The New NeXus: Zooming to the Future
Article and Photos By: Helene I., Grade 6
Videos by: Smilte S., Grade 7
On the 25th of August it finally happened! The NeXus has opened.
Many people worked together to plan this amazing new learning opportunity and library. But what is actually behind this? I have asked Ms. Withanage, Ms. Jones and Ms. Clower and some students about the NeXus.
Learning NeXus Coordinator Ms. Withanage said the NeXus is only used for learning or classes that would come in for their class time.
Many students are using this space for playing chess, reading, or studying. The NeXus is also alive with students coming to use the soundproof boxes for audio recordings. It is great for collaborative learning because more than one class can come in and work together.
“I think it is a beautiful building,” librarian Ms. Clower said.
The NeXus was an enormous success especially for the library because before the NeXus the library was in the Red Box which is a portable space. Ms. Clower said now she sees many students walking happily into the NeXus for reading or playing chess. The NeXus is not completely finished there is still more to come. For example, there is an innovation classroom coming where the students can access the newest technology to learn.
“It was also an idea to have at least one part where we always have the latest technology so that students have access to that,” Ms. Withanage said.
Well, how did MIS build this new and high tech building? The MIS leadership always has a strategic plan that looks 5 years ahead. When the FAB was built we knew that the old gym would be empty so the leadership thought about how we could use this space. The leadership wanted to build something where students were able to move flexibly around and had many variables to learn in their own way. But there are still small improvements and changes going to be made as the years pass by, Ms. Withanage said.
“Lots of meetings with the furniture designers and I was able to draw up a plan for where the shelves would go,” librarian Ms.Clower said.
There are many great parts about the NeXus. For example, the wing back chair or the soundproof boxes. There are also negative parts of this building. For example, you must walk way more in the NeXus to reach different book sections. Now students still have trouble finding the books in their new spaces, but in the future the NeXus will have more freedom and benefit all students and teachers.
“I go in the NeXus every break,” James C., Grade 6, said.
The NeXus is used for many different purposes. The I and S grade 8 students are creating a crime scene where different groups work together to create a scenario, said Ms. Jones. The grade 6 students have even organised a chess tournament. Now guess where it was? Yes, in the NeXus. It is great space to collaborate with other people. Want to give it a try? See you there!
