An Old-Timer Takes a Walk Through Today's SHS

The school marquee is decked out in purple & gold.

This is what I mean when I say, "Well-kept floor!"  You can almost read the framed plaques in their reflection on the floor.  Nice graphics, don't you think?.

Another example of exciting decoration.  This ramp connects "our" school with the new classroom extension toward 30th Street.

A great new use of the wall outside the auditorium is the recognition of outstanding students.  Trophies are still displayed in the trophy case, but you can see they are limited to the most important ones and share the space with academic achievers.

The new cafeteria, completed in time for the 2003-04 school year, is a beautiful, spacious, bright and cheery facility that can be used for large meetings and combined classes.  It is served by the A-V center on the drop-down screen and TVs around the room.  News, not ESPN, plays during lunch.

One of the mural graphics in the cafeteria.  The artist, Tina Nesbitt, continues to add designs to the facility.

The Principal bleeds purple!  Bulldogs and purple adorn his office.

Looks the same, doesn't it?  Only the bus stop and circular drive have changed.  I seem to remember that that tree was almost as big back then, too.

How about these purple lockers, well-kept--as are the walls.  Absolutely no graffiti or disrepair.

The front entrance hallway wall is still a kiosk, but look how neat, colorful and orderly it looks.  Subject matter is "College Opportunities."

There's lots of firepower in the Rachael Berryman Media Center, and those computers are in use by students.

Ms. Johnson, Media Specialist, in front of the central console for programmed classroom A-V distribution.

Dr. Richard Gardner in the Dawg Den--the serving area of the cafeteria.

Ronnie Wicks, Principal of SHS, in his office.

     Dr. Richard Gardner, Superintendent of Sheffield City Schools, actually met me at the front door and, eventually, took my wife and me on a tour of the facilities.  But, first, he and Mr. Wicks spent over an hour chatting and discussing the changes that have occurred in Sheffield and SHS, the programs they are proud of, the areas of need that exist, and how a concerted effort by concerned alumni might work together with the programs they have in place to meet those needs.

     After checking in with the front office and getting my "Visitor's Badge," I was allowed to wander around at will on my way to meetings with Gina Mashburn, Mentor Coordinator, Linda Johnson, Media Specialist (that's what they call "Librarians" today), and Amy Davis, the yearbook and Hi-Lites sponsor.  They were, everyone of them, gracious and helpful.  Ms. Johnson was proud of the technological sophistication of the Internet information resources and the centralized audiovisual teaching equipment.  She told me the amusing tid-bit that our Librarian, Rachael Berryman, tendered her resignation when the first computers were delivered to the library (uh, "Media Center," that is).  She also encouraged me to visit Mrs. Berryman while in town.  Ms. Davis allowed me to take copies of every Hi-Lites for the past 2 years home for gleaning news of significant recent progress in programs and student achievement out of them.  Ms. Mashburn opened my eyes to the mentoring program she has directed, giving me much to think about for developing something that would be likely to be of real help to students at risk for failure.

     At the end of my visit, Dr. Gardner took me on The Tour.  The administrations since 1956 have been really good stewards, protecting and preserving the physical plant.  I was introduced to Dale Vinson, a long-time custodian, who beamed with pride when we gushed over the highly polished floors and gleaming walls and lockers.  The Superintendent called students by name and encouraged the one or two who obviously had been sent out of the classrooms.

     The halls were, indeed, gleaming as you can see in the photographs--and some graphic artist with, what I call, "Soul," has been let loose to create a surprisingly modern, very pleasing look to the place.  The Rachael Berryman Media Center is a computer whiz-bang marvel.  The new cafeteria is a grand, modern multi-serving island restaurant-like place overseen by a very proud manager, Nancy Byrd.  It serves both high school and middle school students, having hallway attachments to both.  There are numerous buildings now, and attractive courtyards have sprung up in the enclosed outside spaces created by them.

     There was a cartoon in the comic page of the Tri-Cities Daily called "Born 30 Years Too Soon."  Why was I born 50 years too soon?

                                                        ----Louis Buettner, Class of 1956

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