While students and teachers were relaxing over spring break, construction workers were hard at work beginning the renovations that will come to Blanchet this summer.

A wide hole has been dug in the Ernie Rose Activities Center, the area that connects Blanchet gyms. This hole marks where the elevator will be installed to connect the first and second floors. The second floor of the Ernie Rose Activities Center will be a new dimension of Bishop Blanchet High School added this summer.

This second level will provide an improved fitness center, new locker rooms for both men and women, and new amenities such as coaches’ offices. A new facility will also be put in place for sports medicine – a crucial need for injured athletes.

Junior Jack Heffernan is one of many who can speak about the conditions of the current facilities for those who are injured,76 as he has been diagnosed with shin splints every cross country season.

“It’ll be really nice to have a new, updated space, especially with the current fitness center being fairly cramped for those trying to work through injuries,”said Heffernan. “The fitness center gets a lot of use, so a new space will benefit a lot of students.”

However, the much anticipated renovation of the cafeteria has been rescheduled.

“By doing this project next summer,”said President Tony DeSapio, “we are avoiding the potential of not completing all the projects before school starts.”

Only doing one project this summer will prevent the contractors from working overtime which would potentially put the school over its budget.

Having expected an updated cafeteria for the following school year, some students are disappointed with the delay. This year’s juniors will not get the experience of the new cafeteria as they originally thought. Current junior Matty Campbell spends his lunches working in the Snack Shack outside the cafeteria.

“I’m pretty upset because I’m a big advocate of a good space, such as a cafeteria, for social gatherings and communication between classmates,” said Campbell. “An updated cafeteria would have provided the students with a much needed, updated place where they can converse and figure out what ever they need.”

The cafeteria will be renovated over the summer of 2018 to ensure the completion of the upper-level gym renovations before the start of the 2017-2018 school year.