TJ's new furniture provides students with a comfortable area to relax. photo by Mia Grijalva
TJ has added new furniture to the library as well as other areas around the school.
TJ has recently added some comfy new furniture around the school, using money raised from the Paint Bucket Challenge. The goal of the challenge was to raise money to make improvements to the library and to make TJ feel more like a college campus; furniture was also added to TJ’s front lobby.
The new furniture features chairs, love seats, couches, and tables. Designer Katie Swats helped design the layout of the furniture and harmonise the existing library space with newer elements. Spring Hericks, a member of TJ’s Parent Teacher Organization, explained, “[Swats] had to work with the existing carpet colors and wood tones, so she selected furniture that helped brighten the space and bring it all together.” She added, “Soon, framed student photography will be permanently displayed around the perimeter of the library walls, adding more life and color to the space.” With these new photos, the library will become more colorful and aesthetically pleasing to students. Additionally, furniture has been placed in front of the auditorium, creating the atmosphere of a student lounge, and offering students a place to study and focus.
The Paint Bucket Challenge was a fun and easy way to raise money for TJ’s new look; students and parents poured unusual things over their heads and then shared videos of the mess. These videos then helped promote the fundraising purpose. The goal was to raise $15,000, but in the end $7,500 was raised, which is still a big accomplishment. Hericks said, “We had to rethink the vendor and spaces based on our budget, but we were able to adapt our plans and work within this framework.” The main goal was to be able to make improvements to the library, but even more opportunities arose. “It achieved another goal, and that was to start to reconnect the parent and alumni community to rally around improvements to the school. It set into motion improved communications strategies between the school and its various audiences,” explained Hericks.
TJ principal Suzanne Morris Sherer wants to give students a feel for what a college campus is like. She explained, “It makes them feel like they really are getting the mindset that they’re going to college, and a number of our students have college classes, so I think it just really plays into that.” This endeavor is a step TJ is taking to feel like a college campus, and the TJ faculty hopes that the new decor will make the school feel more professional. With the new helpful furniture in the library and around the school, students have a useful tool for studying.
