It’s been a transformative first month at Watershed’s new campus! Our big move from Alpine Ave this past summer to our larger, vibrant two-building facility marked a significant shift from our previous space. The improvements are already shining brightly on every facet of our program!
Enhanced Spaces for Enhanced Learning
One of our notable upgrades is expanded studio (classroom) spaces. We've been able to use these dynamic areas to better support our real world learning curriculum, while inspiring curiosity and collaboration. For example, being able to gather as a large group in these studio spaces has also allowed for the reintroduction of daily middle and upper school gatherings. These meetings complement our regular advisory sessions and have helped further build community, while providing a valuable platform for students and staff to share important announcements right at the start of the day.
"It's great to start the day in a circle together, seeing each others' faces, and having a laugh before we go off to classes. It also serves to gauge how students are doing, and for advisors to have an opportunity to check in with students." - Pete Moravetz, Middle School Division Head
Additionally, our new expeditionary fieldwork pack-out space has brought a new level of organization and efficiency when prepping for our orientation trips at the start of the school year and the extended fieldwork experiences coming up this month and next. Previously, preparing for these trips required juggling space constraints, but now, we have a dedicated area that streamlines the process, ensuring that everything is perfectly packed and ready for the field. It was a refreshing start this year!
Art Studio: Pottery Wheels!
Our art studio is another standout feature of our new campus. Significantly larger than our previous space, it also includes four brand new pottery wheels. This expansion has already led to increased artistry and creativity among our students, allowing them enough space and freedom of movement for everyone to work alongside one another on any given project. The added space also allows for easy integration when experts visit to work with our students - we recently welcomed three pottery experts to join our middle school ceramics class for hands-on demos and one-on-one instruction on the pottery wheels!
Jeff Osgood, upper and middle school ceramics educator, is excited to unleash the potential of the pottery wheels with his students: “The addition of pottery wheels to the ceramics program this year has allowed for a whole new dimension of artistry to the course. Once the students have established foundational skills, they will have the opportunity to work on the wheel to create things that couldn’t possibly be created simply through hand-building, which had been our only option.”
Science Labs: A Boost for Experiential Learning
Perhaps one of the most exciting additions is our two new science labs. These labs are not just an upgrade in equipment (like the new gas line and fume hood, opening the door for a wider range for experiments), but also an upgrade in overall facilities with more space, lab benches, and sink stations for students to collaborate. A recent hydrate lab that utilized these new features (the first part of a long term project in which students will manufacture their own electrolyte powder) would not have been previously possible before our new labs! These changes have provided even more opportunities for deep learning experiences in each of our science courses.
Community Engagement and ShedFest
ShedFest, a Watershed tradition that welcomes our students and their families to start the school year, was held for the first time at our new campus in August and beautifully demonstrated the potential of our new space. We welcomed students and families to both buildings—the West Building served for Orientation information sessions and the East Building for our community celebration. With enough space for a snow cone truck, basketball, card games, food, and more, it was a fantastic way to celebrate our new home and welcome families into our community!
Furthermore, a group of students who were unable to go backpacking during orientation undertook their own project by utilizing the same space behind our East Building to construct three stunning new pergolas. A project for the common good, these beautiful structures have quickly become popular spots for students to enjoy lunch and connect with educators and peers. This project not only provided an opportunity for students to bond and learn more about the school but also helped foster a strong sense of community and belonging.
Continuing to Grow
As we settle into our new surroundings, we’re still getting used to these expanded spaces. We’re committed to continuously improving our programs to fully leverage the potential of our new campus. We can’t wait to continue this exciting journey with our students, staff, and Watershed families! Seeing the ways in which our new environment has already enriched our students’ experiences has been worth the wait!
