Look inside the nearly finished Jefferson High School

Jodi Schwan

March 15, 2021

Sioux Falls’ newest high school definitely is taking shape.

Jefferson High School principal Dan Conrad released a video tour recently that he said is meant to “ease anxiety, generate excitement and dispel myths” about the next high school, which will open in the fall.

You can see the full tour here:

And here are some highlights.

The main entrance

“This is going to be our hub of activity,” Conrad said. “It’s a very similar setup to what you’re familiar with in your current school.”

The main hub will lead to the auditorium on one side and the main gym on the other, making it an area for gatherings around events and during the school day. It also will be where dances are held, the school store is located, and concessions are available.

Administrative, student support spaces

Here’s a peek at the main office.

And this is the counseling suite, where counselors, social workers, a student success coordinator and the registrar will have offices.

The main gym

Jefferson’s main gym has a two-lane track that circles above and bleachers that surround the entire court.

“So it will give that bowl feel, whether you’re in here for our athletic competitions or our activities,” Conrad said. “It just gives a real nice feeling.”

Windows on the north side also bring in natural light “to highlight the performance of our kids,” he added.

The auxiliary gym, or mini-gym, includes an additional set of bleachers.

Outdoor spaces

Outside, fields have been seeded and are expected to be ready to go by June for sports and band practices. The tennis courts and main stadium also are expected to be ready for their seasons.

The auditorium

Jefferson’s auditorium has a capacity of 930 students, similar to the city’s other high schools, and includes balcony seating, which is unique.

“We look for the many great celebrations we will have in here,” Conrad said, adding there will be performances and student recognition events held there.

The rest of the fine arts wing includes classrooms, band and orchestra space and a black box theater for smaller performances.

Learning spaces

A grand staircase leads up to learning wings, with a courtyard off the main level.

“This could be another place where students can call home, find a place to sit with their friend … and have conversation and work on their academics in these settings.”

Each of five learning wings includes full windows, table settings to work in groups and rows of classrooms with central two-story collaboration space.

“It’s got a lot of natural light, and it’s got a lot of communal learning spaces where you can gather in small groups,” Conrad said.

The science labs are spread throughout the school, and like the rest of the classrooms include touchscreen boards.

The school also won’t assign lockers to students unless they request them, using the space gained as collaboration areas.

The media center

Jefferson’s media center is a hub for the learning suites, Conrad said.

“All five learning suites have access to this area from various directions,” he said.

The open, two-story space leads to an innovation lab, among other spaces, and has room for media productions.

Other spaces, including fine arts rooms, are still finishing construction.

The culture

It’s still hard to say what the school’s culture will look like, what it means to be a Jefferson Cavalier, but a few elements are emerging, Conrad said:

“All means all.”

“People matter most.”

“We’re always going to compete. We’re going to compete for excellence.”

“You have to have that eternal optimism that the work you do is going to be make a difference. That’s the win,” he said.

“We look forward to seeing these halls filled with kids and students in the very near future.”

Share This Story

Most Recent

Videos

Instagram

Hope you had a wonderful summer weekend and are recharged for the week ahead! 📾: @jpickthorn
Beautiful way to start a week! 📾: @jpickthorn
Favorite flyover of the year! Merry Christmas from our entire @pigeon605news flock. 🎄🐩 📾: @actsofnaturephotography
Happy Halloween from @avera_health NICU babies! Link in bio to see more! 🎃
Did you know @dtsiouxfalls is filled with đŸ‘» stories? Link in bio 
 if you dare đŸ˜±

Want to stay connected to where you live with more stories like this?

Adopt a free virtual “pigeon” to deliver news that will matter to you.

Are you a little bird with something to share?