A New Perspective: BV Southwest offers a fresh start
Photo Credit: Kirsten Selstad
BV Southwest Principal Scott Roberts points out features of the darkroom as he leads a tour through the visual arts classrooms.
May 7, 2010 • Stacie Sikora, Section Editor
Filed under In-Depth, Top Stories
A brand new building, a fresh start, new opportunities, a chance to open a school — all these reasons are part of the motivation for students to attend BV Southwest in the fall of 2010.
“I am really excited to go to Southwest next year,” sophomore Alexa Mancini said. “It is like a chance to start over in a new place. It should be a fun experience.”
As a sophomore, Mancini did not have the opportunity to decide whether she wanted to try the new school or stay at familiar BV West. This year’s freshmen and sophomores must attend the school mandated by district boundaries for at least a semester. Then they can decide whether to return to BV West or stay at BV Southwest. Not all underclassmen are as excited as Mancini about their relocation next year.
“Some of my friends are not happy about having to change schools,” Mancini said. “One of my friends is upset because none of her other friends are going to Southwest next year, and I will miss the familiar faces at West, too. Others feel that they started here, so they want to finish here.”
Juniors had the opportunity to decide whether they wanted to be in the first graduating class of BV Southwest or graduate with their peers at BV West.
“My parents wanted me to go to Southwest since my sister has to go there next year,” junior Alex Cohen said. “I am excited about there being more leadership opportunities for me there, especially with how small our senior class is going to be.”
For Cohen and other students enrolled at BV Southwest, the leadership opportunities have already begun. The administration of BV Southwest has set up a Student Advisory Board, which is helping to plan the official opening of the school. Members also have the opportunity to weigh in on some the decisions the administration will make in the first year.
“It’s awesome to already be a leader of the school,” Cohen said. “I am looking forward to helping the students get a voice in administrators’ decisions, as well as working with the administration.”
The activities and organizations are not the only aspects to look forward to at BV Southwest. The building is designed to not only be practical and environmentally friendly, but also to give the students to have some of the amenities that are usually only offered at the collegiate level.
The school surrounds a large courtyard that, unlike the ones at the middle school level, will be left unlocked and can be accessed more easily for student use. It also has a few areas with tables for eating or studying.
The athletic wing and commons are connected to the academic wings with an innovative idea for a high school setting. “The Bridge” is a glass corridor that will have computer plug-ins, counters and wireless connections, much like cyber-cafes that are often found on college campuses. It will be part of the area where students can hang out during lunch every day.
“It will be awesome to have somewhere to hang out with my friends and work on my laptop,” Cohen said.
Principal Scott Roberts put a great deal of thought in to every decision, trying to make every aspect of the school practical. When designing BV Southwest, the goal was to take the parts of the existing Blue Valley schools that worked and reuse them, as well as fix the areas that could use improvement.
One of these areas is the broadcasting program. The studio has a built-in light and sound system and is adjacent to the broadcast room, which is spacious and easy to use.
“It is really nice that the studio and classroom are connected,” broadcasting teacher Steven Cortez said. “It will be nice for the kids to have access to do interviews, shows and practices more easily without having to walk back and forth like at West. The only downside is that I don’t have any windows.”
Another department that is far different than any other Blue Valley school is the theater department. The Performing Arts Center is designed similarly to the PAC at BV West, but it has a much higher quality light and sound system. The biggest difference is that unlike BV West, BV Southwest does not have a Little Theater. Instead, it has a large Black Box that can double as a Little Theater with removable theater seating.
“It sounds like theater next year will be a great experience,” sophomore Emily Love said. “We get the opportunity to lead our new department and set a precedent for the school. It will be interesting to incorporate kids from West and Blue Valley High and take ideas and traditions from both schools.”
BV Southwest has caused a lot anticipation throughout the district since the idea was first proposed several years ago. With the opening date quickly approaching, the excitement is building. As overpopulation continues to congest the BV West junior locker bay, students count down the days to next year when they will be part of a smaller student body, whether at BV West or BV Southwest. Those attending BV Southwest, however, have something unique: a chance to be a part of something new.
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