From the very beginning, the new EPS building was designed to promote community and learning throughout all areas of the environment. With our new classroom and building design, adults and kids will have the opportunity to explore learning throughout every space of the school. Teachers and students will have the capacity to partner in new ways and learn alongside one another any and everywhere - classrooms, common rooms, hallways, team rooms, learning lounges, and more.
Our classrooms were created with flexibility and adaptability at the heart of the design. Teachers and students will have access to tables, desks, seating, and storage units that are mobile and versatile to create an unlimited number of classroom configurations. There is no traditional “front of the room.” There will be the flexibility to teach, coach, and facilitate learning from anywhere in the room. This set-up aligns with the professional learning our staff who has been trained in utilizing Kagan structures (cooperative learning structures) and 5Cs framework - critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and culture - which will help support the alignment of instructional practices to the new physical environment. The social-emotional growth of students will only further be enhanced by a learning environment that provides every opportunity imaginable.
Children spend hours a day sitting in classrooms, so furniture has been provided that accommodates their natural “core” movement. New seating options allow kids to rock, bounce, and rotate while they are sitting, allowing for enhanced circulation and concentration throughout the day, as well as, all of the learning benefits that accompany. These classrooms increase functionality for students by lowering whiteboards and making materials easily accessible. Our new classrooms have huge technology upgrades - multiple LED panels in classrooms, classroom audio systems, high-speed wireless, and new phones. Utilizing this technology, teachers and students will be able to create and connect in ways that were not possible before. Students can cast their laptop screens to various displays to help lead their peers in discussions, inspiring a students’ desire to learn. It is beyond exciting!
Another huge change is the availability of natural light and how this is a vital part of 21st-century classroom design. All lighting has been replaced with natural energy-efficient LED lighting. Combine this with the natural lighting through the windows have changed the environment completely. Studies have shown that not only do student learning rates improved but flexible lighting also makes students more comfortable and reduce headaches.
This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime! We get the opportunity to begin anew in a remarkable space that was crafted to truly meet the unique needs of our students, staff, families, and entire East Prairie community. We look forward to welcoming you home very soon!
