The senior class has settled on a class gift: to convert the SAC patio into the Class of 2008 Patio, a place for seniors to congregate for years to come. A committee including form representatives Lauren Provini, Alexander Hillbrand, and Christian Duffy; Sixth Form President Benjamin Pascale; Max Mullen; and Deans Velma Dean and Bill Berghoff will continue to work with Mr. Courcey and Mr. Gordon in the Development and Alumni Relations office and with Facilities Services to formulate a plan to raise funds among the ’08 families in order to begin designing and building.
The student council has been working on plans to build a senior spot since last year. Mr. Courcey and Headmaster Shanahan suggested the idea of improving the SAC patio. The class approved the patio plan at a form meeting, voting for it over the idea of a class walkway from St. John to the intersection of Elm and Christian streets.
Although the design details have not yet been finalized, the patio between the SAC and the Larry Hart Pool will incorporate heat lamps and an audio system, as well as decking, built-in benches, a seating area, and grilles proposed by Mr. Shanahan for all-school cookouts before major sporting events.
“The tradition is more meaningful than the place itself,” Form Representative Provini said. She believes that the senior-exclusive patio that the class of 2008 is passing down will symbolize the unity of the senior class in years to come, and she is excited for the chance “to commemorate the class of 2008, leaving our legacy and school spirit on the Choate campus.”
The class of 2008 looks to their families to make pledges for donations for the patio. These pledges will be payable over a time span that the development office allots. Naming opportunities for benches, grilles, or plaques might give incentive for support. The committee commented that the ideal would be to have each 2008 graduate’s name engraved somewhere on the patio, but fundraising plans are still tentative.
“It’s something that no class has ever done before and it’s certainly just a lofty venture,” commented Provini. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work and support from our classmates to make it happen, but with that support we think that it’s a pretty unique project.”
The class of ’08 hopes to have the patio completed in time for the students to enjoy it during their senior spring. Mr. Gordon, who is in charge of the class gift in the development office, is meeting with Facilities this week to go over what the potential total cost will be. The committee can then commence fundraising and coordinate obtaining professional help for the design plans.
“This is probably the most ambitious senior project undertaking, at least that I’m aware of,” said Gordon. “They floated a bunch of different ideas, and this is the one that ended up fitting best with everyone’s needs.”
Originally the student council wanted to make a small wooden deck as a senior spot. Then a proposal for a much larger patio in front of the SAC by the football field was examined. This project became complicated as a potential donation to revamp the SAC from an unnamed alumnus could have interfered with the class’s plans. Working on the space behind the SAC will not interfere with any other projects and will be more affordable because a patio already exists in that location.
“This is assured that we can use this space and nothing will be changed. We will make all the changes and they won’t be affected by the other projects that the school takes up,” Provini guaranteed. Mr. Gordon sees the project as “achievable as far as the fundraising side of things…If they put their all into it, they can do it.”
Student opinions have been generally positive. Some brought up concern—that the SAC is too far away from the academic buildings to walk to during breaks, and that seniors are normally too busy with their classes during the fall and winter terms to make use of a “hang-out” spot.
Senior Jillian Ruben had a different opinion: “[The patio] would be a really cool way to leave something that people will actually use as our class gift. And people will remember the class of ’08 if we give them something that cool.”
“I like paths, and benches, and trees,” said Caitlin Colacchio ’08, who preferred the practical walkway proposal. However, Cait observed that she was one of the only students to raise her hand for this option when Mr. Courcey proposed it during the form meeting.
As shown by the heavily-weighted vote, most of the class of 2008 agrees with senior Vianette Hernandez that the patio is a valuable “way for us to give the school something… They’ll always remember us.”
