First day successes
After a summer plagued by high temperatures and heavy rain, students in Harrisburg returned to the classroom on Monday.
Students at Harrisburg High School came back to a slightly smaller school than they are used to, due to the ongoing construction and demolition of one portion of the school. Principal Scott Dewar praised the first day back, calling it "very smooth."
"As far as everything is going now, everything is as smooth as it could possibly be," Dewar said.
Construction has been working in various stages for almost four years, from electricity and air, to the current renovations. When completed, Harrisburg High School's Building C will feature classrooms, home economics, a cafeteria, a new media center, and administrative offices.
To make up for the temporary lack of classrooms, some students leave the main building of HHS to head to the new gym, to have class in temporary rooms set up in the gym. The rooms can hold 15-18 students, and include a science computer lab, a consumer economics classroom, SmartBoards, and regular classroom technology, as well as makeshift labs housed in the locker rooms.
Dewar praised the reaction from students and faculty to the construction changes. "They (upperclassmen) take it in stride. They're actually used to having construction workers in the building…for some of them they've been under construction for the full time they've been here," Dewar said. "They are used to all the noise, and they're very flexible and I couldn't be more proud of them."
He reminded them of this during the first day's morning meeting. "Don't just focus on what's transforming jn front of you," Dewar said to students and faculty. "Focus on the end product at this time next year, and you'll have a new facility inside and out."
Part of the changes to the school routine include the loss of about 50 student parking spots and about 20 faculty parking spots. As a result, Dewar said, the school "readjusted" to meet the needs of students and faculty. Calling it a "work in progress," Dewar said that the school may look into opening up more parking spots. "It's from a total safety standpoint…we just have to see how everything flows," Dewar said.
Athletes will also have to adjust as the school year progresses. With the demolition of Bonnell Gym, and the temporary classrooms in the new gymnasium, Davenport Gym may get a little "congested," Dewar said. To help with the problem, a pole barn located a short distance from the school will serve as an "athletic practice gym," for wrestling. The barn can also house batting cages for softball and baseball practice. "It's very versatile and can do a lot of things for us," Dewar said.
Just down the road at Harrisburg Middle School, students went back for their first day as well.
"The've adapted very well," Crabb said of students, while praising teachers for "getting back into the mindset" of the classroom.
To help them adjust, students will be on a "transition" or shortened schedule until Labor Day. While the days may be shortened, according to Principal John Crabb, students attend all of their daily classes.
Students have 10 class periods, including their first period - Check and Connect - and their final class period, RTI.
Similar to a study hall, the final class period gives students a chance to work on their homework, and to talk to their teachers if they need help.
"Not only can they get time to work on their homework, but they get the benefit of having teachers at their disposal," Crabb said. "It's a good time, if they use it wisely, they can knock out some of the difficult stuff."
To welcome students back to the classroom, Crabb spoke to the middle schoolers about making this their best year ever.
"Just because you dress different, or your hair color is blue, or if you have an interest in Pokemon as opposed to basketball, that's what makes us great, is that we're all cool," Crabb said.