Over the summer, an outdoor classroom was built near the softball field. This classroom was built in hopes for teachers and students to get a little break from being inside and go to the outdoor space. It was built by members of Cave Spring United Methodist Church.

Hidden Valley High School’s Principal, Mr. Whitlow says, “The outdoor classroom has been upgraded from its most recent condition to include the addition of a walking path, more seating, a lectern, and wood chips for an updated surface. I think our students and their teachers will find it to be a very nice space. Of course, students should be expected to remain with their teacher at all times as well as follow all teacher instructions to maintain safety and facilitate instruction.”  

Hidden Valley has been upgrading their amenities for years, and Principal Whitlow states, “We have promoted use of the HV campus for learning opportunities for as long as I can remember. From an AP English 11 sleepout on the soccer/band field back in the day to soil samples taken on one of the pathways by earth science last year to the annual Titan Clash cross country meet and more, our campus has a great deal to offer beyond the building!” 

We think this will be a great addition to students’ learning opportunities, giving students a good break from being cooped up inside. English Teacher, Mrs. Biggio, is excited and already has ideas on how to use it. “I think it’s a great idea and I plan to use it during my transcendentalism unit and for student presentations, because sometimes just getting out of the cylinder blocks and florescent lights can make students more at ease. Also, I think that if we get students out of the building, it would be more motivational for them to put their screens down and to not feel like they’re in school and doing schoolwork but experiencing authentic learning.”

The classroom will be a valuable and fun opportunity for the students at Hidden Valley. We are very excited for this new addition to the High School, and hope it has great use!