After 25 years of science classes being held in the portables and the main building, the new science building has finally had its long awaited opening. The building has brought new learning opportunities for the science department. However, problems are inevitable in a new space. One of the biggest issues students have faced is the route to get to and from the building. With only one entrance for all students entering and exiting, hallways get extremely crowded. Sophomore Everett Forrest, who has two classes in the science building, has been affected by crowded stairways and walkways.
“I am almost late to most of my classes there because it’s just such a long walk.” Forrest said. “There’s no real way to solve it other than teachers being more lenient with the late times.”
Senior, Raphael Rupani, has three classes in the science building, and has had similar problems. He suggests opening the gates behind the freshman patio as a potential solution.
“It’s getting out that kind of sucks, it’s so crowded, especially in the middle of the day, it’s just impossible to get anywhere,” Rupani said. “There’s one path, and everywhere else is blocked off, so you can’t go anywhere except through the cafeteria. They should consider opening up some of those gates back there so we can just go around.”
While many science teachers have been able to keep an open mind about students being late to class, that isn’t always the case which is adding more stress for students during passing periods. At the beginning of the year, the passing period was accidentally announced to be shortened to five minutes but was later extended back to seven minutes. An updated calendar corrected the mistake. This affected many students, one being senior Carter Smith.
“I looked at the schedule, and it looked like the time between classes was way shorter,” Smith said. “I didn’t think I was gonna make it for my science class all the way across the first floor to my second period class, it was just too little time.”
Students that have first block in the science building have to go through metal detectors in the main building, further increasing traffic in the mornings. Despite these faults, students agree the science building has many benefits. Senior, Anyshka Rajwani, points out the positives of the added space.
“It’s just nicer, because I remember last year for chemistry, we always had to share a lab with AP Environmental students,” Rajwani
said. “So you’d always have to be careful not to mess up anything.”
The science building provides more space for improved learning, yet the building still brings challenges. With a few adjustments, it
has the potential to be the innovative learning environment it was designed to be.
To see a complete timeline, view this story on the science building.
