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Our Building

 

Walnut Grove Elementary

 

LOCATION: 4079 North 500 West, Bargersville
ACREAGE:  57.5 acres
CAPACITY: Approximately 800 students
GRADES: K-5
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 110,000
FLOORS: Two
CLASSROOMS: 38 

Video Tour

Walnut Grove Elementary Features & Design

SAFE & SECURE

  • A secure vestibule is located at the main entrance to the school with electronic access points at doors for staff.
  • A separate entrance allows for access to only the gymnasium and cafeteria for after hours activities.
  • Severe weather refuge areas are built into stairwells, restrooms. 
  • A Lightning Detection System with weather station triggers siren and text notifications when lightning is possible.
  • Security cameras are installed outside the building and in hallways.
  • Classroom doors are connected to an automatic lock-down function.
  • Classroom locks are electronically controlled by a key card.
  •  Car access/pick-up & drop-off are separate from bus traffic.
  • The lane to the school is 1/3 mile and can stack approximately 100 cars to keep them off of Morgantown Road.
  • Fully-fenced playgrounds have solid surfaces that are wheelchair accessible.
    • K-1 playground is separate from upper grades.
  • Other safety features will not be disclosed to the public.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

  • Prairie-themed landscape includes native grasses and trees.
    • The property includes 19 Walnut trees (representing Walnut Grove) and 19 Tulip trees (State tree). Indiana is the 19th state in the union; WGES is opening in 2019.
  • Wildlife habitats provide options for science curriculum, including: bat habitat, bee pollinator project, frog pond, and Milkweed planting for Monarch butterflies.
  • Fenced dry water retention ponds reduce runoff and lower risk of potential flooding for neighbors.
  • Rain garden reduces the speed of water run-off, which reduces flooding risk.
  • Hand dryers incorporated into sinks reduce paper waste.
  • One bulletin board per classroom and per hallway reduces paper usage.

ENERGY EFFICIENT

  • Energy efficient exterior lighting reduces cost and light pollution.
  • The building is designed on the east-west axis to maximize daylight and minimize summer heat.
  • A solar array on the north side of the property will produce an average of 80% of needed energy.
  • A geothermal field uses the constant temperature of the ground to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool and heat the building.
  • The building’s exterior includes wall insulation that is 50% better than code minimums and energy efficient windows.
  • Windows on the south and west side of the building are equipped with sun shades to reduce solar heat gain and glare.
  • Solar tubes in corridors utilize daylight to reduce lighting loads.
  • Studies show a correlation between daylight and test scores.
  • A solar hot water heater utilizes solar energy to heat the building’s water, reducing energy consumption.
  • Native prairie-theme grasses reduce maintenance and mowing costs.

BUILDING DESIGN & LAYOUT

  • Diagonal tree-shaped columns in entry serves as visual accent of the main entrance.

Classroom Design

  • Classrooms include cubbies for student materials, flexible furniture, and smart boards on castors for mobility that connect with student devices. 
  • Sliding glass doors are frosted to reduce distraction when closed, but can open to allow the classroom to spill into the collaboration commons. The glass allows natural light to enter the classroom from the solar tubes in the hallway.
  • Each room is equipped with tunable classroom lighting that can be adjusted to four functions: Focus, Work, Normal, Calm
  • Classrooms are clustered around collaboration commons to create a grade community and space for collaborative learning.
    • Each commons area has a mural, flexible furniture, and digital display to allow custom configuration and usage.
  • Additional turfed space near playground serves as Outdoor Learning Lab.

First Floor

  • Administrative offices sit directly off the secure vestibule at the main office, including  reception, health clinic, offices, conference rooms, work room, and counselor offices.
  • K-1st grade corridor:
    • 11 classrooms, 1 collaboration commons
    • Theme: green, spring, walnut seed
  • 2nd-3rd grades corridor:
    • 11 classrooms, 2 collaboration commons
    • Theme: red, summer, walnut roots
  • Special Services: Speech, therapy, classrooms, quiet space, bathroom
  • Specials classrooms, including art, music, gym, innovation labs, cafeteria, and a stage are centrally located.
  • Innovation Commons (Media Center) features mobile shelves. Resources are ½ books, ½ digital. It will also include iPads loaded with grade-level materials for students to check out. 
  • Learning Riser is a large staircase that doubles as flexible presentation space. It can accommodate three grade levels at a time.
  • A Success Slide in the center of the building connects the 1st and 2nd floors. It will be used as a positive reinforcement tool to celebrate exceptional student achievements.

Second Floor

  • 4th-5th grade corridor:
    • 11 classrooms, 2 collaboration commons
    • Theme: yellow, fall, walnut leaves
  • Special rooms: Large group instruction, teacher coaching space, therapy room, teacher workroom

Murals
Vinyl murals will be installed throughout the school, displaying visually appealing information about Indiana in colors coordinated to the spaces where they appear.

  • KG/1st Grade mural
    • Green/Spring: The mural represents a walnut seed sprouting and incorporate the Indiana State Seal.
  • 2nd Grade mural
    • Red (Summer): The mural represents the state bird, the Cardinal.
  • 3rd Grade mural
    • Red (Summer): The mural represents the state flower, the Peony, and the state soil, Miami Soil.
  • 4th Grade mural
    • Yellow (Fall): The mural represents the state tree, Tulip Tree. 
  • 5th Grade mural
    • Yellow (Fall): The mural represents the state insect, Say’s Firefly.
  • Innovation Commons (Media Center) mural
    • The mural represents the stages and parts of a walnut tree
  • Specials corridor, near Learning Riser (2-story) mural
    • The mural includes Indiana imagery: state map, state flag, and the state poem.