Clarke Central High School freshmen and parents were welcomed into an updated main lobby on August 2 during freshman orientation. The update came as a result of a school-wide school spirit enhancement project. “The students and faculty in this community deserve the absolute very best that can be provided for them,” project manager Holly Ward said. “My hope was to do something that just really knocks it out of the park so that when you walk in the door you know that we’re special and we’re in a special place.” Photo by Colin Frick.
During freshman orientation on August 2, rising Clarke Central High School ninth graders were exposed to the newly designed CCHS main lobby.
Three days before the start of the 2019-2020 school year, incoming Clarke Central High School freshmen were greeted to a newly designed main lobby as they made their way to orientation. The lobby renovation was part of a school spirit enhancement project spearheaded by project manager Dr. Holly Ward.
“Since the renovation occurred and I walked into the school and there was no red and gold on the walls (is) when I was like, ‘this has to change,’” Ward said. “I came and toured when the new building was opened, (and) it was like somebody somewhere has to put some red and gold on these walls.”
According to CCHS sophomore Alyssa Johnson, the lobby looks significantly better than how she remembers it as a freshman.
“Last year admittedly the lobby was a little bit boring with a lot of decorations, so I think the new colors make it look like they tried to (make) it interesting,” Johnson said. “I walked in and everything was just new, bright and colorful, and I think it really is gonna help the freshmen feel more at home.”
However, the lobby enhancement goes beyond the colors red and gold. CCHS principal Dr. Swade Huff believes that the new lobby will inspire students and teachers to find more pride within their school.
“I just remember as a student from 1987-1991 there was a lot of Clarke Central Gladiator school spirit. It is somewhat lacking, but there is an attention to focus on regaining the pride that I remember as a kid,” Huff said. “I think with the help of community stakeholders like Dr. Ward and (Local School Governance Team) teachers (who have) already asked if we can enhance other areas of the school, the kids will notice, the parents will definitely notice and ultimately will impact our school climate.”
Some members of the CCHS faculty have requested the school spirit enhancement project extend to more areas of the building.
“The faculty have already approached Dr. Ward and Dr. Huff about additional enhancements throughout the whole school because, unfortunately, with the funding that we have we only focus on the main lobby and a few other spots intermittently,” CCHS fine arts department teacher Dr. Eunice Kang said. “But we would like for all of the buildings of every floor, including the west wing, to have consistent red and gold signage, crests and the Clarke Central C.”
