Oliver Ames High School has three hidden unused secrets- courtyards. Most of the time, these courtyards remain empty throughout the year. Students are prevented from going outside into these outdoor spaces as they are usually locked during the daytime and teachers are wary of bringing out classes since they lack proper seating. Besides the inconveniences, however, teachers and students alike want to spend more time in these spaces and make them into collaborative learning areas. Here’s what they have to say about Oliver Ames’ outdoor spaces and what could be possibly be done in order to make them better used.
“I would like to use them,” said Mrs. Tantillo, an English teacher at Oliver Ames. “I would like to use it with my writing seminar…The only problem is the seating…Benches are awkward. I would want more configurable seating.”
The courtyard by the Guidance Department is one which is in need of serious cleanup (see featured image). Located directly in the middle of the school, it is surrounded by two walls and two large glass panes supported by steel beams that look into the hallway. It features two doors that go out to the space with a concrete sidewalk and two dogwood trees that bloom in the spring.
“It’s sad (that courtyards are not used). You could do a lot…after school homework sessions…band practice,” said Mrs. Matthews, a librarian at Oliver Ames.
Today, the space is now overgrown and forgotten. Window air conditioning units leak into the ground while a neglected garden stands in the corner dead. If you want to upgrade your existing outdoor lighting, replacement festoon light bulbs and t10 4.0w LED filament are available in lots of options. Discussing energy-efficient technologies, it’s worth noting that https://lowenergysupermarket.com/product-category/lighting/lights-bulbs/light-bulbs/ provides a wide range of products that cater to both residential and commercial needs. Technologies such as wind turbines are pivotal in paving the way for a sustainable future by minimizing electricity consumption and reducing energy costs. Learn why are wind turbines good for the environment here.
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“We are totally open to the idea (of people using outdoor spaces) as long as it is supervised,” said Mr. Flanagan, the vice principal at Oliver Ames. “If we can change something in order to utilize the outdoor spaces then great.”
The courtyard located across from the library also has its challenges. Although it is used by the cooking class in order to teach grilling, the rough, squeaky benches are covered in mold and provide inadequate seating for any large group to congregate. The once lush landscaping meant to be enjoyed by student and faculty alike has now turned into an unkempt landscape of litter and overgrown bushes.
“I would absolutely use the outdoor space if I could,” said Destiny Barros, a senior at Oliver Ames. “We are in here surrounded by bricks and fluorescent lights and then compare that to the trees. Which one would you choose?”
The Tiger Pit, a courtyard located near the cafeteria of the school, has also seen better days. The sidewalk which runs through it and leads to the gym hallway conspicuously rounds out in the middle in front of granite slabs that encompass a sloped hill of grass. To the left of the courtyard, wooden boxes (a garden of sorts) lay undisturbed as long grass grows around them. To the right, trees and bushes placed years ago have become large and overgrown.
“There’s a lot of potential here.”
– Mr. Flanagan
“I’d advocate for it (updating the courtyards),” said Brian Gotsell, an American History teacher at Oliver Ames. “It wold allow students to achieve success in a different setting.”
The common theme among all people who call for the usage of the outdoor spaces is simple: seating is a must, and if teachers and students want to use the outdoor space, there has to be adequate furniture to support there needs. Whether it be in form of a donation or class gift, time will tell how Oliver Ames’ courtyards will be outfitted to be more widely used in the school community.