a change of pace,” Bartlett said. “I usually go to the library and the learning steps for study hall, just to finish up some school work, get help from my friends or teachers, and just to utilize what the school gave us.”

Not only can students go to the new spaces during their homeroom and free periods, but teachers are able to bring their classes to take advantage of these various spaces.

“Compared to last school year, the new additions improve the building and make it feel more comfortable. It’s overall just better,” Bartlett said. “In general, I feel like all of these fresh aspects to the school provide new opportunities. Also, the new environment and tools help teach students important skills, like teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, and much more.”

The addition of the new ‘non-typical’ classrooms has inspired students, and teachers as well. “For me this new space made me want to revamp the way that I teach my AP classes. As teachers we want students to be lifelong learners, and as teachers we’re still learning, too.” Laura Kustra, World History teacher, said. “That’s why as teachers we should also be learning new innovative and creative ways to teach students.”

The shift to online teaching during the pandemic was abrupt, but knowing since last year that she was coming back to in-person teaching this fall gave her time to prepare for more effective teaching. With these creative changes made to the building, Kustra said she was more willing to try new things out and be adventurous because she feels rejuvenated.’

“I feel like with these new additions we’re shifting away from industrial ways of learning, and are moving onto the future of education,” Kustra said. “At the end of the day, all that we can do as teachers is to find ways to help you guys be able to think critically, work collaboratively, and at the same time give you freedoms to explore these new spaces like this, to hopefully unlock a joy of learning you may have not had before.”