COVID KICKS PROJECT INTO GEAR Social distancing mandates spur new seating in courtyard
Addison Mark | Staff Reporter
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tudents this year have additional outdoor seating options in the senior courtyard. Organized by Vice Principal Vincent Saladino, this addition, began in July 2020, as an effort to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Because of COVID and social distancing requirements, students at lunch are allowed to sit no more than four to a table. This project provides more seating for students, while meeting the COVID safety standards. Saladino explained that COVID-19 was the “tipping point” in moving forward with the project. “It’s the igniter that pushed it past the needle,” Saladino said. “If we needed that one reason why, this is the reason to expand that outdoor space. It took it from a tier-two project and put it right up at tier-one.” Moving up as a “tierone” project, BK set to work on phase one of the outdoor
space, which was a large white tent with multiple picnic tables underneath, and more tables to the left of the tent. “This has always been one of those tier-two projects that we’ve talked multiple times about: covered space, and more space that isn’t impacted by weather,” Saladino said. In early October, sails were added over the courtyard area, providing shade for students. Along with being water resistant, the sails help rain water to run-off and irrigate nearby landscaping. The sails project will be completed by the end of the month, ending the first phase of the project. “The next phases include some little details: uplighting around it, putting security lights, safety lights and internet,” Saladino said. The project is set to be complete by January 2021. “This is a little-big project and it is all part of the grand plan.”
The senior courtyard now has sails overhead to protect students from sun during lunchtime.
Students sit in the new outdoor seating area during lunch on Oct. 28.
4 THE SHIELD • OCTOBER 2020
