To kick off the new 2017-2018 school year, SJHHS opened the doors to a brand new building on campus. The J building was completed over the summer, two years after it was announced in 2015. Construction started at the beginning of last school year in the east part of campus on top of the former secondary student parking lot.

The building was built in response to SJHHS’ ever-growing student population as an expansion to the school.

According to Assistant Principal Michael Kim, “It’s an awesome addition to our already beautiful campus, and it provides our needs in terms of size and how we’re growing. I think it reflects the type of quality in the learning that we want students to have especially in the 21st century.“

The two story building has 24 classrooms and features a fresh classroom layout not seen before in other buildings. Also, the classrooms are outfitted with brand new technology that will help teachers to educate students. Kim explained some of the new advantages of the J building’s technology.

“As far as technology goes, our teachers have the capability to use [what’s] called a Nova Pro, it acts like an Apple TV, except it doesn’t just use Apple products…they can link through that and they don’t have to use [document cameras] anymore because their Windows Surface cameras can act as the [document camera].”

However, there have been generally mixed feelings about the technology in the buildings. As Jen Tatala, English teacher, said, “I really need help with understanding the projector… I don’t think I am the only one who needs help either.”

Teachers generally enjoy the new environment the J building has provided, but there have been quite few stuggles as far as technology goes.

The aesthetics of the building seem to be the biggest plus. As Tatala said, “I think it’s beautiful. I think it functions really nicely as a classroom setting and allows teachers to collaborate quickly [being so close]…teaching-wise, I like the fact that I don’t know where the front of my room is…I feel like we just move around so much in a more open environment…I think we’re really lucky [here].”

Overall, the building is a great addition to the campus that all students can enjoy when they attend their English classes at SJHHS.

It’s unlikely that another building will be built here at SJHHS for the time being, but the school will continue to maintain a standard for the other facilities as well.

Kim said, “Capistrano Unified School District [has] a plan to continue upgrading facilities as they see fit, but it goes in stages.”

For the time being, the new building stands as a welcome to the ever growing boundaries of SJHHS and also the future moving forward.