By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Education Reporter
MARYVILLE (WATE) - Students and teachers in Maryville are getting ready to go back to school. August 1 is the first day of classes, and the city's newest school, Coulter Grove Intermediate, is ready to welcome 820 students.
The new 156,000-square-foot facility boasts sparkling new classrooms, technology, and unique programs.
Teachers had their final in-service meetings Tuesday morning to go over the first day of school plan.
The afternoon was spent testing new equipment, stocking supplies and putting the finishing touches on classrooms.
Everyone seemed to be beaming with excitement. Patti Young will teach a new program combining art and technology.
"To start a new program is like a once in a lifetime thing," Young said. "It's my 30th year teaching. I've never been more excited."
All Coulter Grove teachers have had a hand in creating the new curriculum. The school mascot is an eagle. Teachers are known as flight instructors, and students are expected to soar.
A focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics will serve as a framework for all subjects.
"Our year long theme this year is Think Different," said Young. "We're going to be looking at different styles of art, and the kids are going to be doing some illustrating, but also pulling in technology." The art supplies share space with computers, cameras and video editing equipment in Young's classroom.
Principal Dr. Ramona Best said, "We looked very carefully at what students enjoy doing. Anytime you're doing a startup, you have a chance to kind of reset."
Technology plays a big part throughout the school. Classrooms are large, filled with light, and designed for student collaboration, with desks fitting into a semi-circle.
Best says the library will have before and after school hours to serve as a hub of activity. "We're going to be a literacy focused school, and so that's one of our main pushes so that we can instill that love of reading," she added.
The school has a wing dedicated to enhanced music education. A new creative productions program is also being built from the ground up.
"We know that students today are inundated with electronic devices so we're going to make use of that by using those devices and computer software in the music classroom," explained instructor Martha Robinson. "This will allow them to create, and compose, as well as arrange, and improvise things of their own as well as share their compositions with others."
Coulter Grove Intermediate serves grades four through seven.
"We know that students today are inundated with electronic devices so we're going to make use of that by using those devices and computer software in the music classroom," explained instructor Martha Robinson.
"To start a new program is like a once in a lifetime thing," Patti Young said. "It's my 30th year teaching. I've never been more excited."
Classrooms are large, filled with light, and designed for student collaboration.
