Francis W Parker School - Record Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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New Parker Gpen House After a year and a half of construc- tion, the school was finally able to open its doors September 27, officially, to parents and alumni. The day's program began with a lunch in the lunchroom for the community. It followed with speeches given by new and old administrators including Dren Geer, Fred Dust and Buzz Ruttenberg. To keep in the spirit of the event, student volunteers showed the parents and alumni through the newly changed Francis W. Parker School. Following the tours and speeches was a Varsity Soccer game on the newly sodded field. This game was the annual Zoo Tournament. The game ended in a tie, but because last years soccer team won, the trophy remained in our possession. All in all, the day was quite a success! Top Right: Ali Ruttenberg leads the tour. Middle: Steve and Chris prepare the new field for the big game. Bottom Left: The fans await the exciting game. Bottom: Buzz Ruttenberg tells the tales of construction. 4? 4 f

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Changes I The little school building has expanded out into the kinder- garten playground area provid- ing a two story atrium entry- way which will be used for an indoor climbing facility. The entryway contains lots of win- dows, making the whole atmos- phere much brighter, explains Mrs. Judd, a Junior Kindergar- ten teacher. The expansion also made the four classrooms much larger, addressing anoth- er one of the problems men- tioned in'the Leggett report. ,OAll of the classrooms re- ceived new windows, floor tile, sound absorbant ceiling tile and new bathrooms. A wall separates the two J .K. classes from each other and another separates the two S.K. classes. The wall can be removed when the two classes are working to- gether. Says Mrs. Judd, the' rooms are more efficient and quieter. OUpstairs, in place of the low- er school science room is the lower school music depart- ment. There are three practice rooms for after school lessons. 0Six new science rooms and some business offices have tak- en over the old Seventh and Eighth ,Grade hall on the ground floor. The lower school science classes have also moved into the hallway fthe former seminar roomy. SAccording to Librarian Anne lluncan, the library's expan- sion into the space of the 01d business office and cirriculum office almost doubled its area. The children's library is now finally large enough to accom- modate all of the children's books in a logical manner. In the big library there is roonl ggi othe new shelves for about , 00 volumes although the Present collection is at abg t .This is because the saild.yDlS always expanding, S40 .ullCan. 'We've spent boolltgglvln the past two years on Four private 4-person study rooms have been built, one small computer room, and one photocopy room. A small class- room was also constructed in- side the library for times when a whole class descends upon the library. 0When sixth grade moved upstairs into the new East Wing with the seventh and eighth grades, they left two rooms in the Lower School wing. Chock full of IBMs, Mr. Pajkos' room has been con- verted into the Upper School computer room. A fifth grade class moved into Mr. Dreuth's room, and the abandoned fifth grade room has become the lower school teacher's comput- er and resource center. UI'he new is located directly above the lower school wing. It is accessable from the stair- way between the auditorium and chorus rooms. While pro- viding a haven for the whole middle school, the new East wing is also being used by high schoolers who once relied on the seminar room. These va- grant pilgrims were ousted from their niche in the seventh and eighth grade hall to make way for the new business office and science rooms. The photography studio moved across the hall into part of the former lower school cen- ter. The remanding area of the lower school center now ex- tends into the old lower school lunch are. Ul'he art department expanded out into what used to be the shelter across from the little school. This gives them a lot more room for lower school art classes, a problem mentioned in the Leggett rf-port. lAt last the lower school sci- ence room has running water. gas jets, a stove and a refridg- erator. The two compatible biology and chemistry rooms contain specially designed hex- agonal tables with sinks in the middle and three counters jet- ting out of every other edge of the hexagon. The shape makes it possible for six people to have simultaneous access to a sink, gas jet, and an electrical outlet without getting up from their seats. 477, . lThe move of the lower school music department to the sec- ond floor of the little school provide' a lot of extra space for the 'ipper school's music facilities to expand. A new drama room now oc- cupies the space where the af- ter school music classes. l'I'he East wing is connected to the high school wing vii a hallway above the Karen Kup cinet gallery. It is accessable by walking through the ghost of the college counselling oflice tnow located in the former computer room! near the high school stairway. Events -- 25