Monfredo: Students Input Taking Place as South High is Under Construction

Saturday, May 25, 2019

John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER

Ever hear of a school design club? I never did but at the last school committee meeting as part of Superintendent Binienda’s report, a team of students and adults working on the project explained to the public the concept of a “South High Design Club” and the challenges that the project faces on the design of the new school lobby.

The South High Design Club was initiated by Katie Crockett, president of Lamoureux Pagano Associates and Architects (LPAA). The idea was to have student led projects on the new South High Lobby. Work is underway in the construction of a new South High School scheduled to open in 2021. The Design Club gives the students an opportunity to engage with the architect, learn 21st-century design skills, and allows them to leave their mark on the design of the new school lobby while inspiring future South High students for years to come.

Ms. Crockett collaborated with Nav Anand, founder of Design Veritas to further this idea. With Ms. Anand architectural design and artist background coupled with her present 21-century commitment to designing for the future and the next generation, they focused on creating an opportunity for the students to partake in the design process.

Superintendent Maureen Binienda embraced the idea of having the students be a part of the design of their new school for it gives voice to the students in the construction of the new high school. The same was echoed by South High Principal Jeffery Creamer for he stated, “I am very proud of the diligent and creative South High Students who have designed a lobby that blends our traditions with our future and celebrates the diversity of South High School."

LPAA and Design Veritas developed 5 design challenges over a period of 9 months. They collaborated with Mr. Ben Badu, South High Art Teacher, and Maureen Binienda, to establish the intent and logistics of the design club. The Design Club officially launched in January.

The students have been meeting twice a week after school with Mr.Badu. They were given the design challenges and had 4 months to develop their ideas to present to the architects at the final review. The architects would then pick ideas to develop into the new school design.

Thus, a school wide essay was initiated and given to all students to write about ‘What South High Means to them and the South High sense of ‘Community.’ From here, the South High Design Club Development team read the essays and created the 5 challenges.

This club was open to all students of South High and all were given the opportunity to participate. Twenty -five students were initially part of the design club, but the 6 that presented at the School Committee were the core group…. Gianna Caforio, Julie Do, Tia Tomco, Miles Appleton, Iteolawakissi Talabi and Eliana Lamptey. All were articulate, excited, and knowledgeable of what they spoke about. The challenges presented were…

Visual School Entrance Display … bringing your culture to South High… How to find the best way to showcase the school, themselves and their culture?
History Wall … How can we bring this rich history into the school?
Digital Wall … How can we use the digital medium to convey its stories from past to present?
Word Wall … What does South High Community mean to you?
Lobby Mural Wall … How can we create a South High Community mural that will be an integral part of the Lobby?

Here is a summary of the students’ responses…

Gianna Caforio … Entrance Lobby

The idea was to represent the school clubs, academics and offerings on two side panels - on the left and right as you enter the building in a relief collage installation. The front panel on top would have a light painting inspired by Steven Knapp along with a school motto. The lobby would also tie into the other challenges as you walk through the building into the large school lobby.

Tia Tomco - History Wall Challenge, Mural Wall Challenge

With this project, I sought to bring a different perspective to the lobby of the new school. I want to inspire people with art, as art is something that inspires me … With the history wall, we want to showcase the wonderful history of South high and inspire the students who will look at the wall and rich history of South high. Our idea is to incorporate the old newsletters and songs, as we feel they are inspiring and motivating. They showcase the opinions of the students, making the past students’ part of the wall as well. With the mural wall, we decided on making the eye the central point as it allows students to reflect and think about their future in high school and throughout their lives… The pupil of the eye will have a reflection that will either be 3D or 2D and this reflection will unite the present with the future.

Iteoluwakiisi Talabi - Digital Wall

The theme of the wall is storytelling through videos and pictures to showcase the

South High community and diverse cultures. It would celebrate the schools

diversity by presenting a different fact, history or tradition from different countries all over the world each day. The digital wall would show the different programs and activities offered at South High like ROTC, Andy's Attic, Culinary, Diesel and Early Childhood. The sense of community with the students would be celebrated as well as the annual musicals, the international shows the art department the school's band and chorus, and sports… To represent the past the digital wall would include the alumni like teachers who went to the school previously, such as the famous alumni Robert Goddard. There will be an established club for students to maintain and include new ideas for the digital wall.

Julie Do: Mural - History Wall

For me contributing to the South High Mural is an important aspect of reflection. The mural is to always inspire creativity and make it accessible to a school. It will be in a place of central focus. The mural is to have an eye as the central focus to be an aspect of perspective. There will be a woven textile-like design showing various aspects of the community wrapping around the eye to show the role of shaping the perspective of an individual as well as support.... We want to support student identity and encourage more opinions. We’d have information on the current and old South High as well. School mottos are something we are all united under and have fun with! To accommodate information on Robert Goddard we suggested a rocket mosaic as well to encourage a path for students.

Eliana Lamptey … Word Wall

The word wall was derived from the essays for all the South High and Goddard Students from Sullivan Middle school participated. The students extracted sayings, phrases and words that they felt would inspire students and represent the unique sense of community at South High. It was a most interesting project.

Miles Appleton … History Wall

The history wall was inspired by 'the index' which were old South High newsletters. The history wall will represent the old South High, the existing South High and leave space for the future South High. It will include a celebration of Robert Goddard as well as alumni who are still very much a part of the South High community. This area will also include 'The Achievement Wall' which will celebrate various achievements of present South High students.

Currently, the students continue to work these proposed ideas. Year 2 will be the development of the ideas. Year 3 will be the implementation of ideas in the new school building. The Club will continue to exist until the opening of the school so that the students will have a chance to develop their ideas and have a finished product. The students are doing a great job and the community looks forward to these outstanding ideas being implemented.