Dr. Walker thankful for 2022 bond issue project
A video tour of the construction areas at Newcastle High School’s new addition was recently released by Newcastle Public Schools.
Superintendent Dr. Cathy Walker made the tour as the school’s IT Support Specialist Kameron Maple filmed, and then edited the video.
The tour showed significant progress in the construction of projects made possible by proceeds from the community’s passage of the 2022 bond issue. These include the high school addition with new offices, two classrooms for FACs, a freshman center, a new library, student gathering spaces, and a new band/ safe room.
Dr. Walker said when you enter the new main part of the high school, you are greeted by an office area. Down the hallway will be administrative and counseling offices. Those offices lead to the main part of the building.
A second office takes visitors and students to the freshman center, so upon entering the main area, visitors going to the right will go to this area.
Visitors and students who turn left, are in the main part of the building. Both offices will have security where visitors will have to buzz in to obtain access.
The building has a new cafeteria, which Dr. Walker said is not only for students to have breakfast and lunch, but also for Newcastle Public Schools to host large events.
In the back left corner of the cafeteria visitors will notice a large set of stairs.
“We are calling these learning stairs,” Walker said. “Students will be able to use this area for seating, to hang out with their friends, to do homework, or to eat lunch.”
She added that teachers will be able to use the area for their classes.
On the left side of the learning stairs is a staircase that takes visitors to the 2nd floor where there are science classrooms, the library, an area called the Pit Stop (student store), and an area called Victory Lane.
“Victory Lane is a place where students can do homework, meet with friends, have club meetings, and things like that,” Walker said. “It will have nice seating, and it will have rooms where students can study and take tests if needed.”
Two rooms which will house the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) classroom is next on the tour. One side will be a full kitchen with work stations including ovens and stove tops for students to learn the culinary arts. A second side will be set up with tables and chairs just like a regular classroom where the students will learn different NHS TOUR on page 3
