Sixty-three colorful parking spaces welcomed Deer Lakes High School students back to school, some with neon flowers and others with lines of a football grid.
The creative initiative led by Student Council President Scarlett Hadlum fosters a sense of ownership and pride within the school community, high school Principal Ryan Aleski said.
Personalized paintings near Lancer Stadium were among projects for the new school year, which kicked off last week.
At Curtisville Primary and East Union Intermediate, staff will use a kid favorite — Legos — to help develop communication and problem-solving skills.
Brick by Brick aims to teach collaboration among young students by using the tiny bright toys to design and construct in pairs or small teams.
The lesson is intended to develop negotiation and social skills. Students can role play being the engineer, parts supplier or builder.
“The Brick by Brick program will provide another opportunity for our students to learn and grow their problem-solving and collaboration skills,” East Union Principal Jodi VanderSchaaff said.
At the high school, a student activity space was unveiled.
The versatile room will serve student groups, such as the National Honor Society or Student Council, and offer a comfortable environment for interactions with workforce recruiters, trade schools and college representatives, Aleski said.
The Coffee Shop at the high school, launched in the spring, is ready for its first full year of service and peer-to-peer mentoring.
Students in regular education classes have the chance to mentor those with disabilities while working together as baristas. Students in study hall, along with staff, can place orders during the first four periods of the school day for pickup or delivery.
“It has been so encouraging to see students buy into this concept,” said Lindsay McGaughey, the district’s director of special education. “The Coffee Shop builds community and so many new connections among students and staff. Students love the space and are especially excited that it operates similar to brand name shops.”
The spot was launched with a $20,000 grant from the state Department of Education. Money was supposed to support opportunities to encourage students to enter the field of special education.
McGaughey said it has allowed students who didn’t know each other to work together and learn how to communicate and collaborate.
“This has raised additional awareness of disabilities for students who are peer mentors and students who are patrons of the shop,” she said.
The district added a full-time social worker and two additional mental health liaisons, one for Curtisville and East Union, and the other for the middle school and high school.
This year will see five new teachers, one additional librarian and a new high school counselor.
Also across the district, renovations are ongoing.
Parking lots were paved and sealed, speed reduction devices were installed at the high school and new lines were painted. The high school gym floor was recoated, and new scoreboards were installed. The baseball and softball fields also have new turf.
Work was part of a 2023 energy savings/capital improvements project that began last summer.
“Some enhancements people may not have seen but will benefit from are upgrades to HVAC and lighting,” district spokesperson Shawn Annarelli said.
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.