Published: October 13, 2008 10:54 am         

Northridge High School dedicated

Residents of Middlebury and the surrounding area got their first real look at the new Northridge High School Sunday afternoon during a dedication ceremony.

The ceremony, which also included several tours of the building, began with a welcome and introduction by schools Superintendent Jim Conner.

After recognizing nearly 40 members of the school staff, board members, engineering and construction staff who helped bring the new building into reality, Conner noted how it is now the school staff’s job to ensure that this new building is used to its fullest potential.

“For Middlebury students to be successful, we are going to have to prepare them for this new, exciting future,” Conner said. He noted that the high school has been purposely filled to the brim with the latest and best technology and equipment in order to see that goal fulfilled.

Also speaking Sunday was school Principal Steve Lyng, who reinforced the school system’s task of preparing the community’s children for the trials they will face in the future.

“The faculty and staff clearly understand the challenges before us,” Lyng said. “We take these challenges seriously.

“We are working hard to prepare these kids for the future,” he said.

At the close of the ceremony, those attending were broken up into several groups and given tours of the building by Northridge High School Student Council and National Honor Society members.

Parent comments

Kaye Pietrzak, of Middlebury, said the school was even more impressive than she had anticipated.

“I think it’s great. There are just so many advantages available to these kids now,” Pietrzak said. “It looks better than some of the universities I’ve seen.”

After concluding her tour, Pietrzak said she found the school’s new library and media center to be the most impressive of the school’s offerings.

“I was very impressed with the library,” Pietrzak said. “But then again, when you look at what these kids now have available to them, with the new computers, the art rooms, etc., they are all pretty much right up there together.

“It’s all state of the art,” she said.

Barbara Hodgson, of Bristol, agreed.

“Well I think it’s wonderful, even if it’s not finished yet,” Hodgson said, noting that Phase II of the project — construction of an auditorium and pool — are scheduled to begin sometime around the first of next year.

Hodgson said she also thought the colors chosen for the design of the school were very well thought out.

“Some of these areas look very practical. I think they flow very well together,” Hodgson said. “We don’t have students here, but we’re taxpayers, so that’s why we wanted to come and take a look.”

Of all the offerings at the school, Hodgson said the new art facilities, which feature dedicated work stations for each individual student, were the most impressive of the whole facility.

“I think the art area is wonderful,” Hodgson said. “The classroom with all the new computers and media is also great.

“It’s all just wonderful,” she said.