New Classrooms, New Opportunities

Maiya Reese

     After years of teaching students in classrooms with equipment that has not been updated since the 1970s, PHS has finally upgraded the art and FACS classrooms. Stocked with modern, state-of-the-art technology, the classrooms have been a highlight of the school year so far. Art teacher Steven Walker and FACS teacher Aron Knoche were excited to share their favorite features about their new classrooms. 

Art Classroom

      Before the update, the art classes were cramped and lacked adequate storage space. “We had a lot of things that weren’t keeping up with the class sizes I had,” Walker explains in an interview. The art room is now equipped with adequate seating, new tables, counters, and chairs, four sinks (compared to the original two), new cabinet storage space, a brand new supply closet, a kiln room, and a whole section in the classroom dedicated to pottery wheels. Walker also loves the drop-down extension cords, which can be helpful for plugging in studio lights or even just charging iPads. Walker got to choose the counter tops, the outsides of cabinets, and table tops. The rest of it was the design of the school. “Everything that they have included…looks incredible,” Walker comments. 

     Walker is especially excited that the new space will provide opportunities for new projects, such as ceramic projects or larger paper mache projects. The new classroom has also given him the opportunity to work to provide a leather-crafting class to PHS. “Everyone can agree that it is a night and day difference in this classroom,” he says. 

FACS Classroom

     The FACS classroom has arguably the biggest upgrade of all, with a brand new kitchen completely separate from the classroom. Mrs. Knoche, the FACS teacher, is grateful for the extra space in her classroom. She reviewed the classroom as very “clean and updated,” and says students appreciate the revamped space. 

     Among the updates is increased countertop space, which allows Knoche to “[showcase] what students…create” in her classes. The FACS room was also granted an updated kitchen, where students can have a residential feel of what their kitchen might be like at home. Knoche’s favorite part about the classroom is the slat wall where she will be able to showcase students’ entrepreneurship—including keychains, earrings, T-shirts, 3D printed items, and more.