By Dylan SYLVESTER

A symbol of the future is looming over John C. Fremont Elementary School, and it comes in the form of cranes and hard hats. The construction of a new building at the school is underway which, when completed, will serve as new classroom space for the ever-increasing number of students.

Like many schools in the Glendale Unified School District, as well as across Los Angeles County, Fremont Elementary turned to portable classrooms, also known as bungalows, for almost 20 years to deal with its burgeoning student population. These bungalows, which at first solved the problem of overcrowded classrooms, became old and outdated, especially as classroom technology developed so quickly over the last several years.

Thanks to the Overcrowding Relief Grant and Measure S that was approved by voters in 2011, funding was available to remove some of the portable classrooms and replace them with permanent structures. The work began this summer and is estimated to take a full school year to complete with the hope of students sitting in their new classrooms for the 2017 school year.

In the meantime the school’s principal, Dr. Christin Molano, has found a way to introduce students to the construction while filling them with anticipation of the new addition to their school. On Friday, the “the signing of the beam” ceremony took place providing students with the opportunity to write a message of hope and luck on a support beam that would be used in the building of the new classrooms.

“We are trying to incorporate ways to make construction fun,” said Molano.

Her plan seemed to work as students found it fun and exciting to have their words and hopes, literally and figuratively, helping to hold up the building. The plans for the new building have also incorporated a garden, created in the memory of Laura Thornbury, whose passing in 2009 after battling breast cancer left students, staff and the community in sorrow. The idea for a garden in memory of the beloved teacher has been in the works for many years and has finally found its place within the plans for a new and beautiful expansion of the campus.

With much work to come before the completion of the project, one may want to wish good luck, but with the hopes of the students holding up the new building, there is no doubt that it will stand strong for a long time.

  DYLAN SYLVESTER