Over the summer, the Columbia High School Cougar Boosters refreshed the school’s teacher and custodian lounges, turning dated, overlooked spaces into welcoming, comfortable places for those who care for the students and the school every day. As a result, teachers and custodial staff returning to Columbia High School this fall were welcomed back with something new: refreshed spaces created especially for them.
Before photos:
The renovation began when CHS Principal Sanchez asked the Cougar Boosters to help refresh the school’s Teacher and Custodian Lounges. The Boosters got to work, putting together a plan and a call for support that Principal Sanchez shared with CHS families.
The response from the community was incredible, according to CHS Boosters President Cathy Clammer. The Boosters provided the initial funding and families and community members donated through a Givebutter campaign and purchased items from an Amazon Wish List, including chairs, tables, lamps, kitchen supplies and other furnishings. Cougar Boosters members also donated money and items.
Local residents, parents and businesses generously volunteered their time, talents and resources. A special thank you goes to Dave Kasdan of @kasdan_construction for donating his contracting expertise; Han Ergin of @myhousekitchen for providing cabinets and countertops at cost; Ed Peterson @edpeterson0327 and his team for painting and tile work; and Alexa Ralff of @ahrdesign for helping secure generous donations of paint from @SherwinWilliams and @colorfully.mel, tile from @virtuetile, and the Custodian Lounge rug from @exceptionalflooringconcepts.
Elana Nanscawen of @stylecomfortfunction volunteered her design expertise and personally purchased and donated many of the decorative touches. She also smartly sourced the sofa from one of her clients, who donated it for free, and the office table through Facebook Marketplace. Her husband, James, spent an entire day picking them up and then stuck with the not-so-simple task of putting the table back together when some screws turned out to be missing. We are very grateful he persevered!
Additionally, much credit goes to Jacqui Anderson, incoming Boosters VP, and Clammer, both of whom poured hours of organizing, energy and hands-on work to bring all the pieces together and get both spaces across the finish line.
The reaction from teachers was immediate.
Math teacher Angela Celio summed it up simply: “Wow, how generous!”
Biology teacher Amy Biasucci said the transformation has already changed how teachers use the space. “This teachers’ lounge used to be a place we had to go to make copies, but most did not want to stay. Now I’m watching teachers’ eyes light up when they walk in! It feels welcoming and collaborative! Even on the first day of school, teachers are already choosing to eat lunch together here.”
“Our teachers and custodial staff do so much for Columbia every day, and we wanted them to come back to spaces that showed how much they are valued,” said Clammer. “What makes this project so special is how many people had a hand in it. Some donated money, some bought an item from the wish list, and others gave their professional expertise or hours of their time. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped. This is really what the MAPSO community does best.”
More “after” photos:
