This week the Ravine interviews teachers and staff in the building to gain insight and opinions surrounding the construction, plans, and the overall environment as our school changes and grows.
Mr. Thomas, the principal here at WKHS, shared with us the plans, schedules, details, and what he is most excited about regarding the current and upcoming changes with construction. He shared,
“The construction project for the school involves renovating the second floor by March 2025 and the first floor by Summer 2026. Exterior renovations are expected over winter.”
The plans for Kilbourne’s upstairs include renovated classrooms, brand-new science labs, breakout rooms, and a new teacher’s workroom layout. The downstairs plans include switching the counseling center and library to create a student hub, including the library, commons, and to-be-added outdoor eating area. The library will have six break-out rooms to sign out for group projects, along with multiple seating options. Once finished, there will be Ravine to Ravine views from the student hub. Exterior renovations will include the outdoor eating area, a new band wing, and a wrestling room! Those renovations can begin once the Army Corps of Engineering approves the plans.
All of these changes are so exciting, but Mr. Thomas had a personal favorite. He shared that,
“I’m most excited for the center hub for students; the library, the commons, and the deck. I’m just thinking about all the uses. Kids can choose their environment to eat in and spend free time in with the center hub, but we could even host dances here. Winter Formal is too cold, but for homecoming, we could set up lights and have a super cool area for kids to hang out.”
Mrs. Larson, a science teacher here at WKHS shares Mr. Thomas’ excitement, sharing more insights into the science room renovations and staff and student dynamics as construction continues. She told us,
“Some of our labs are gonna be mobile, which will be really nice to give more flexibility to do what we want with labs. I think I’m just overall excited to have new and updated everything, even down to matching desks and furniture in each room. I am also going to have windows this year, which I didn’t have last year!”
We asked her what it was like to teach, specifically to teach science, at this time. She shared, “It’s been different and we have had to be super creative in figuring out how to teach lab material without labs, and I think everyone’s motto has just been flexibility. Especially since being in brand-new rooms means that we are figuring out issues as they appear. But being on this specific staff makes it so easy and all the issues were worked out in the first few days so we are super grateful for that.”
She also told us, “It’s really nice that we are the first department to make the switch also because now we are going to be able to help the other departments when they are switching rooms just like they helped us. So I am glad to have the opportunity to collaborate in such a special way with my fellow staff and also students.”
To get more information about construction, go to the Worthington Schools website to follow their monthly docuseries on the construction and also check your weekly newsletters!
While the construction going on around us feels inconvenient at times, it is important to be grateful for everything we are working towards and for everything we currently have! We have a roof over our heads, air conditioning, and power while we learn, and what we don’t realize is that for many kids, those things are luxuries!
Stay grateful and have a great week Wolves!!
