New school is like 'night and day'

Three months into the first school year in the new Sisters Elementary School (SES) building, its leaders are over the moon.

The old grounds, they say, were "bursting at the seams." Teachers and students "felt stifled." Today, "everything is bigger and better," said Principal Joan Warburg. "Better than expected."

Assistant Principal of Student Success Jana Giles is very pleased with how students and teachers have been getting into their new groove.

Photo by Matt Van Slyke

Sisters Elementary School's Three Sisters mural captures the spirit of the place.

"Teachers have been really good at trying something and then adjusting as needed - even how we walk in the hallway, and who goes up and down each staircase," said Giles.

"Those first months, there were lots of kinks," Warburg said.

One of them involved student drop-off and pick-up. A bus lane was designed as part of the parking lot on the northeast side; buses would come in from McKinney Butte Road and circle the lot to exit, while parents who drove students to and from school were asked to use a car lane from McKenzie Highway on the southwest side.

"We had to close off the parking lot after the first few days," Warburg said, citing parents parking in the lot and students walking in front of and in between buses to get from the lot to school.

The move limited parking for families, but was necessary due to safety concerns, she said. The school solved the problems by swapping lanes: buses are using the former parent-car lane, where there is no parking lot or people passing through.

Photo by Matt Van Slyke

...And it glows at night.

School leaders could easily see the problem - and solution - upon video review. A major safety upgrade over the old site: "way more cameras," Warburg said, enabling staff to spot safety and security issues as they arise, and address them promptly.

Also, there used to be close to 20 different school entrances, because the back doors of all the classrooms faced outside at the former campus. Now there are only two entrances.

While safety always comes first, leaders are focusing on building out the school community.

"With the new building and many more opportunities, how do we engage our families and parents more?" Warburg asked.

One new idea is to have parents over for recess. Parents will take over yard duties in an effort to involve families directly with students at school. VIP Recess day is set for December 17.

Giles said groups of enthusiastic teachers and the Sisters Parent Teacher Community (SPTC) are stirring up excitement for the holidays. On December 9-11, SES fourth graders will add cheer to downtown Sisters with festive window paintings. Arts & Crafts Night is scheduled for December 12. The staff choir will perform for students on December 20.

"They've already started rehearsals, and let me tell you, it's going to be so much fun," Giles said.