The IMC can be a safe space for students, but others have no idea what the environment is like.
The IMC is an open and quiet environment. It also has lots of windows for natural lighting. Most might think that the IMC would be boring because it is filled with books, but that is not the case.
The space provides a printer for the students who do not have one available at home. It also provides a variety of classroom-like settings. For example, on the far right, visitors will find a space filled with round tables to accommodate group work. Next to that area is also a glass room with a long table and chairs. This can be utilized for private meetings. On the left side of the library is a more traditional set-up. There is a teacher’s desk, a projector, and lots of rectangle tables for students to work around.
Mrs. Iana Allen’s dual-credit English 11 class uses the IMC for a change of scenery. They just finished their teaching unit where they focused on the novel they finished reading. They had to create a lesson plan, individual and group activities, and a visual for the class. The IMC provided them a space to spread out so they could focus on their partners and their tasks. They were able to brainstorm and discuss without any distractions. It also provided easy access to the printer instead of having to walk out of the classroom each time they needed to print. Overall, it provided a more efficient workspace for students.
During PowerHour, the IMC hosts Student Council meetings. They utilize the space every Tuesday and Thursday. Being in the IMC allows members to spread out and to keep the volume down. The IMC also holds great craft supplies, which the council uses regularly for the posters students see around the school.
On the days that the IMC is open for PowerHour, it is quiet, and the students can work on school work. It is not a place for students to hang out or mess around. The IMC is a place for students to go when they have deadlines, need a place to concentrate, or just need to relax with no distractions.
In my opinion, the IMC is a great place. Mrs. Faith Stapleton and Mrs. Anne Rhinehart keep it a good place to be. It is always clean, and everything is in the right place. If students need a mental, social, or physical break, the IMC is the place to spend their PowerHour.
