Parents and community members have an opportunity to tour the improved and expanded Bethlehem middle school and high school facilities Saturday, Oct. 13, with the students that use them everyday as their guides.
From 10 a.m. to noon, community tours — open to all — of the renovated and enlarged buildings will be led by student representatives from the schools.
Both schools have been significantly improved in recent years as part of the $93 million bond project that voters approved in 2003. Historic in scope, the ongoing building project is addressing facilities needs districtwide by upgrading infrastructure, providing for additional space to accommodate the district’s growth and allowing for state-of-the-art learning environments suitable for 21st century students.
Some of the highlights at BCMS include the new gym and an additional classroom wing, as well as special subject rooms, science labs and new house offices. Existing classrooms were enlarged and modernized, and the cafeteria was expanded to relieve overcrowding and allow for large group instructional use.
We are very fortunate to have such wonderful new facilities to use, and we’re looking forward to showing our community the school we enjoy everyday, Principal Jody Monroe said. `Faculty, staff and students are benefiting from increased use of technology, classrooms that are more conducive to 21st century learning and an environment that we all take pride in.`
At BCHS, major projects included two new classroom wings; substantial technology upgrades for high-tech; engineering and design classes; an expanded cafeteria; new choral and orchestra rooms; more welcoming entrances; and newly enclosed or expanded walkways that are out of the elements and allow for a less congested passage between areas of the building.
`Thanks to the work completed under this project, this is a premier high school facility and I’m glad to welcome the community in to see it first-hand,` high school Principal Chuck Abba said.
There is no set time for the tours, which will take between 15 and 30 minutes at each building. Those interested in touring the new facilities should come to the main lobbies of each building anytime between 10 a.m. and noon. on Oct. 13.“