As February break came to an end and school started up again, the students and staff weren’t the only ones refreshed– so was the building. The walls are decorated with new artwork and murals, bathrooms have been renovated, and posters of athletes are on display. So, where or who did these changes come from? Set on increasing school pride, Acting Principal Ms. Dargento and Assistant Principal Mr. Miller spearheaded these improvements.
“If you come to a place where you can see that there’s attention given to students, staff, and the space that we work in, our hope is that you, as students, will turn around and feel as if you are respected,” remarked Ms. Dargento. Her and Mr. Miller’s primary goals this school year are to create a more welcoming environment and boost school spirit. The two goals go hand in hand; generally, it’s much harder to take pride in a dirty and unkept space, but much easier in a supportive, clean area. As Mr. Miller put it, they “wanted to work to make this building as nice on the inside as it is on the outside and make something that we can all be proud of.” He added, stating that “physical space plays a role in the learning climate, and that students and staff feel more comfortable in a place that is well taken care of.” The improvements seem to be working their way from the gym to the auditorium; walls have been repainted and lights have been changed. New posters of Ramapo athletes can be seen in the gym and surrounding areas, highlighting different teams and giving athletes well-deserved recognition. A new mural has been put on display next to the library, filled with pictures of sports, arts, and academics, featuring all that Ramapo has to offer. Ms. Dargento commented that “the welcoming Ramapo mural is something that lets everyone know that, as soon as you enter the building, you are now part of our community.” The renovations have already begun to impact students; sophomore Avery Gomberg mentioned, “The improvements that have been made are great. I love the freshly painted hallways– it makes the school look welcoming.”
So, what’s next? More walls will be painted, lunch spaces will be further organized, and two new murals are on the horizon. TV monitors are being installed, replacing some of the bulletin boards, and more furniture, particularly for the senior commons, is being added. The locker rooms are another big project for Ms. Dargento and Mr. Miller, and they hope to clean up the backstage green room. “The expense of the wall murals is supported by the APTS,” Ms. Dargento emphasized, “because they too believe that it is important for you all to feel the same things we feel.” The Association of Parents, Teachers, and Students (APTS) have generously helped to create a more positive and welcoming environment. In addition, none of this would be possible without the maintenance and custodial staff. They’ve been working tirelessly to implement these refinements, working hard to paint walls and renovate spaces. “For five men, that’s a lot of work. And they’re the same people doing snow removal, electrical work, and more; they’re really doing everything,” stated Ms. Dargento.
Improvements to our spaces greatly support school spirit, and Ms. Dargento and Mr. Miller have been dedicated to making sure that this happens. They have made, and continue to make, great strides in making our school a better place. As Mr. Miller said, “We love this place, and we want what we do to reflect that.”
