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English department vacates long-occupied office to reside briefly in the J-Wing

After decades of fun—and untold thousands of essays graded—members of the English Department moved out of their long-time office space this week to a new temporary location on the second floor of the J-wing. The temporary relocation is a part of the larger project of chapel renovations, which will begin in the coming weeks. For the remainder of this school year and up to spring break in 2024, students will find their beloved English teachers in J220 and J222, the old Yearbook and Prep News offices. 

As part of the chapel renovations, the school is building new offices directly above the chapel. The plan is to build three offices “shotgun” style, oriented north-south (rather than the east-west of the current English office space). These new offices will accommodate the English, Math, and Social Studies Departments. The renovations are part of the Go Forth campaign to improve the school for future generations.

Because of the temporary move and the lack of an available larger space, the department will have to be split between two rooms. Half of the department will be housed in the old Yearbook room (east side) and the other half in the old Prep News room (west side). As a result, the English Department will have to contend with this rift for the next year.

“The general vibes in the English office have always been immaculate,” said English teacher Jamie Cordia. “The amount of laughter and fun that I have with my co-workers in the English office is really high level and I'm a little sad that I will be cut off from half of them.”

The temporary desks of the English office, in the old Yearbook Room. photo | Vincent Weinbauer

The old English office housed the department for decades. On top of being a place for teachers to grade essays and meet with students, the office provided a home for English teachers to build community with each other. Teachers will remember the office for the many memories that were created there.

“There were a handful of us in the office and somehow the lights got turned off and we noticed glow in the dark stars all over the place. Mr. Quinn had put them up wondering how long it would take somebody to notice. He was so excited watching people discover his little prank and it was very very nice,” said English teacher Chuck Hussung.

Another fond memory of the old English office involves a 2015 Senior Follies video about life in the English office. The video was shot in the style of The Office, with seniors mimicking teachers. If nothing else, it will remain as a record of what life was like in the former office once the renovations are complete.

One source of irony surrounding the move was the placement of English teacher and Prep News moderator Steve Missey in, of course, the old Prep News office.

“It’s funny to see Mr. Missey there,” said English Department Chair Frank Kovarik. “The way his desk faces the door, I feel like I need to apply for a driver’s license or something.”

 The teachers will complete their move to their sequestered J-wing offices by spring break of this year. The move is bittersweet, but the teachers hope it will be better for SLUH in the long run.

“I just want things to stay the same. They don’t,” said Hussung. “I think the reasons we are changing is good but a lesser version of myself would rather not bother with packing up and moving for a year.”

 

 


 

 

 

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