Take a look inside the completely remodeled $25M Forest Glen Elementary in Suamico
SUAMICO — Over a year of construction and $25 million later, Forest Glen Elementary in the Howard-Suamico School District is completely remodeled.
The school's about 450 students now have more collaborative and functional classrooms, a brand-new gym addition and tons of natural light.
Take a quick tour of the renovations and upgrades:
All design choices incorporate forest and nature themes
Staying true to its name, the remodeled school is centered around forests and nature. Grade levels are separated into pods named after layers of a forest.
Early elementary classes are in the "forest floor" area, with older grades in "understory" and "canopy." Natural wood throughout the school resembles tree trunks, and ceiling decorations correspond with different areas of the forest for different grade levels.
For example, the forest floor early elementary area has soft reds to look like soil and crisscrossing on the ceiling that mimics roots underground.
A brand-new gym addition frees up space for new cafeteria, library
The district built an addition for a new gym, freeing up space in the center of the school for the cafeteria.
The cafeteria has movable furniture and booths for students along with a redone kitchen. New windows installed around the perimeter of the cafeteria bring in more natural light. The school also added skylights throughout for more light.
Off the cafeteria is a new library with moveable walls to open up the space. The library has an innovation classroom where kids can do science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) projects.
New classroom furniture and collaborative spaces
The school added collaborative classroom spaces that have moveable glass walls so classes can work together or change venues for different lessons and projects.
Classrooms got new furniture focused on flexibility and collaboration. Students sit at large tables that can be moved and reconfigured depending on instructional needs.
Windows were added to the interior walls of classrooms so teachers can have better visibility of students working in the common areas outside the classroom.
Calming spaces give students a place to decompress
The school also added calming spaces where students can sit in low light, decompress and regulate their emotions.
There are two rooms in the school along with a separate night sky area that has black walls and twinkling ceiling lights resembling stars.
Forest Glen isn't the only school getting renovations
In 2021, voters approved a $98 million capital referendum for school improvements at all eight of the district's schools. About $25 million of that went to Forest Glen's renovations, with the rest going to projects at the other schools.
Bay View Middle School is getting a new gym addition and remodeled cafeteria, kitchen, orchestra room and classrooms. Renovations are expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
Other schools got roof and window replacements, HVAC upgrades and LED lighting.
Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Take a look inside the completely remodeled $25M Forest Glen Elementary
