With the move-in date for the new Hildreth Elementary School just a little more than six months away, teachers have been touring the building to visit their future classrooms. The tours were set up in small groups and spread over several days to allow for social distancing because of COVID-19.
For some teachers, these tours are the first time they have had the chance to go into the new building since it was just a set of chalk lines laid out on the field, HES Principal Josh Myler said. During the tours, teachers are also able to make some choices as to how their room will be set up, such as where the projector will go.
Teachers were able to claim their future classrooms last month. They learned which room was theirs as part of an outdoor celebration Oct. 19, when they had an “egg hunt.” The plastic eggs were color-coded by grade level, and each had a room number (along with a piece of candy) inside it. After finding their room numbers inside the eggs, teachers wrote their names on those rooms on a building plan.
John Seymour of Shawmut Construction leads a group of HES teachers through the new elementary school. Behind Seymour is fifth-grade teacher Sangita Marya. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
HES Principal Josh Myler discusses the “Learning Stairs,” which will be used as extra learning space as well as a way to move between floors. .
Teachers visit the art room in the new elementary school, which is slated to open in May 2021. In addition to large windows, the art room has three skylights.
Teachers walk through the future gymnasium in the new school. The area on the right is where a stage will be.
