New Cape
9-11-09
We’ve been told that we were going from Cape to Great. That little motto has been the tagline for many documents and the conclusion of countless discussions in the district for many years now. Now that has changed.
Cape is great.
This bell was rung loud and clear from the Superintendent on the first district-wide meeting for the opening of this new school year. Cape is great.
Spoken from the brand new auditorium of the brand new Cape Henlopen High School, with the workers scurrying about to finish up trim and details, this was indeed a day to ring bells and blow whistles.
Even as the old building was being torn down and our loyalties harkened to past days and memories, the new school shone like a shiny new penny. Light floods in from every angle to wide open atriums, curvy three story high windows and bright hallways. There was a feeling of lightness amid the scent of fresh cardboard boxes and packing plastic being unwrapped.
Careful thought was put into every aspect of the new school. There is access to the library from outside so that the community can easily come and go. The foyer is a rotunda that has a rose compass pattern inlaid in tile and a high circular dome that allows for a feeling of spaciousness. The cafeteria provides a gathering place for both the gym and the auditorium. The colors are Cape colors, Columbia blue and gold which carry through the building reflect the lightness in lockers, walls and surfaces.
My favorite space is the large courtyard that allows interior rooms a view of nicely landscaped flower beds and places for students to gather. The pavers swirl around in large circles and give the impression of the shape of waves paying homage to the nearby bays and ocean.
Janis Hanwell did a fine job managing this project. She had much input from the Board of Education, the staff and the community. The difficult part was to create a building that would meet everyone’s needs. It certainly looks like that mission will be accomplished as soon as the gym is finished.
The auditorium is spacious, comfortable and can hold many more people than the last one. There are two areas in the back that allow for the creation of two classrooms that can be sectioned off with moveable walls. There is a real orchestra pit, a huge stage complete with professional lighting and equipment, and excellent handicap accessibility. Surely this space will be used for generations to come.
The classrooms seemed roomy and efficient. There are windows that allow for natural light, white boards, and projectors that are mounted to the ceiling. The technology team was working quickly to get all the computers up and running. Teachers seemed appreciative for the fresh new space and the new beginning. The entire staff seemed pleased, appreciative and in awe on our first day in the new high school. It was as if a long dream was finally realized and we had helped to make it happen.
I kept thinking how much our students deserved this beautiful new structure. For so many years the students and staff lived with and adapted to so many limitations from the old building. The new high school building is an opportunity to continue to improve, to get it right and to put Cape on the map as the flagship of a top district in our state and our region.
