As of February 3, students and staff of Niverville High School have been making full use of the final phase of their school, which includes a drama room, a band room, and a bright, airy corridor to get there.

In keeping with the concept used throughout the rest of the school, the new band room has almost a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows which floods the space with natural light and gives visitors a feeling of connection to the outdoors.

The room is equipped with lockers for instrument storage and a number of smaller rooms for private individual instruction or small group practice sessions. The walls and ceiling are padded with acoustic panels, creating an ideal setting for exceptional sound quality.

“The band teacher has noticed that the sound in here is much different than in her previous space at the middle school,” says Principal Kimberly Funk.

Funk adds that conversations are now taking place regarding band instruction for the two schools. Hanover School Division will have to decide whether the current instructor, Ms. Jennifer Horne, will continue to be appointed to both the high school and middle school, or if a second band teacher will be required.

The drama room is already in use by the school’s two drama classes, one consisting of Grade Nine students and another of students from Grades Ten through Twelve.

“They were holding drama in just a regular classroom for the first semester and so this gives us a lot more space,” Funk says.

By design, the drama room can be significantly increased in size by opening a removable wall, which joins it to the multipurpose space next door. This allows the drama room to become the stage and backstage area, with the large multipurpose space serving as seating for approximately 200 audience members.

The drama room is also equipped with lockers and a large storage room for sets, props, and costumes.

According to Funk, the drama program is gaining in popularity among students and she anticipates expanding it in the coming years to meet demand. Teacher Janelle Malech instructs the drama curriculum. Classes are part of regular class time and students can gain credits from the program.

By the end of March, this year’s drama students hope to pull together their first event in this venue.

 “It’s not a large drama production, but just a variety night to get a feel for the space and see what it feels like to set up staging… and get a sense of what the venue can actually do,” says Funk.