“I was greeting students on the first day of school as they entered our new Highland Park Elementary. There is so much light in the beautiful atrium – very different from the old building. As I stood there, a first-grade boy walked in with nine family members. He stepped into the lobby, looked up and said, ‘Wow, you really like me!’ Then he continued to look around in awe, as did his family. I was so choked up. This is why we do what we do. Facilities DO make a difference. Highland Park has told me behavior is calmer because the students are taking pride in their new building. Achievement is up. Teachers are excited to come to work every day because they are teaching in aesthetically pleasing rooms with plenty of storage!”
