Woodside High School has a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) building, also known as the J wing, welcoming students to the new school year.
In 2013, Woodside High received $40 million in funding for school construction. Much of the money went to design, plan and build the J wing building. Construction began in 2016 and finished this year on Aug. 15, the day before school started.
“We needed another chemistry room and we needed another robotics room,” Woodside Principal Diane Burbank said. “When the school was built we didn’t have engineering pathways and now kids are taking more math. We needed more classrooms.”
Despite the many benefits the building brings to the school, the process didn’t go according to plan.
“Well, I think initially the building was larger,” said Jill Baumgartel, who teaches advanced-standing chemistry and was a member of the design team. “Once we realized that we had other projects to do on campus, and that we’d already taken out one tennis court, the building got a little bit smaller. We had to redesign some things.”
Faculty members say that all the hard work was worth it.
“I think it’s a very positive space,” Ms. Baumgartel said from a chemistry classroom in the new building. “One of the biggest things that the students see is light when they come in here. There’s nice, clean, new materials that students can use.”
Experienced staff members are not the only ones feeling the excitement.
“It’s a brand new classroom,” said Binh Nguyen, a new math teacher at Woodside High. “Everything is new and I can make it what I want, because I’m the first teacher to use the room. So in that sense I really, really like it.”
Many see the new building as offering a great space for students for years to come.
“We have an excellent chemistry lab where students are going to be able to do further research, and math on the second floor,” Ms. Baumgartel said. “So it’s a good combination.”
Woodside High School
• Enrollment: 1,830, up 50 from school year 2013-14 and up 30 from 2016-17.
• New programs: Computers for each student in the AVID tutoring program; new no-homework policy over major school breaks.
• New courses: Culinary arts hospitality management, computer integrated manufacturing, advanced classes in digital photo and design, animation and audio production.
• New staff: Ten teachers and a counselor.
• New facilities: The J wing for science, technology, engineering and math classes is two stories and 10,000 square feet and adds 10 classrooms to the campus. Renovated culinary classroom, including industrial gas stoves and demo area.
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