Bell rings for students in new middle school

St. Joseph Middle School students have developed an attitude since starting classes Nov. 13 moving in their new school on Appleton's North Oneida Street.

Seventh grader Camile Rudolf and eighth grader Carmen Haak, say the students "have a whole new attitude about their lives" and about school.

"They want to learn more because the environment is for teaching," said Haak.

"There's a lot more respect for a lot of people, too," said Rudolf.

The girls, and eighth grader Dan Pollack, called the new facility - the former Fox Valley Lutheran High School - "awesome," "amazing" and "a blessing."

What they like most is its cleanliness and the spaciousness compared to the old facility on Appleton's West Lawrence Street.

"I love it because it is so clean," said Haak. "Whiteboards, like Wow; carpets, like Wow!"

"All the classrooms have light," said Rudolf. "Not just one small window, but really a pretty big window."

"The light coming in there is real," said Haak.

Her favorite rooms were the new computer labs, which include Internet access. Rudolf and Pollack liked the gym.

Students had been scheduled to start classes in the new school in late August, but remodeling the building took longer than anticipated, said Bill O'Brien, ACES executive director.

The roof needed fixing; only about 30% had been found to be in good repair. There was poor drainage, he said.

Originally only the library/media center and classrooms immediately around it were supposed to get air-conditioning. However, it was decided to air-condition the whole school with smaller units placed throughout the roof, he said.

Floors were tiled, and the gym floor was replaced. Twelve-inch student lockers with built-in shelves were installed in place of the old nine-inch ones.

The building was rewired to accommodate new technology.

"It came down to this - 'Let's do it right'," O'Brien said.

Teachers packed up their supplies, books and materials on Nov. 6-7. Schroeder Moving Systems of Appleton moved them.

Volunteers, including students, helped get the school ready those two days, plus the weekend of Nov. 11-12.

St. Joe's student council were taken on a tour Nov. 9, Haak said. Students moved items from their lockers in the West Lawrence Street building to the new school after classes on Nov. 10.

A half-day of classes was held Nov. 13 in the North Oneida Street building, because the students attended a play at Xavier High School.

Principal Tony Abts said what the teachers like is the spaciousness - the large classrooms and gym, wider hallways, and storage space.

Other favorite spots are the auditorium for large-group gatherings and the chapel.

"Just to have a sacred space in the building that is set aside just for prayer, to me, that is very special," said Abts.