It was cold Thursday evening in Franklin and the lights of the Remington-Jefferson building cast a warm welcoming glow.
If you looked down at the building from the sky, it is laid out like an airplane with a main central section and two wings. Much of the central section are areas that are used by both schools; cafeteria, library, and gymnasium. The tour started on the lower level of the Jefferson side, went up to the second floor and crossed over to Remington to eventually finish on the lower level of the Remington side.
In most elementary classrooms, this a familiar sight with the chairs up to help the cleaning process.
Jefferson does have modular units, the corridors are distinct as they have the rack of hooks along the walls. The modular units are basically boxes with four walls with windows and doors but no closet space. These
modulars were just budgeted for removal as they are no longer needed.
Bags on each chair provide individual reading materials for the student. They get rotated out for units of study from the in room reading collection or the central school library.
One of the architectural details in the library that I was not aware of previously is that the ceiling is shaped like a book open for reading. Both my daughters attended Remington Middle School so I have been into the school before for parents night and musical performances. I had not been into the Jefferson side.
In addition to the computer lab, Remington uses "cows" computers on wheels; carts with laptop or netbook computers that can be wheeled into a classroom.
A view down the Remington stairwell as we crossed over the center section into the wing.
Yes, every seat is this class has been replaced by an exercise ball as an experiment. There are physical benefits from sitting like this especially for the long periods that the students are required to. They are also testing a stand up desk (not pictured).
The science lab on Remington side is located under one of the two roof peaks to take advantage of the space offered.
An integrated art project, the students researched the artist to paint chair in his/her style.
Here is a close up of a chair for
Piet Mondrian, a Dutch painter.
Another architectural detail found throughout the building are triangular windows. This is an attempt to pick up the Benjamin Franklin story of his kite experiment.
The cafetorium is one of the main common areas. half the cafe is used by Remington, the other half by Jefferson. The divider wall can be opened up for the school performance where the stage is used.
We got a view of the Jefferson small gym. As we went around to the Remington side, it was being used by a basketball group.
Jamie Barrett's music room
Another interesting architectural detail; the bench built into wall, the wall line broken up with the different brick colors and material.
The Jefferson entrance from inside looking towards the door.
Positioned just inside the entrance is the wood carving done for Jefferson.
Back to the Remington entrance where the tour ended.
My thanks to the School Committee for scheduling these tours and in particular to Paula Mullen and Susan Rohrbach who participated in this tour. Thanks extends of course to the principals, Paul Peri (Remington), Linda Ashley (Jefferson) and Sally Winslow, Asst Superintendent. Brian Wildeman, Asst Principal for Remington was also quite helpful on the tour with timely demonstrations.
