Students tour next year’s facilities

By Trisha Marczak | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, May 15, 2008

Construction at Cleveland Elementary sped up the orientation process for up-coming third grade students. Cleveland, which hosts classes for students in third and fourth grades, will be under heavy construction all summer, and will not be open for public or private use.

Second-grade students from Adams Elementary toured their future school last week, while the building was still in safe condition.

Orientation for up-coming third-graders is usually held for a few hours each day in the summer, over a three day period.

Although the students’ tour was not as in-depth as last year’s summer orientation, it did give students a chance to see their new school and learn about the construction project.

“When they feel secure and know what is going on, the students do well,” said second-grade teacher, JoEllen Johnson.

Principal Scott Colbeck also noted that, unlike last year, the orientation allows them to take part in a normal third-grade school day.

Students were given a tour of the building, which included an outside look of the construction site, and attended learning sessions with Cleveland third-grade students.

Up until this year, all three district elementary schools — Cleveland, McKinley and Adams — held classes for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. This year, schools have been designated as more grade specific. Cleveland now hosts third and fourth grade classes. Adams holds classes for students in first and second grade and McKinley’s classes consist of kindergarten and two fourth grade classes. McKinley’s fourth grade teachers will relocate to the newly constructed Cleveland building next year.