As a new year begins a new chapter is turning in South Portland High School history. Starting nearly 19 months ago the 62-year-old high school began new renovations which cost more than $50 million. With great anticipation, on Monday, Jan. 6, when students returned from their winter break the first part of the renovations were open for use.

“Walking in for the first time, it felt completely different. It was like we were in a movie. It is beautiful!” said Akadia Higgins about her first time stepping into the high school.

The city of South Portland passed the referendum allowing new expansions to the high school in November of 2010 and the ground broke on this project on May 7, 2012. The first plan was to leave the original main entrance section along with Beal gym and the auditorium and to build a new cafeteria, library, lecture hall and classrooms. However, after a few bumps, including water damage to Beal gym causing some necessary renovations, the first part of the school is proudly standing. Like the original plan a section of the old building is still open for students to use until the rest of the school is finished, and the difference between the two buildings is remarkable.

“I have split classes between the old and new building so I do a lot of commuting back and forth”, said Olivia Papi. “The new school is so awesome, I guess I never really realized how rundown some of the old building was until I stepped into some of the brand new sections. Of course I will miss the old school, but the new section is just too beautiful not to be excited.”

In the newly open section of the high school, students now have access to tons of new resources. There is a new cafeteria with wide-open windows and plenty of space for students to enjoy their lunch, tons of new classrooms each equipped with the latest technology for learning. Also, the new “Learning Commons,” also known as the library, has tons of new features, including soundproof rooms for small groups to work in, and brand new Apple computers for students to work at.

And one can’t forget about the school’s new steps to make the building green. Whether it is the cafeteria’s new compost and recycling stations or the lights that change their brightness based on the light outside, South Portland is definitely doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint.

Overall, the school is beautiful, shiny and new. So, to ensure the school keeps its new luster the faculty took a proactive approach to put standards in place that would encourage the student body to keep the school in a beautiful condition. So, on the first day that students were back, a series of assemblies were held with each grade to go over some new safety rules along with some tips and words of wisdom that would hopefully inspire the students to respect and take care of the school. To ensure safety, after 7:30 a.m. the main entrance will be locked, and in order to be let in a person must be buzzed in by the main office. “I like the new safety precautions”, said Michelle Foster, “In today’s world you have to take every step you can to be safe because you never know.”

South Portland is a great place to work, live and raise a family and having a state-of-the-art high school only adds to the value of this vibrant community.

Hope Garrison is a senior at South Portland High School.