Del Norte Students Tour New Building for the First Time

Classes get a sneak preview before starting classes next fall.

Students walk through the main entry into Del Norte HS for the first time.

May 22, 2012

The new building sparkles, with shiny floors, new furniture and fresh coats of turquoise, gold and purple paint. In August, it will buzz with the activity of teaching and learning but, as the current school year winds down, students got a look at what’s in store as they toured the new Del Norte High School for the first time.

Del Norte opens the doors to a brand new facility next fall, replacing the classroom building that students first entered in 1964. Teachers have been taking students through the new building during the last days of school because everyone has been curious about it. After all, they’ve been walking around fences for the past two years during construction.

So far, the building has met with everyone’s approval. “Wow, this is so nice” was the common phrase heard from freshmen and sophomores who have toured the new space, and from teachers as well.

“The students are really excited about (moving into the new building),” said Del Norte Principal Jo Sloan.

The new building has three floors and lots of windows. It offers state-of-the-art science labs, music rooms and a video production facility. It also has a large media center on the third floor that brings in plenty of daylight for reading. Teachers will move in as soon as this school year ends.

Del Norte is known for its rounded building with indoor- and outdoor-facing classrooms. The new building is of a more traditional style, which will make it easier to monitor.

“I like how I can step out of my office and look down the main hall and get a good sense of what’s going on,” Sloan said. “It’s a good way to gauge how the day is going.”

Over the next two years, the current building will be razed, replaced by a new parking lot, cafeteria and arts building.