New Math & Sciences Center Opens to Students

After years of planning, two years of demolition/construction, and a global pandemic that impacted the timeline, this week 9th Grade students were the first Overlakers to attend classes in our new Math & Sciences Center. 

As students entered the new facility, they were in awe of the space. Elizabeth Z. ('24) started at Overlake last year in her final year of Middle School. She says that being back on campus and taking classes, although weird, is a return to normal. "Today really feels like the first day back to school so it's finding a place to hang out and socialize a little bit. I was checking out the labs, the teachers' work space, and I can see a lot happening here really soon," explains Elizabeth who just finished an Ashley Powell Bio Chem class. "It's very modern, super cool, and has a welcoming atmosphere. I especially like how open it is and all the transparency with the light and windows."

Elizabeth Z. ('24) Heads to Her Next Class in the New Math & Sciences Center

With state of the art technology, the classrooms allow our hybrid curriculum to focus on both in-person and distance learning students. The week began with two days of full-day hybrid instruction with our 9th Grade Green cohort on campus followed by the Gold cohort on Wednesday and Thursday. Right off the bat, administrators say they're encouraged by the social interactions observed in-between classes and during free periods in the ample commons areas.

Faculty and Hybrid Instructional Aides patiently worked with students to get hooked up to computers, cameras, and teaching tools. "The ten minute commute I had this morning as opposed to the twenty second commute I've had over the past eight months gave me time to think about this profound opportunity we have to work in this new space to engage with students," says Algebra Teacher Chris Border. "I also don't have any concerns about students who continue to be online to be successful because this space allows them to integrate as a participant in our community even more so now that we're all together."

Math Faculty Chris Border uses an interactive pen on his electronic chalkboard 

The 19-million dollar investment into the New Math & Sciences Center will impact our curriculum for decades to come and shape future leaders. If this week's reaction by our 9th Graders is any indication, they are going to be a lot of them!

Click here to see a slideshow of some of our 9th Graders using the new space, and stay tuned for official events kicking off our new Math & Sciences Center.