Look inside new Ben Reifel Middle School

Classrooms arranged as “houses,” spaces for hands-on learning and a gym that promises surprises are some of the features in store for Ben Reifel Middle School students.

The new middle school at 6700 E. 41st St. will open this fall, but principal Shane Hieronimus and assistant principal Rebecca Vandrongelen offered a preview tour produced by the school district recently.

“We’re still under construction,” Hieronimus began, showing the main office area.

Here are a few of the highlights:

House areas

The school will be divided into 10 “houses” where students will complete their core classes.

“So your language arts teachers, your social studies teachers, your math and science courses will all be in a house area,” Hieronimus said.

Rooms have movable dividers, so classes can be combined for interdisciplinary work.

The science rooms have movable lab stations.

Houses also have areas for team gathering and small-group work sessions.

Hands-on spaces

A grand staircase leads to “encore” classes, which introduce students to a range of concepts.

In a CTE room, “they may work with some robotics, some engineering. You can see that they have different stations and different modules they will work at,” Vandrongelen said.

Other production rooms offer space to work with plastics, 3D drawing and design.

Areas also are dedicated to teaching financial responsibilities, cooking and sewing.

“Every classroom for the most part has that good natural light coming in, and it allows you to bring the outside inside,” Hieronimus added.

Common areas

The library is highlighted by a whole wall of windows, so it’s a great place for you to come in, check out books and then sit in the window or the great seating we have … and take in the great sunlight and all that the library has to offer,” Vandrongelen said. “You will truly enjoy this space once you’re here.”

The commons breakfast and lunch area also is surrounded by windows.

The auditorium seats nearly 500 people and will be used for concerts and other fine arts events.

“One of our goals for all our students is by the time you are leaving Ben Reifel, we want 100 percent of you to have participated in an extracurricular activity,” Hieronimus said.

To further support that goal, the school has two gyms, including one large enough to fit the whole student body and staff for gatherings.

“It’s an awesome space,” Hieronimus said, adding there will be some surprises revealed for students when the building opens.

There will be tours and open houses throughout the summer. To see the full construction tour, click below.