Next Wednesday, September 8, the voices of hundreds of students will replace the sounds of hammers and saws at Hamilton International Middle School. Yesterday morning, students, families, school staff, community members and elected officials attended the ribbon-cutting of the building, which underwent a two-year, $73 million renovation.
Hamilton principal Chris Carter addresses the crowd
The Commons is the assembly and cafeteria area
The crowd gathers in the Commons
Inside the new gym building
The Seattle Public Schools shared this information with us:
Originally built in 1927 as Seattle Public School’s first middle school, Hamilton’s remodel reflects the seven characteristics associated with high-achieving schools: a learner-centered and personalized environment, and spaces that support collaboration, safety, aesthetics, community connections and program adaptability.
Speaking at the ceremony to students, staff and families, Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson emphasized the importance of a supportive community in the success of the school. “Innovative design and architecture make this a unique building that will enhance learning and teaching at Hamilton International Middle School,” said Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson. “However, it is the dedication, enthusiasm, and creativity of our teachers, students and families that will ensure that your entire community can be very proud of this wonderful school.”
Sherry Carr, School Board Director for District II, which includes Hamilton International Middle School, thanked voters for the support that made the project possible. “I have tracked the progress of this project closely throughout the renovation process,” said Director Carr. “I believe the successful completion of this project, on time and under budget, is a win for voters and our community; and provides a great new facility for our students and teachers. I want to thank Seattle voters for approving the Building Excellence III bond that made this project possible.”
The 134,000-square-foot Hamilton building is located on a 2.2-acre campus and includes a new library with international resources, small learning communities, improved science laboratory classrooms, and new digital arts and fine arts classrooms, music and band rooms. The new gymnasium will be available for community use in addition to school functions for the entire student body. The 3-story central atrium will function as commons, cafeteria and theatre. The school includes upgraded technology equipment for students and teachers and has been seismically improved. The new outdoor garden will interface with the Wallingford playfield.
The school’s name now reflects its designation as an International middle school, defined by a global perspective in courses, world language for all students, international artist-in-residence and partnerships with local and global organizations. Hamilton offers three years of world language, including a Spanish and Japanese immersion program.
“The Hamilton International Middle School community is excited to reopen our fabulously updated school to our students, families and staff for the 2010-2011 school year,” said Hamilton International Middle School Principal Christopher Carter. “Our state-of-the-art facility will help all students achieve academic success and foster a sense of pride in their school.”
Sustainability features are integral to Hamilton’s environment: the reuse of an existing building in a dense neighborhood close to transit routes, the salvage of reusable building elements, high-efficiency heating systems, new roof and wall insulation, heating and cooling controls for each classroom, occupancy lighting sensors, daylight sensors to balance lighting use with actual need, daylight access throughout the building, storm water detention, and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Students from five area elementary schools — John Stanford International, McDonald, BF Day, West Woodland and Laurelhurst — will feed into Hamilton Middle School, which is located at 1610 N. 41st Street.
“The new outdoor garden will interface with the Wallingford playfield.”
WHAT???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Wallingford Playfield – our park – is a public park, not an extension of a public schools facility.
Schools often use public parks — it's a very common arrangement. For that matter, I've been told that after school hours, public school playgrounds legally become public parks, with neighborhood access.
How about some specifics and cite your sources please!
guest: The Seattle public schools and Parks and Rec have a Joint Use Agreement. You can read details here: http://www.cityofseattle.net/PARKS/Publications/JointUse.htm
SPS has a very poor record of, ironically, being a bully with public parks. The attitude seems to be “What is mine is mine and what is yours is mine”. Be careful what you wish for. Other communities have lost access to their public park space during the day and found their seniors, preschool families, home-schoolers, and other daytime users without a place to recreate. Extreme wear and tear from hundreds of students per day can render park fields unusable so that soccer and other public after school and weekend uses are impacted as well.
The joint use agreement was not intended as a method for the District to avoid building the facilities necessary for the school program. Other public middle schools in Seattle have their own athletic field.
I believe that what the original poster was getting at is that the “school garden space” is actually public park designed in response to community pressure to keep public park space public for ALL users. As it is, SPS still “took” 27 feet of public park for their permanent use. The park property line ends at the north edge of the gym.
District “spin” to infer that this is school property is not appropriate. Similar to placing all the high school students on Metro, the District often does not demonstrate much compassion for their impact on other public services, public park space included. They do not play well with others – be very careful.
What is the idea behind installing lights that look like cigarettes around a middle school play area? Are they surplus or something (did Walmart have some left over from their parking lot?)?
Hamilton is also the home of north end Accelerated Progress Program, Seattle Public Schools' program for highly capable students. The feeder elementary to APP at Hamilton is Lowell Elementary.