Areas on campus incorporate tribal elements, providing places for students to refocus, relax

Sept. 23, 2024/ Mazama High School students have newly created tranquility or green spaces this year to study, eat lunch, or just relax.

The goal is to provide outside spaces that are inclusive to all cultures and reflect the school’s diverse student body, said Mazama Vice Principal Sergio Cisneros. Cisneros worked with Mazama educator and CTE coordinator Anna Monteil to design and implement the tranquility spaces project.

“These are places where students can be outside to reset, recalibrate, and refocus,” Cisneros said. “And that is absolutely needed during the school day. In this digital era, we’re so indoors and attached to screens that it’s important to be intentional in offering these spaces.”

Over the summer, school leaders created four redesigned spaces as well as a renovated lawn area with outside seating and tables.

The main space in the school’s courtyard is a 20-by-25 foot area with a water feature, two chairs and a table, and Ponderosa Pine stumps refinished as seating under a gazebo. Along the edges of the courtyard are native plants and a raised bed, where students will grow native flowers for their floral design classes. Across the courtyard is a second set of chairs and a table, all designed and built by Mazama manufacturing and construction students.

Cisneros said the space so far has been used by students to eat and gather as well as by teachers to conduct classes outside and by special programs students to refocus and relax. The water feature, he said, is especially soothing and reflects the Native American elements of the space.

On a recent fall day, the courtyard was filled with students eating lunch and gathered in small groups.

Mazama juniors Isabella Johnson, Devani Derry, and Jolene Wilson had grabbed a table in the courtyard to eat lunch together, something they have been doing since their freshman year. But in past years, the three were often alone in the courtyard. This year, with the popularity of the new space, they have to compete with others to get a table outside.

But that’s OK. “I really like how there is more seating now,” Isabella said. Devani added, “It’s more enjoyable to be outside.”

In addition to the courtyard, students gathered at tables on the front lawn to eat and on newly installed benches in the school’s main entrance, which was redesigned as well. It now has a water feature and benches with the word welcome in the four tribal languages adjacent to the front doors. A plaque on a nearby brick wall tells of Mt. Mazama’s creation story as told by the Klamath Tribes.

Funding for the project was provided in part by the school district through federal Title VI funds, with the help of Torina Case, KCSD tribal liaison. 

The other green space locations include an area near the gymnasium entrance, where river rock now covers what used to be just dirt. The next step is to install irrigation and plant native vegetation. At the entrance to Viking Field, river rock and native grasses greet visitors.

These projects are just the beginning, Monteil said, listing other improvements in the works. “I’m very proud of our campus and all the things we have accomplished in the last year to enhance our students' spaces," she said.