Students get sneak peek of their brighter and bigger classrooms New school day dawns today with completion of expansion at Warren Hills Regional Middle School. Monday, December 04, 2006 • By LYNN OLANOFF • The Express-Times WASHINGTON | A Warren Hills Regional Middle School classroom held nothing but three shop machines Friday. But technology education teacher Adam Slack saw much more. He envisioned a new computer laboratory on one wall in a significantly larger classroom serving as his students' workshop. His vision will become reality today when the classroom and the rest of the middle school's new expansion wing are put into full use. The two-story expansion consists of four classrooms and an elevator. Renovations completed this fall give about 25 percent of the 75-year-old school a new look. The completed project gives the school more space and a better look, Principal Jack Paulus said. The new sections have white floors with blue accents providing more school spirit for the Blue Streaks and much brighter hallways, he added. "It would be nice to be able to carry this throughout," Paulus said. "As much as there's a sense of history with the old brick, I'd like to find a way to brighten this up." The middle school improvements are is part of a $36.8 million referendum passed by voters in 2004. The majority of the money is going into the district's high school where work started this fall on 13 new classrooms, a new cafeteria, new gym and a larger library. In addition to the four new middle school classrooms, seven other classrooms and the main, guidance and health offices were renovated. The main office was relocated to the school's front entrance for greater security. Many at the middle school are as excited as Paulus about the new rooms and look. On a tour Friday of their new room, Slack's students were racing around, checking out every nook. One student measured the room's size by placing one foot in each of the 12-inch floor tiles. "It's better to learn in," eighth-grade student Sam Queen said. "If you're in a dark room, you want to sleep." The new computer lab and increased space will allow for more advanced work, Slack said. "It's really going to open the kids' eyes to what they can do in the future," he said. Nicole Silbis' students also were thrilled with their new classroom, which they got to occupy Friday. Another classroom in the expansion wing also was in use Friday while Slack's and a new art room will be used starting today. "It's sort of like a privilege for us to be here," said Silbis, who teaches eighth-grade alternative education. "The kids want to be in this room." Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com. © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.