Crews 'Up For The Challenge' Of Renovating 100-Year-Old East High |
Madison’s oldest high school building has seen a lot of changes since it was built a century ago.
As East High School undergoes another series of updates, Findorff Project Manager Tony Shepherd said the history of additions and renovations makes for an interesting construction process.
“The biggest challenge in terms of discovery is the nature of the building, how it was added onto so many times,” Shepherd said. “Each area of the building is kind of a different structure, so every time we get into that it’s a little different … either heights or how it’s made.”
Crews on site at East have completed two of three phases of locker room renovations, dozens of classroom upgrades and created a new multipurpose room. Principal Mikki Smith said the multipurpose space has seen a lot of activity since it was finished, with use by the wrestling team, fire safety classes and by some Muslim students to pray during Ramadan.
One of the most significant changes is largely unnoticeable to the eye, but will make a big difference for students and staff: air conditioning throughout the building.
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Currently, construction crews continue to work on the renovations to the pool locker room and 2nd floor classroom phases.
Coming up this summer, the construction team will be renovating the cafeteria, welcome center, and music area, along with connecting the cafeteria and music addition to these renovated areas.
Updates on current work:
- Interior finishes such as paint, ceramic tile and ceiling grid are being installed in the pool locker rooms.
- Interior wall framing, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire (MEPF) work is ongoing in the 2nd floor classrooms renovation phase.
- Masonry brick & cast stone veneer is being installed on the exterior of the cafeteria addition.
- Overhead MEPF work and soffit framing is ongoing inside the cafeteria addition.
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On Tuesday May 2nd the United Asian Club hosted an "Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Kick Off Celebration" at East High School where students, staff and community members came to celebrate together. They did activities such as Tibetan dancing, line dancing to Thai music, learned how to speak a little Hmong and enjoyed a Lao dinner cuisine. Participants also learned about the Lao, Tibetan and Hmong cultures presented and student lead by the United Asian Club members and staff in appreciation of their very own cultures. |
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More about AAPI Heritage Month
Every year during the month of May, we celebrate Asians Americans, Native Hawianans, and Pacific Islanders and their contributions to American culture. This month was specifically chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was built by mostly Chinese immigrants on May 10, 1869. Students, listen up during morning announcements... each day we be highlight some of the most influential people and events in history to celebrate and honor the AANHPI Community.
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Dennis Mossholder, Tech Ed Instructor |
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Congratulations to Mr. Mossholder, East's Wood Fabrication, Engineering & Construction Instructor, for being named Community Leader of the Year on behalf of the Wisconsin Hoofers Outing Club. Mr. Mossholder is being recognized for his dedication to the community of outdoor enthusiasts.
The Wisconsin Hoofers is an outdoors club at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With nearly 2,000 members, Hoofers is one of the oldest and largest student organizations on campus. From sailing on Lake Mendota to climbing at Devil’s Lake, Hoofers is a place where people of all abilities can learn outdoor skills and enjoy outdoor activities.
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Patrice Hutchins, Assistant Principal |
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East High School Assistant Principal, Patrice Hutchins, was recently named the UW-Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work 2023 Social Justice in Action Award Recipient. This award honors a member of the community who demonstrates commitment to and advocacy for advancing diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
Patrice Hutchins grew up in Madison and received her BSW and MSSW at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduation she began working as a school social worker in the Madison Schools - MMSD. During this time, she worked closely with students and families to break down systemic barriers to help students access education. After six years as a social worker, Patrice moved into a Dean of Students role. In this role, she worked to change the disproportionate behavior outcomes for students while also supporting students’ safety, both mentally and physically. Patrice then became a Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) coach supporting both teachers and students to make the school environment safe and welcoming for all.
This past year, Patrice became an Assistant Principal at East Madison High School. Patrice shares, “In each role that I have taken, my social work background has stayed with me and helped me make decisions based in equity and advocating for students and families who are often silenced and overlooked in the school system.”
Patrice and her outstanding work and contributions will be celebrated and recognized at the Fall 2023 Agency Supervisor Workshop. Event information will be communicated in the summer.
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Senior Jalen Johnson Shares His Journey To Becoming A Badger |
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Look up the word “outgoing” in the dictionary, and you might find a photo of East senior Jalen Johnson smiling back at you. That quality, he thinks, is likely why the school’s administration nominated him to be featured here, in a senior spotlight.
“When I don’t have class, I’m always in the halls talking to teachers, checking in and seeing how they’re doing,” he says. “And even in class—like, when we came back from Covid, a lot of people weren't as talkative or as social, but I've always been that person who’s willing to speak and engage. I like bringing people together and having fun, and that’s what I’ve tried to do during my time here.”
A native of Milwaukee, Jalen moved to Madison when he was in the seventh grade, enrolling at Black Hawk Middle School upon arrival. During his eighth-grade year, he applied to take part in the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE), a decision that, some four-odd years later, stands to pay significant dividends.
That’s because, owing to both his participation in PEOPLE throughout his high school career and his stellar academic record, he’ll be attending the University’s School of Business in the fall, with his tuition completely paid for. His time in the program has already provided him a sense of what to expect as an incoming freshman, too: over each of the past few summers, he lived on campus for a period with other PEOPLE enrollees, taking classes, familiarizing himself with the school, and generally paving the way for him to hit the ground running.
The decision to focus on business, he says, is driven in part by his experience cutting hair, a talent that he’s developed in Harry Bernard’s popular Intro to Barbering class: he hopes to continue honing his skills as a Badger, and has designs of opening up his own shop once his time there’s done.
Being at UW will also allow him to stay close to his younger brother, Donovahn, who’s currently a freshman at East, as well as his mom and grandmother, both of whom he cites as major motivators in his drive to succeed.
“My grandma, she came from Mexico, and she didn’t really get much of a formal education, so she’s always encouraged me to put school first,” he says. “And my mom has just done everything for me. I remember, growing up, she used to work two, three jobs—work during the day, work during the night—but she'd still cook dinner and make sure we had everything we needed, She’s trying to get her master’s degree right now, and seeing her working so hard just makes me want to work hard. I feel like I owe it to her.”
Outside of his family, he’s quick to cite a number of East faculty and staff who have also motivated him to excel and facilitated his success in the classroom, including Harry Bernard and AVID teachers Kathleen Brien and Vera Naputi.
“And also Miss Hutchins [East assistant principal], Miss Schnake [AVID teacher], Miss Schuchardt [counselor], and Miss Elmore [counselor],” he says. “I've just seen them every day. They're nice and they always give me a hug and all of that, and then whenever I need something—information about scholarships, letters of recommendation, whatever—they’re right there, willing to help.”
Speaking of help, as he prepares to wrap up his own time as a Purgolder, he has some recommendations for those who’ll be coming after him, particularly next year’s freshman class:
“My biggest piece of advice would probably be to have fun. My freshman and sophomore years, I was so focused on getting straight As and doing my work that I didn’t prioritize actually enjoying this experience. High school is a time to find yourself, and to be more open and willing to talk to new people and try new things. I wish I would have done it earlier—I feel like I could have made so many more connections by now and met so many more people, but it’s never too late. It's never too late.”
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Senior Aliyyah Wiley Is A Leader Inside And Outside Of School |
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President of the East High Student Congress. Vice president of the school’s Black Student Union. Purgolder mentor. Counselor at Vera Court Neighborhood Center. These titles have something in common: they all involve leadership and mentorship, and they’re all ones held by East senior Aliyyah Wiley. But they only tell part of her story.
Originally from Elgin, Illinois, Aliyyah and her family moved to Madison midway through her fourth-grade year to be closer to her late grandmother, whom she credits as a source of comfort and strength. Self-described as naturally shy and prone to moments of social anxiety, Aliyyah has sought out ways to push herself to overcome both, particularly during her high school years, and she counts herself fortunate to be surrounded by a solid support system.
“Honestly, I grew up with my parents, my grandma, and my uncles as strong role models, but not everybody has that,” she says. “I feel like everyone could benefit from having someone who believes in them and knows they’re capable of doing whatever they put their mind to. I want to be that for young people of color. I just want to see them be the best versions of themselves that they can be, and they’re great already.”
That drive to help younger kids, and to be the best version of herself possible, is informed by a desire to set a good example for her sister, Armanii, a seventh-grader at Black Hawk Middle School, and also to honor the work of all who have helped her along her get to this point in her journey.
“Lately, I’ve been thinking about how my smaller self would look at me now, and I'm like, wow, like, I actually improved a lot over time,” she says. “There are times when thoughts of self-doubt will creep in—I’ll get imposter syndrome, and wonder, do I really deserve this? But then I’ll think of my sister or my younger self, and I’ll say, you’re amazing. I'm really the first one in my family to make it, so I have to continue, I can't stop here.”
And she’s shown no indication that she will. Having participated in the University of Wisconsin’s Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE), she’s already guaranteed herself four years of tuition-free education as a Badger, though she’s still in the process of weighing up next steps.
“I just want to continue to be a leader, inside and outside of school,” she says. “I want to be comfortable wherever I am, within myself. And hopefully be around people who look like me. Whether that's at UW with a BSU or whether that's at an HBCU with a whole bunch of people who look like me. Yeah, I just want to be comfortable.”
Reflecting on her time at East, there are several teachers and staffers that she specifically wants to call out for their guidance and effort: Cory Foster, multicultural services coordinator & BSU advisor; Jessica Schnake, AVID teacher; Emma Watermolen, biology teacher; and Jeffrey Kunkle, English teacher.
“They just listened to me—they listen to their students, and they value student voices,” she says. “I can remember one lesson with Miss Schnake, where I was like, as a black person, I think I would be a better speaker on this topic, and she was like, okay, let's do it, go ahead. All of these teachers, you just know they’re gonna listen, and they’re gonna give great advice.”
Her favorite memory at East is similarly broad.
“My favorite memory would have to be the beginning of freshman year, as a whole,” she says. “Once the pandemic came around and we were on lockdown, I started to realize how much I was enjoying being a new high-schooler. Every day was a new experience for me and it was always super fun. I believe people were a lot more social before the first lockdown, which is why this time is so remarkable for me.”
And as she gets ready to cross the stage at the Kohl Center in a few short weeks, Aliyyah leaves us with a quote from the artist Lizzo, that she finds meaningful today and always, and that sums up her approach to each day: “In case nobody told you today, you’re special.” We couldn’t agree more.
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MADISON EAST HIGH SCHOOL | east.mmsd.org
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