Submitted by the Spring Street International School

Spring Street International School has several new projects.

First, landscaping is being completed, following a design by Island Gardens that beautifies and unifies the campus with native plants. Most of the work has been by volunteers, and plants were bought with the aid of the Nash family, who own the property on which the school sits. Second, on the lower corner of the property is an elegant rock sculpture by alumna parent Tom Small with the school’s name and logo carved into it. Small generously donated his labor, and also made the lovely stone bench for the town’s new pocket park.

Lastly, and less visible from Spring Street, there is new construction going up — a studio building. This structure symbolizes the school’s dedication to artistic creativity, which is integral to a secondary education, not just an adjunct to it. The 1,230-square-foot building will be large enough to allow a full visual arts program that complements the drama and video programs. SSIS Studio Art teacher Taylor Bruce has long dreamed of “a new space to house the many disciplines that constitute a rich art program, a meeting place for visiting artists willing to share their creative visions with our students and our island communities.” By comparison, the current art classroom is so small that Bruce has had to crawl beneath easels to reach individual students.

The new building will be similar in size and historic appearance to the double-classroom building constructed in 2012. Nestled at the back of the campus, it will have some surfaced area for outdoor projects. When not used for art, the flexible interior space will serve as another badly-needed room for classes including drama and music, eliminating the need for an additional building. This combined use will help minimize build-out on SSIS’s campus, preserving green space for play, gathering, outdoor programs, and aesthetics.

Locally renowned architect David Waldron is the studio building designer. Project coordination is by SSIS parents in the construction business, with many materials donated by friends of the school. Financing comes from private donations and small grants. The school’s budget is too lean to support new construction — especially since over 70 percent of its local students receive financial aid to enable them to attend. The school envisions this structure benefiting the entire island community as a shared art space for programs after school, in the evenings and summers.

For information, call 378-6393 or visit www.springstreet.org.