In 2016, the construction of the Lester J. Gates Middle School began. In this process, the REC center, which doubled as the senior cafeteria at the time, was demolished. In the search for a new place for the seniors to eat, the Class of 2018 student council had a bright idea to remodel the under-utilized teacher lounge in the spring of last year.

Other than a fresh coat of paint and the addition of four restaurant-style booths, the majority of the updates to this space were completed by this year’s student council. SHORE generously donated a $5000 grant for the transformation of this space. With this money, leather couches, posters, tapestries, rugs, and much more were added to the new senior cafeteria.

The transformation of the new and improved senior space, which is considered a senior privilege, was a huge success from the start. Student council secretary Colleen Quinn remembered anxiously crowding around the cafeteria door with her peers on the first day of school. Quinn recalled when the doors were opened for lunch students were immediately “sitting on the couches, booths, high tops, and playing ping pong.”

Feedback from SHS seniors on their new “hangout spot” has been predominantly positive. Lack of seating was an issue at the beginning of the year, but this issue was easily solved with new high top tables and bungee chairs. Seniors use the space before school, after school, and anytime in between.

Student council president Emma Preuss wanted to make sure this was a place “everyone would enjoy and want to be included in.”  “If anything was needed or wanted we would fight to get it,” said Preuss.

In the future, class vice president Kate Montgomery says her team plans to purchase “more posters, new ping pong balls and paddles, and additional high tops” for extra study spaces around the school. The student council is open to new ideas to improve this space.

Scituate High School principal Rob Wargo was not hesitant in the least about the new remodeling.  The majority of the planning was left in the hands of the student council leaders, whom he trusted to make decisions based on what was best for the students and efficiency of the space.  Wargo explained that “both parties were involved from the beginning” and excited to see the multifunctional space at use.

Wargo commented that he was personally curious to see “students being productive,” whether it be through school work or taking a moment to de-stress.  Thus far, the feedback from teachers and administrators has been primarily positive. The productivity of the space is determined by the users; however, Wargo believes that “the pros outweigh” the minor infringements of this privilege.  From teachers to underclassmen, many are excited to see what the senior cafe brings as a space to learn, relax and form relationships.