By Sarah Sabino 21'
Summer break is a time where students can relax and get away from our usual school-related responsibilities. However, while some enjoyed fun and the outdoors, some folks were working very hard this summer to help improve our school as a whole. New bathrooms, new safety precautions, artistic murals, and new tennis courts are some of the changes students met when they returned to school in September.
Updated Bathrooms and Main Office
One update everyone noticed right away was the new bathrooms on the second floor of the high school. They have a black and white and very modern exterior. They may not exactly match the rest of the school, but they’re pretty “fancy” as some have remarked. Mr. Lynch announced that next summer, the first-floor bathrooms will be renovated as well. To learn about more future renovations, you can check out Dunellen High School’s website for the whole renovation plan. Another exterior update is the main office, the main office got completely redone and also, like the bathrooms, are now very modern.
New Murals
Thanks to the artistic students of Dunellen High and Mr. Roibal, we will have new murals and finished ones. The first mural that was a work in progress last year, has been completed. It is right next to the entrance of the art room. Displaying four historical iconic paintings and utensils needed for art. It is bright and bold. Across from the art room mural, which is Mr. Boyle’s room, is a mural of the cover of the famous book, Great Gatsby. It is a work in progress. On the entrance of Room 206, there is also another novel-based mural. The mural is the cover of the well-known but slightly controversial novel and was banned for many years, The Catcher in the Rye. As the Great Gatsby mural, it is a work in progress. Students anticipate its completion.
New Tennis Court
Another change for the world of Dunellen sports is the installation of a new tennis court. The new tennis court will be located in Dunellen’s Columbia Park. The floors have been replaced with a more bouncy material which makes it easier for players to play on, unlike the previous cement flooring. When passing by the old court Senior, Alexis Coore, explains the condition of the old courts. “The courts were dingy and cracked and no one wanted to practice or play on it, a literal hazard,” Alexis shares. The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 7th.
With all these new changes, even more exciting updates are on the horizon. To learn more about the Renovation Plan, visit http://www.dunellenschools.org/dps/Board%20of%20Education/Budget%20Information/19R004-%20Presentation-final.pdf. Students anticipate fresh changes in the upcoming year.