What is The LiNK?

Not many schools can say that they have quadrupled in enrollemnt in 18 years, but Richmond Hill High School (located 25 minutes south of Savannah, GA) did and continues to grow each year.  In 1998, we graduated 78 seniors.  In 2014, we graduated 378. Becuase our community has grown so quickly, we tend to outgrow our facilities quickly as well.  A new middle school was built in 2012, so our high school, which was located right behind the old middle school, took over the remaining middle school space.  We have needed more space for our Media Center for quite some time but did not have room to expand in the current location.  With the former middle school media center space empty, we now had space to add tools that would help us "link" education and technology together; thus the LiNK was created!  

An extension of our Media Center and Technology program, the LiNK serves as a digital learning lab in many ways.  Through collaboration with our staff, teachers build lessons that incorporate app-based learning in the iPad lab, Google-based lessons in the Chromebook lab, and/or interactive lessons on our interactive flat screen computer.  Our original media center continues to house our book collection, as well as a class set of iPads, laptops, and numerous desktop computers.  The LiNK works to incorporate the technology aspect in creating 21st-century learners.  Yes, in a perfect world, the two spaces would be ideal together, but we are adjusting and getting teachers and students to see how valuable both spaces are now.  

In designing the LiNK, I had modern on the brain!  I wanted to create a space that I knew the students and teachers would be proud of and that was VERY different from anything in our school thus far. Chrome, stainless steel, shades of grey, and pops of orange and bright green make the LiNK a jaw-dropper when people first see it.  I feel proud to have had a hand in bringing this space to life.  

Former middle school library before the redesign.

The LiNK redesigned with mobile furniture and cooperative learning spaces.

Look for resources and details of the redesign in upcoming post.