Turtle Tales THE NEWSLETTER OF TURTLE LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WINTER 2019-20
Principal Perspectives By Mr. Darin Johnson Construction Project Reflection - February 2020 The construction trailer has long been removed, and the workers we came to know by name have moved on to other projects. The final punch list gets shorter and shorter by the week. New routines have been established and our students and families have been using our new additions and newly renovated spaces for months. With the end of February marking the one year anniversary to the beginning of the construction project, I offer my reflections on the impact these new spaces have had on our learning community. Parking lot redesign The redesigned drop-off and pick-up loop has created a safer and more efficient plan for students and their caregivers. Formerly, the dual use southeast lot forced visitors to navigate drop-off and pick-up traffic with cars that were pulling out, and pulling into parking spaces. Signs restricting the use of parking spaces during times of heavy traffic flow have allowed for two lanes of traffic to keep the car line moving. I am very appreciative of Turtle Lake visitors who have sacrificed the convenience of a shorter walk to the front door for the safety of our students with this new parking lot design. In the rear of the school, the newly added parking lot has also been a welcomed addition, as well. As a reminder, this lot is available for visitor parking during after-school and evening events.
Cafeteria renovation The wall of natural sunlight in our newly renovated cafeteria is awesome! Students quickly became comfortable with the new traffic flow patterns, allowing more time to eat and relax with their classmates during the lunch period. If you have not peaked your head into the new kitchen, it is amazing. Additional serving line space has allowed for a more efficient distribution of hot lunches. Additionally, the new “cold line” carts help to make the fruit and vegetable options extremely appetizing. This new space has also helped ease our school’s implementation of the “Food to Hogs” recycling program. Students are doing an awesome job of putting their breakfast and lunch waste into the three separate buckets of trash, recycle or compost. If you are able, join your child for lunch to witness our planet-conscious students in action! Classroom additions The addition of eight new classrooms and flex learning spaces has offered a new way to look at the options we can offer students to support their learning. Stationary desks and tables have given way to wheeled furniture that moves around the classroom during the day as needed. The layout of the classroom furniture might look different during the morning meeting than it does during math stations. Students may group desks into a group of four, or pull them apart for independent work at various times throughout the day. New furniture options have made collaboration easier for students, experiences we know are important to the development of skills which will serve our students well in the years to come. Glass walls allow for supervision options that were not previously possible for teachers who work with students in small groups both inside and outside of the classroom. Finally, I am grateful for the students and teachers who moved into these classrooms mid-year. Their display of flexibility and patience during the weeks of transition was remarkable. Thank you to all members of the Turtle Lake learning community for the roles you played in support of the construction project. These new additions and renovations will be enjoyed by thousands of students for many years to come. If you haven’t seen these new spaces yet, please stop by. I would love to give you a tour!