KHS is hosting an “Open House” event Friday, Sept. 5, 5-6:45 p.m., during which the Kirkwood community can view KHS’s newly renovated learning environments.

The Band, Journalism and ATLAS spaces will be open for tours and at 7 p.m., the varsity football game against Lafayette begins. At half-time, the E.L. Lyons Memorial Stadium will be rededicated. Although there was a dedication of the stadium on Aug. 29, the game this Friday is an opportunity to showcase the new renovations on campus, Michael Wade, associate principal, said.

“We know there are going to be thousands of people at the game Friday night,” Wade said. “The level of what we’ve done for students in the classrooms here needs to be recognized.”

Ginger Fletcher, director of community affairs and the Kirkwood School District foundation at the central office, along with Maureen O’Brien, a new employee of Fletcher, organized the grand opening of these areas for parents’ viewing.

At the entrance of Essex Ave., there will be a table displaying before and after photos of the facilities along with an explanation of the event via pamphlets. A teacher from each department and administrators will be present to answer any questions. Also, students will share what they plan to use the new facilities to accomplish.

Wade said before the renovations, ATLAS, a program striving to better enable academically struggling students, was one large classroom without windows. However, the new building utilizes more windows, more individually focused classrooms and higher technology to help enhance students’ learning. ATLAS went from being about 3,000 square feet to 4,000.

Because of its growing size, band has been provided with almost 800 more square feet of space. According to Wade, next summer there are plans set to build more storage space for equipment and a scene shop.

Wade said although most students will not become journalists by trade, Mitch Eden, journalism adviser, has really grown and strengthened the program to help striving journalists succeed. The new space and advanced technology is critical in helping guide the publication department, said Wade. Journalism went from 3,000 square feet to 8,000.

“If there’s a better high school journalism building in the country, I can’t believe it,” Wade said.

KSD added approximately 17,000 square feet of interior space, upgrades to accommodate for the growing enrollment rates and enhanced the learning for students in these programs. These areas have not been renovated or expanded in approximately 20 years. The buildings were built over the course of eight weeks and $3 million was funded toward the construction.

“It will never get enough credit,” Wade said.