Okay, we’ll admit it. We’re jealous of the new middle-school building, especially our seniors, who were the last class to leave the lower school before that new building was finished.
Teacher Daniel Neukom has repeatedly called the new science building the “Middle School Taj Mahal.” It shares a few of its Indian cousin’s qualities: it’s a bit big for what it contains, and it’s one heck of a building.
Huge rooms, classroom TV’s and even a little lounge area—believe us, if there were a way we could fail out of our classes so badly that we had to repeat middle school, we would do it.
And what’s more, it was built on time. We were promised a new building by the end of December, and we got a new building by the end of December—something that’s even more impressive considering the delays the construction started with.
But speaking of construction delays, what’s up with that new sign?
It was a great idea to put up a sign to advertise our school, especially since all you can see from Munroe is a large open field. Both students and faculty are sick and tired of having people at Peet’s (only two blocks away) ask us where Country Day is.
But it strikes us as slightly ridiculous that we have a 2-foot-high concrete wall that’s constantly lit up. It’s a nice wall, but it doesn’t warrant 24-hour lighting.
But we digress. After every successful construction, it’s important to ask, “What’s next?”
The answer is obvious, and has been for many years: SCDS needs a fine arts building.
The band kids rehearse in the acoustic equivalent of a cardboard box and are constantly rearranging all of their equipment to make room for the myriad events that use the MP Room.
Not only that, but the drama department doesn’t even have a real stage to perform on. No, just because the floor is a different material doesn’t mean that the stage is Broadway-ready.
Moreover, the art room is ancient and accommodates only about half of the kids it needs to. The ceramics class has to work outside, for heaven’s sake.
And maybe we could give our school publications some space. Octagon has only half a classroom, and the Medallion doesn’t even have its own room.
And a fine arts building would benefit not just high schoolers.
Most Lifers have been taking some form of music education since kindergarten, and many stuck with the instrument that they received in fifth grade.
Country Day’s motto is “Academics, Athletics and the Arts Every Day,” but we seem to have forgotten a third of that statement. If we haven’t, we sure have a poor way of showing it.
Previously published in the print edition on Jan. 13, 2015.
