Despite all the work that was completed to Pueblo High School’s cafeteria last summer, there were some residual remodeling projects; during winter break, the final details were added, including new tables and chairs.
In his continued efforts to improve archaic infrastructure at Pueblo, Principal Frank Rosthenhausler had applied for a grant and was awarded $225,000 and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to direct the funds to the cafeteria renovation project.
Rosthenhausler stated, “The idea of the renovation came about last year, I saw that there were areas that needed improvement.”
Rosthenhausler said, “We wanted to make the cafeteria look truly artistic, and the shades of orange chosen on the soft seating in the cafeteria also affect mood.”
Mr. Rosthenhausler found a West Coast designer, Ella, to come up with models for the new look.
“There are plans for a big TV to go in the cafeteria that was donated to us by Lapan Foundation, a generous organization that provides students with scholarships and mentorships, but other than that, the project is pretty much done,” Rosthenhausler stated.
Cafeteria employee Mr. Rafael Garcia thinks the cafeteria looks nice, but it is also harder to clean because of all the chairs because a lot of the kids move the chairs to other tables.
One cafeteria employee, Ms. Sonia Lopez, said, “I love the renovation, I think it looks beautiful.”
Pueblo High School’s LaVetter Gym floorboards are warping and causing mold due to a water leak from roof.
It is still unknown what caused the leakage from the pipes, but the damage is extensive.
“The leakage started years ago,” said Assistant Principal Meg Tully, “we have contacted TUSD about this issue.”
TUSD contacted Risk Management Facilities, who have yet to determine a plan and date for the repairs.
“I hope it gets fixed as soon as possible,” said Assistant Principal Karla Martinez. “We’re just waiting for the district to contact us with a plan and date for repairs.”
It is estimated that the repairs will take a week to be completed, and the gym will have to be closed due to toxic fumes from chemicals used for restoration.
“We have to take into account that boys and girls basketball practices there,” said Martinez. “Also, students use the gym during both lunches.”
Throughout much of the summer, Pueblo High School’s cafeteria was renovated, which has dramatically improved the atmosphere where hundreds of students gather for lunch each day. Even those who have been at PHS more than 30 years have said that nothing significant (except the mural on the north wall) has been done to the cafeteria during their tenure.
New renovations include new flooring, repainting, added padding to walls, new bathrooms, and new lighting. The $700,000 price tag for this prodigious project was paid for by grants—and money well spent on the cafeteria’s first “face-lift” in decades.
Students have been quick to evaluate the project.
“The cafeteria looks a lot cleaner than ever,” said Pueblo senior Jonas Vazquez, “It looks amazing, and I hope that students take better care of it all—and that means picking up after themselves every day instead of leaving everything a mess!”
“There is a lot more room on the tables,” said Pueblo sophomore Angelo Ortega. “We students get to hang out with more people during lunch now.”
Sophomore Magle Andrade said, “The [renovated] cafeteria is not as dark, which seems to really brighten our lunch time.”
Besides the impressive renovations, students have also noticed the food quality.
“[The food] is way better compared to last year, especially the pizza,” said Pueblo junior Israel Figueroa.
“I’ve noticed that we have a lot more variety in the food choices this school year,” said Pueblo junior Sebastian Marinval.
“The kids [last year] complained about the appearance and taste of the food,” said cafeteria worker Manuela Drum, “so a lot of what is on the menu this school year has been changed to satisfy students.”
According to PHS Principal Frank Rosthenhausler, there are still a few late additions to complete the cafeteria renovation project – including new furniture, bar-style tables, round tables, and even some sofas.
“The library was the first major overhaul at Pueblo, and now with the cafeteria near completion, we can focus on the next project—which will be new gym floors and bleachers,” he added.
At approximately 7:15 a.m. on November 13, 2012, two students spotted a bobcat on our campus near the auditorium construction site. Administrators quickly contacted Animal Control and School Safety. School Safety secured the area until Period 2 began and students were in class.
At 9:07 a.m. Pueblo implemented a lock down so that when the bobcat was tranquilized, there would not be any danger to our students. After three tranquilizer shots and 75 minutes for them to take effect, the bobcat appeared on the roof and fell asleep. The bobcat was secured in a crate by Animal Control and the lockdown was ended. Animal Control plans to release the bobcat near the Tortolita Mountains.
In September of 2010, a raccoon visited our campus and now we can add a bobcat to that list. We assume they want to be Warriors too!
Photos courtesy of Karina Del Campo (Class Of 2015)
Warriors Jahlil Anderson, Dulce Cordova, Enrique Garcia, Vero Robles and Gardenia Tapia represented the Pueblo Team for the United Way-Days of Caring. The Pueblo Team was joined by United Way Representative, Mike Vogt, and C.E. Rose Principal, Steven Trejo.
Gardenia Tapia helping out.
After arriving at school at 7:00 a.m., the team represented Pueblo at the rally at Hi Corbett Field and then proceeded to C.E. Rose to collaborate on breaking ground for the new primary playground. C.E. Rose is a natural site for our service learning as it is one of our feeder schools. They are recipients of the fieldwork by Pueblo students from our Education Professions class and our Early Childhood Education class under the excellent instruction of Ms. Bonnie Stull.
As University of Arizona Baseball Coach Andy Lopez said at the United Way Rally, “everything you do in life is a value statement”. Today the Pueblo Team showed that we are willing to work to make our extended community a better place for children.
During the summer, almost 150 incoming freshmen (Class of 2016) got the chance to experience high school classes through the Freshman Academy Program at Pueblo. For eleven days students took scheduled classes in Math, Statistics, English, Science, and Study Skills learning a multiple array of subjects and the organization of the campus to help them prepare for their first year in high school.
All the summer program classes laid the foundation for the future academics these students would encounter at Pueblo, with an emphasis on the Core Standards and STEM projects. For example, in science, the students were challenged to design and create a pond ecosystem to replace the old drained cement pond located in the area of the new campus community garden.
Pond in Community Garden before renovation.
First, student teams used classroom laptops to research about the ecological aspects of pond wetlands. Then they brainstormed about different pond designs. Nathan Novak, a local landscaping expert and owner of Canyon Pondscapes, worked with the student teams to draw out pond design plans that were within the renovation parameters. Each class voted on team proposed designs and a consensus was reached. For four days each class eagerly participated in bringing this design to fruition despite the June heat. Under the direct supervision of Mr. Novak and Mrs. Straub, their science teacher, the students used a jackhammer and sledgehammer to break apart two feet of concrete to deepen the pond and remove the loosened concrete.
Students use jackhammers to loosen concrete.
The students then carted in dirt to shape the pond to their design and laid down a liner to prevent water seepage. Rocks and gravel were placed in and around the pond to hold the liner as well as create a natural look.
The next step was the creation of the water fall. Every class wanted to see this to be the main attraction of the pond. This meant the coordination of many dirt toting wheelbarrow teams and lots of dust. Before they knew it, a hill of dirt was ready for rock placements to create the waterfall.
Students hauling dirt to shape pond.
Finally water was added, the pump turned on and manure was placed along the edges of the pond for future planting of flowers. A pond and waterfall emerged from the ideas and hard work of these new Pueblo Warriors.
The students felt a great accomplishment not only in completing a student driven project, but in learning how to work as a team to benefit the community by building a wetland pond ecosystem.
Rocks going into place for new pond.
As a final assignment, the students wrote about their experience. Overwhelmingly they wrote that despite the oppressive heat the experience was exciting, fun, and rewarding (the following student names are changed for privacy). Sam cherished the fact that he got to, “know how it feels to work like a grownup.” As Lisa pointed out, “a lot of sweat and hard work went into building something pretty that didn’t work and was plain before”.
Finished Pond in Pueblo Community Garden
Many students also wrote about how they found the teamwork rewarding in accomplishing this goal, as well as, a great chance to meet their fellow classmates. A few talked about the ecological and physiological benefits of the finished product and the hopes to use this area in their future at Pueblo. As Ana wrote, “a successfully built pond provides a feeling of restfulness in an area of interest”. So many voiced their interest in visiting the pond when they return in August, like Lucy who wrote, “getting the chance to see a pond come alive was (an) amazing experience, every day we saw it get better and better. Our pond will be so beautiful I can’t wait to see the final product.”
The students did not get to see the addition of plant and animal life, but water plants and fish will be added this summer in order to balance the pond ecosystem. Thanks to the Freshman Academy 2012 students, this new wetland pond ecosystem can be visited and studied by Pueblo students as well as enjoyed by those using the community garden for years to come.
