Teachers’ Lounge Update!
About a year ago, the HFA ran a fundraiser to help make some improvements to the Teachers' Lounge at Highland.
The lounge is an important place for teachers to be able to refuel and recharge, get a little quiet time, and do some collaboration and team planning. But it needed some updating - from little things like the silverware drawer being a random mix with never enough spoons, to appliances like a refrigerator/freezer that dripped condensation onto its contents, to the old couches that were tossed out when Covid required social distancing, there were plenty of potential improvements.
Thanks to our generous donors, we raised almost $6,000 for lounge updates and improvements. The HFA collaborated with a group of teachers to identify some goals that would be feasible and within our budget. While the updates are not entirely finished and in place, we're far enough along to warrant an update and a thank you to all our donors.
- New* Refrigerator. While not new new, we got a good deal on an almost-new refrigerator that was being sold due to a kitchen remodel. It's larger and doesn't drip condensate inside. We hope to run a water line to it for filtered water and ice.
 Old Fridge |
 Mr. Romano likes the new fridge. |
- During the week of conferences in mid-October, the cupboards and drawers in the lounge kitchen were emptied and reorganized. A full compliment of new plates and bowls (they nest and stack!), new silverware, and new drawer organizers were added to help keep things straight. Additionally, we got an organizer for all the coffee and tea accessories. We also added a few seasonal decorations.
 New organizer for coffee and tea supplies. |
 New silverware and drawer organizers to keep things neat. |
- Our couches arrived last Friday, coffee table is still en route. After a fruitless search for some appropriate used furniture we decided it would be best to just buy new. The folks at Sell-A-Cow helped us select these couches and a slim coffee table that will eventually go between them.
New couches were delivered on Friday! Still waiting on the coffee table, but a good start.
- Another item the teachers requested was a TV to screenshare onto so they could hold planning meetings in the lounge more easily. The donated funds allowed the HFA to purchase a 50" TV and an articulated wall mount. They are in the lounge and ready to be mounted. We'll give an update when that's up and running, but it is planned to go on this section of wall (couches are just behind camera).
Future location of our new wall-mounted TV. Teachers will be able to project their laptop screens onto it for planning meetings.
That's the lounge update. A huge thank-you to everyone who chipped in to help with this fundraiser last Fall! Every donation, large or small, makes a difference and is appreciated.