If the goal of expanding Hampton High School is to enhance the educational experience, junior Isabella English can provide a ringing endorsement.
“I’ve actually improved my grades because of it,” she said. “I have a new place to study and I can focus better, without any distractions in the classroom. If kids are goofing off, I can just come here, find some peace and quiet, and work.”
She was among the many students greeting guests during a Feb. 9 open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the recently completed addition to the building, highlighted by the Gail V. Litwiler Media Center, named for a longtime school board member.
Freshman Olivia Zebrine joined Isabella in praising the center.
“I really like it because I can get out of a classroom environment,” she said. “Sometimes it feels so static and just the same in every classroom. Once you’re in here, it’s all open and you’re in a new environment, and you feel like you can be free to do your work and not feel like you’re enclosed by all the other students.”
Other sections of the addition include a multimedia studio, classrooms for English and special education, and a new location for the student-run café, the Busy Bean.
A major impetus for the café is to provide life skills and experiences, according to special education teacher Lynn Camilli.
“We go to Sam’s Club once a month. They shop for the food,” she said. “They prepare the coffee. They stock. They run the cash register. We’re setting up a job board and a time clock where they can punch in and out.”
All students have the opportunity to participate in operating the Busy Bean, which opens on school days at 8 a.m., 20 minutes before classes start, and runs through third period. Proceeds go into the special education budget.
Near the café is what’s called the Conceptual Thinking Lab, stocked with dry-erase whiteboards and a flexible array of furniture to help inspire creativity, especially in group projects.
“It’s a room built for collaboration and feedback and brainstorming,” English teacher Shannon Roos said. “It’s great when you have kids working on projects together or they’re giving each other feedback, because they can work through their ideas is real time. Especially with all the whiteboarding, they can track their progress as they’re going.”