A Sign for an Ugly School Year?
NEIRAD enilno edition
As students filed into DHS the first day of school, they noticed new people, new teachers, and a new addition to the halls: brand new signs.
The student population noticed this right away. “When I walked into the school and saw the signs, I couldn’t help but think how much they’ll help the freshmen,” junior Katie Grozier said.
With their great appearance and their durability, it is clear that these signs could not have been cheap. “We checked many facilities throughout the state and decided that we liked the signs at SUNY Purchase in New York,” Assistant Principal Donna Russo stated, “We spent a lot of time trying to make them look good, and blend in with the DHS environment.”
However, many DHS students are lashing out at this new addition. “When I was a freshman, I had to wander aimlessly until I found my way around the school,” junior Rachel McGlade said, “They’re a waste of money, and they’re completely unnecessary.”
This seems to be the view of many, “It’s over the top,” junior Molly Marren said, “Not knowing your way around is a part of being a freshman in high school.” However, this is just the view of an upperclassman that didn’t get the signs when they needed them most.
And as far as blending in goes, students don’t agree with that either. Having signs that jut out into the hallway doesn’t seem to be the best way to gel in with the school’s ever scurrying population. “I hate them,” junior Will Weinstock commented, “I think they’re nice looking, but they’re useless.”
But some other veteran students disagree, “I’ve never used the signs because I’m a senior and already know my way around,” senior Robbie Shindler said, “but I can see how they would be useful to newcomers and freshmen.” This is what the administration was thinking as well. The committee that Mrs. Russo formed researched buildings throughout the state to make sure the signage would be welcomed useful to the school community.
The signs were meant for people who were new to the school and people who needed to find their way around, “My freshman sister says that the signs are very helpful,” junior Whitney Ruhlin said. Assistant Principal Russo and the committee were devoted to having the signs blend in, “We spent a lot of time working on the colors of the signs, we wanted to incorporate something with Blue Wave,” Russo said. And they seem to have somewhat incorporated this theme. While some of the signs are orange to blend into the brick-building feel of the school, the signs have a blue background with white lettering. But some students don’t agree that this gives them a Blue Wave Pride feel, “I think they’re ugly,” junior Keri Byrne said.
Bigger signs with maps of the school can be seen in the four main areas of the building: the lobby, library, auditorium, and gym. “The signs aren’t bad,” said new German exchange student Nina Pawelczy, “They give me a nice overview of the school.” Many of the new students and freshmen agree with this, even if the veterans of the hallway don’t like them.
The general consensus around school seems to be that, although the signs may not be the most attractive things in the world, they are manageable. They are important to newer students, and the number of lost freshmen in the hallways in the first week of school was lower than years prior. The administration has done new students a favor by giving them more than a map in a planner to stand by for directions around the new and complicated campus. The some of the students may not like the signs because of the colors, but they are helpful and they are here to stay.
