The CHS quad has been undergoing construction to refurbish shade structures for rainy and hot days. Many of the students and staff have had to make some changes these first few weeks of school due to this construction.
Being a new student at CHS, freshman Ivy Jamarillo expresses that it is hard for her to get to her biology class with the construction grounds blocking both entryways to the 2000’s building. She highlights the inconvenience of the fencing placement and the crowd of students she must walk through.
“I feel like there is a lot more traffic than I am used to, especially going to biology,” Jamarillo said. “It makes me feel a little claustrophobic in that area.”
Given the circumstances, new students and freshmen haven’t experienced the school campus in its normal state. Campus supervisor Roger Casanova suggests that seeking guidance is crucial for a successful year at CHS.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Casanova said. ”Use your resources, which would be campus supervisors, [and] counselors, and ask your teachers what the best route is to take before you leave the classroom.”
There has been some traffic within the school, especially during brunch and lunch, because all of the students are on campus at the same time. Casanova remarks that this can cause problems for students trying to get to their classes because they might need more time to walk in their passing period.
“A change that students have had to make is rerouting their path to get to class,” Casanova said. “Depending on where you’re going, you will probably have to leave early from break or lunch.”
With the wide fence blocking the lunch line area off from the science building, it is hard to navigate around it without being late to class, especially with the sandbags outside of the fence causing some students to trip.
“For that short break, it feels like most of it is spent trying to get through the halls and pathways,” sophomore Phoebe Del Pizzo said.
In addition to the crowded walkways, as a result of the construction, some changes had to be made to pep rallies that take place during lunch. The cheerleaders can’t roll out their mats to stunt, so a significant part of their routine gets cut out.
“It was unfortunate because we couldn’t show off some of our main skills as cheerleaders,” sophomore Claire Henriod said.
As the cheerleaders and dancers are making changes to their pep rallies, they have faced some additional difficulties. Instead of lining up around the quad, the dancers and cheerleaders performed the fight song on the ramp leading down to the quad area.
“It was kind of scary because we felt like we were going to kick someone walking down the ramp,” Del Pizzo said.
The construction caused the lunch tables in the quad to be rearranged and they are now all in rows in the center of the quad. Casanova states that the decreased space has a benefit, allowing students to connect with each other more.
“I feel like it brought more of our student body together,” Casanova said. “It’s a chance for students to reconnect again from the summer.”
The intention of these shade structures and construction is to add a spot students can sit under when seeking shade when it’s sunny or seek shelter from the rain. The reconstruction, however, can be tedious for staff and students to manage on campus.
“While the construction is slightly frustrating right now, I’m excited for when they finish and we can use those spaces again,” Del Pizzo said.
