CLAYTON —
The school district will hold a formal opening ceremony next Wednesday to celebrate the renovation of the new high school campus and secondary school. However, students have been using these new facilities and upgrades for more than a week.
Andrew Carneglia, a 17-year-old senior, said he was shocked when he started his new school year.
"This is a big change," Andrew said . ".
"I play football and the dressing room looks great.
The classroom looks completely different and has smart boards.
With the development of science and technology, our environment needs to be modernized.
Everything makes us want to be here and be part of the change.
$20 million expansion project
A bond referendum was passed in November. 2009 —
Include a brand new wing of high school, which makes middle and high school students completely separate for the first time in the history of the region.
"The library is the jewel of our crown," said Nick kutesoganis, principal of the new media center at high school.
"There are 24 computers, 10 iPad carts, 25 iPads each, and you can log in to the classroom. our students who participate in the virtual high school program come here to attend classes.
Koutsogiannis pointed out when he walked through the new wing on Wednesday that the new big-
Screen TVs are placed throughout the school to show daily announcements, a dozen brand new classrooms with smart boards and computers, a new art studio, three new science labs and a cafeteria
"The only room that is used by both middle school and high school students now is the gym, the cafeteria and the media center, but it has never been used at the same time," he said . ".
"We had a real personal Middle School in Clayton for the first time, and it can accommodate six to eight grades.
In high school classrooms, there are new cabinets, whiteboards and tables, which we think are better than traditional cooperative learning tables.
Koutsogiannis added that the school colors in blue and gold are throughout, especially on the walls and floors of each classroom.
In the brand new art studio, teachers and students have the opportunity to use the new Kiln House, butcher's table and lots of storage space.
In the science classroom, there are laboratory tables with drawers, and each student can save the equipment needed for classroom experiments.
"It is equipped with all the materials needed to succeed," said Christina Tiesi, who teaches biology and environmental science in high school.
"We have computers at each of our experimental stations, and they can input data and integrate technology like real scientists do.
Tiesi said she is also grateful for her new smart motherboard, an Elmo projector that can zoom in images seen through a microscope onto the screen, an interactive tool, students can answer quiz questions remotely in order to quickly analyze and score during the same class.
"The referendum has also put us on a new track, upgraded softball and baseball courts, and started adding greenhouses to the biology classroom," Koutsogiannis said . ".
All new additions and renovations, he said, are "pride" for students and teachers ".
"I 've heard a lot of kids say, 'This is a real high school right now, 'says Koutsogiannis. '".
"They are taking control of everything and strengthening it.
This is the pride of the community.
Koutsogiannis says the school now matches its residents very well.
"I have the best staff in New Jersey," he said . ".
"The teachers understand their students and change their games, and the test scores prove it.
The staff and the children were very happy.