Easton Public Schools Cuts Ribbon on New Blanche A. Ames Elementary School

EASTON — Easton Public Schools cut the ribbon on the new Blanche A. Ames Elementary School and welcomed the community to the building on Sunday, Aug. 20, marking a major milestone in the years-long effort to combine Easton’s three elementary schools into one state-of-the-art early elementary facility. 

Many community members, district, state and local officials, parents, current students and future students attended the event. The school opened for PreK-2 students and staff in January. 

School Planning Committee Chair Jackie Weisman opened the ceremony and thanked everyone who contributed to the project, including members of the School Planning Committee; the Massachusetts School Building Authority; project management, architect and building teams; school employees, town employees and community members who donated their time to participate in focus groups; Easton’s Select Board and state and federal delegations; the Easton Department of Public Works and the district’s custodial teams; and past and present members of the Easton School Committee.

“This project has truly been a labor of love and I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to be a part of it and to have worked with the very talented and dedicated members of this team,” Chair Weisman said.

Superintendent Lisha Cabral spoke of the goals that were achieved through the project, including designing small learning communities within a large building; creating spaces that are welcoming to both children and community members; making the building universally accessible regardless of age, ability or capacity; offering flexibility in design for future advances in education; and exercising environmental and fiscal responsibility.

An additional goal was to pay proper homage to the history of Easton and the building’s namesake. Several Oliver Ames High School students — who have since graduated — assisted with this effort. Each graduate was recognized by Superintendent Cabral during the ceremony:

• Siobhan McKenna presented her idea to the School Committee in 2019 to name the school after Blanche A. Ames.
• Abe Kempner designed the school’s mascot, Stripes the Tiger. The mascot is painted on the gymnasium floor and is also on all school materials, publications and communications.
• Olivia Pierce, Hannah Chan, Kiersten Chan, Aeden Marcus, Anna Galer, and Emma Lawson created a presentation on the biography and accomplishments of Blanche Ames. This included recommendations for what graphics and information should be displayed along the school’s ramp, and includes interactive displays and a collection of facts about Mrs. Ames. The group presented their recommendations to the graphic artists and project architect Perkins Eastman, and their ideas are actualized in the school today. 

Jane Martin, former chair of the School Planning Committee, Town Administrator Connor Read, Select Board Chair Dottie Fulginiti and Massachusetts School Building Authority Executive Director Mary Pichetti also shared remarks. 

Blanche A. Ames Elementary School Principal Samuel Cederbaum concluded with remarks celebrating the school.

“This ribbon-cutting ceremony signifies not only a physical addition to our campus but also a symbol of progress, growth, and the unwavering commitment to education,” Principal Cederbaum said. “This state-of-the-art facility is not just a structure of bricks and mortar; it is a place where dreams will be nurtured, where minds will be shaped, and where futures will be built. It will be a sanctuary of knowledge, a haven of creativity, and a hub of innovation. It will serve as a testament to our commitment to providing an exceptional learning environment for generations to come. As we cut this ribbon today, we are not just opening doors, but we are opening minds and opening possibilities.”

Superintendent Cabral and Executive Director Pichetti then cut the ribbon, marking the building’s official opening. Children cut a second ceremonial ribbon.

Following the ceremony, guests were able to take a guided tour of the new school. Key features and spaces highlighted during the tour included: 

• Gymnasium: In addition to elementary-appropriate equipment, the gymnasium caters to community members with a scoreboard, shot clocks, and regulation- height basketball hoops. 
• Colors, themes and wayfinding: Each grade is represented by a color and theme — such as a purple space theme or yellow tractor theme — and “footprints” can be found on the floors throughout the building to help direct young learners. Each area of the building is referred to as a “neighborhood.” 
• Courtyard and sensory gardens: The courtyard includes seating, allowing teachers to take their classes outside. There are also instruments, such as chimes and a drum, for children to play. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plants are located in the courtyard, as well as rain chains that funnel rain along a stone path and under a bridge, creating a river-like effect. Community members may visit the courtyard in non-school hours via an outside gate.
• Classrooms: Classrooms include spaces for different kinds of play and learning. Hallways for younger grades are thinner, which allow for bigger classrooms with bathrooms, counters and sinks sized for the youngest learners. Cubbies for the younger children are also inside the classroom so they always have access to their belongings. 
• Collaborative spaces: Smaller spaces in between classrooms allow for breakout learning or a space for students to receive extra help without being separated from their class. For older grades, hallways are wider providing spaces outside of the classroom for collaboration. 
• Themed cutouts: Children are often attracted to small spaces. In hallways throughout the school, there are small cutouts in the walls fitting the theme of each grade.
• Accessibility: Many features throughout the school are designed specifically for the district’s youngest learners, including the hallway cutouts and small bathrooms and sinks, as well as lockers, handrails of various heights, window sills that are low to the ground, and short whiteboards. Each classroom is also equipped with an auditory amplification system in case a student is hard of hearing. Signage includes Braille, as well as Dyslexie Font, which is weighted heavier on the bottom for easier reading. A universally accessible ramp connects the first and second floors.
• Cafeteria: In addition to the large cafeteria, the school features a smaller cafeteria for children who may be overwhelmed by large spaces. The small cafeteria includes a teaching station to facilitate health and nutrition lessons and hands-on learning. A community garden is located just outside the doors to the small cafeteria.
• Energy efficiency: Energy usage is monitored by grade and shown on monitors throughout the building with icons for students to understand. The school’s mechanical room is framed with glass so children can walk by and see how the system works. Both elements are referred to as “building as teacher” where functional design elements also serve as educational pieces for students. Bottle-filling stations are located throughout the school, and the building operates on an air displacement system to lessen energy consumption. 
• Library Media Center: The library includes an amphitheater area for children to read, as well as unique seating with one side that allows for students to sit in a way where they can move around, and the other side on which they sit stationary. The doors to the library open to the “Discovery Terrace” where classes can sit and read outside. The library also features a Makerspace for kids, and a professional development room for staff.
• Blanche A. Ames: Many design features are a nod to the school’s namesake. Biographical information about her life, including her architectural skills, inventions, suffragette efforts and botanical research is on the walls of the ramp. Ames was well-known for her drawings of orchids and the large cafeteria also features an orchid wall. 
• Community use: Areas of the building are designed for community use, including the gymnasium and cafeteria — which are connected through a double-sided stage — the courtyard, and spaces for meetings and demonstrations.
• Nurse’s office and ventilation: As the school was being built during the COVID-19 pandemic, one feature that came about is a separate ventilation system for the nurse’s office. This would allow for better containment of any potential contagions from the rest of the building. 

Visitors Caitlyn and Michael, who attended with Theodore, age 2, loved that the school was designed in a way that was child-centered and had many features specific to small children. They also appreciated the eco-friendliness and the playgrounds that are open to the community. Theodore’s favorite part of the new school was the library. 

Clare, age 14, and Juliette, age 11, who attended with parents Andrea and Sean, appreciated the size of the classrooms, noting that they were much larger than the classrooms they learned in as early elementary students.

Melissa, whose 6-year-old daughters currently attend Ames Elementary described how different the new building is from the old Center School. She also noted that her daughters like their kindergarten area, and that the small neighborhood spaces help it not be overwhelming for small children. 

In addition to the tours, outside the school guests were able to participate in several family-friendly activities, including a touch-a-truck with the Easton Police and Fire Departments, Department of Public Works and Lucini Transportation, and yard games coordinated by the Easton Community Recreation Department.

The school’s three playgrounds were open for play. Children were able to have their faces painted by Easton Wings of Hope members and have a balloon figure made by a balloon artist.

Food and refreshments were available throughout the event from Mom On The Go, Supa Dupa, Galaxy Ice Cream, and Alltown.

The new elementary school consolidated the three former elementary schools — Parkview, Moreau Hall and Center — into one Pre-K-2 facility. Construction began in the spring of 2021. Perkins Eastman designed the new school, PMA Consultants served as Owner’s Project Manager, and Brait Builders Corporation served as general contractor. Ultimately, the building was completed ahead of schedule and $14 million under budget. 

The new Blanche A. Ames Elementary is the culmination of years of planning and work, and was only possible with the support of Easton’s voters.

“The building itself is a marvel. However, the true takeaway of this process for me was the tremendous level of collaboration and cooperation that came together to make this vision come to such a successful completion,” Superintendent Cabral said. “From the Town departments, Project Management and Design teams, and trade professionals to the staff, parent, student, and community focus groups, this project was the embodiment of what it means to be an organized and committed team. The outstanding product is a clear result of that exemplary teamwork.”

A virtual tour of the school, courtesy of Easton Community Access Television, can be viewed here.

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