5 Things You May Have Missed Over the Summer
By Luke Chaffin - FF/S
It is important to remember that just because we have a period of down time does not mean that the Darlington School campus closes down or even slows down when students and faculty are away on summer break.
Here is a list of five projects [in no particular order] that happened during the break that you may have missed!
New Banners Throughout Campus
Treat yourself to a walk some time and count the 32 new colorful banners that dot the property. Among the highlights are those that celebrate the 100th anniversary of our student-created Honor Code and touching images that celebrate the Darlington Community's commitment to wisdom, service, and honor.
"Sprucing Up" of the Darlington Greenhouse
Our greenhouse, a gift of the Belk-Rhodes Company in memory of Cecil D. Rhodes Sr. in the late 1980s, was in need of some TLC. Thanks to some elbow grease from science teachers Mike Hudson ('94) (pictured), Randy Smith and Phil Titus, along with a selection of dedicated students, the refreshed greenhouse will become an integral piece of a brand new ELA-12 horticulture program that is currently in development thanks to a Wood Faculty Professional Development Endowment Award.
Renovations at Cooper House
Officially known as Persons Hall, the on-campus home for first-year girls was ready for new carpet, new paint and drywall, new furniture, and other touches to help make it feel more like home. The eldest of Darlington's three girls’ dormitories is now brighter and warmer than ever!
Home-on-the-Hill’s New Front Doors
One of the oldest (1832) and most beautiful structures on campus received a new set of mahogany-stained front doors over the summer break. The stately front porch entrance to the official residence of the head of school and family is ready to welcome Tigers back to campus for Alumni Weekend in October!
Improvements to the Zelle Fine Arts Building
(via @darfinearts / Twitter)
We won't require you to count out all 670 of the new ceiling tiles in Zelle, but once you enter you'll quickly see the updates in Darlington’s fine arts building! A fresh coat of paint? Check. New carpet? Check. These projects were made possible thanks to a generous donation from Darlington's Class of 1972.
Darlington’s one-school campus is a living, breathing machine that is used constantly throughout the year. It serves not only as a picturesque learning atmosphere for PK-12 students and home for resident faculty, but also as the setting for many community events where we have the great pleasure of welcoming special visitors, dignitaries, prospective families, current families, alums, and many others.
Because of all of this activity, we do experience "wear and tear!"
Okay, so things like fire sprinkler inspections, adding electrical outlets (something I was personally excited about in my office), the deep-cleaning of tile surfaces, repairing brick facades—and anything labeled "miscellaneous"— were perhaps not "exciting" enough to make the above list, they all contribute to the life of the school in some important way.
Darlington’s facilities services department comprises those unsung heroes on campus that are always hard at work, doing it all—year in and year out—making sure that everything is efficient and in working order. Thank you for all of your hard work!
As a 12-month employee, it was exciting to come in every day in June and July and see the ongoing progress on our 500 acres. It certainly opened my eyes that just because our students go home for the summer, it does not mean that the school "closes up shop." Au contraire, some may argue that it gets even busier!
