Item Photo by Owen O’Rourke
Marshall Middle School students leaving school at the end of the first day of classes in the new building.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — Thurgood Marshall Middle School students returned from April vacation to a new, 181,847-square-foot school.
The 1,108 middle school students saw the $67 million school for the first time during an early-release day Monday. After an assembly, they participated in an orientation, were assigned lockers, and got acquainted with the new building, said Principal Molly Cohen.
“This school has exceeded every expectation I had,” said Mayor Judith Flanigan Kennedy. “It’s beautiful.”
Superintendent Catherine Latham said it was like a dream to see everything that was envisioned in place and being used by the students.
The building is divided by clusters, each distinguished by a color scheme. Every classroom follows a different theme based on the class subject. The classrooms have chairs that match the wall color.
“The school is so big and pretty,” said Yailyn Mauricio, an eighth grader. “It’s so colorful. It’s way better than the old school.”
Like many of the other students, Mauricio said she was most impressed by the school’s gym and cafeteria.
“It was exciting and overwhelming,” said Shayla Morales, a sixth grader. “I didn’t want to sit down. I wanted to look at everything. I thought ‘oh my gosh, this is huge.’ “
Morales said she is most excited about the new band room because it is such an upgrade from the one at the old building.
“The kids were awestruck,” Cohen said. “Even the lighting fixtures are so modern. When I walk into the art room, I feel like I’m in a college art studio.”
The students took a particular interest in the ceiling murals in the cafeteria and the color coordination throughout the school, she said.
Overall, the first day went smoothly. There were a few bumps with crowding during dismissal. But teachers are figuring out the best procedures for entering and exiting the building upon dismissal, Cohen said.
Later, teachers will have the opportunity to provide feedback, she said.
“It feels surreal,” Cohen said. “There has been such a buildup to this move. A lot of collaboration. A middle of the year move is not easy to do. This school exceeds my expectations.”
Eighth graders will celebrate their graduation in the school’s new gymnasium on June 23 at 11 a.m., which will be the school’s first big event, she said.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte
