Here are some observations of the changes made to the high school in the last 10 years along with some photos of the campus taken during an early evening of January 2002 by Soren Saggio. Needless to say, the place has changed quite a bit in 10 years. Major Changes Since 1992 : 1) Out with all the Eucalyptus trees lining the North Campus Parking Lot, the new "Community Athletic Facility" is to blame for that one. It is located where the Grass Field outside the Cafeteria used to be. (A note on those Eucalyptus Trees.. they were planted in the late 50s and it upset MORE then a few people when they were ripped out. They however did NOT give up with out a fight. As they were tearing them out, one of those trees managed to wrap its roots around a Gas Line. They battled to the bitter end!) 2) Then new Tech Center is located just South of the Band Room where the old Wresting Room used to be. It also claimed the sports locker rooms that where in that area and the field of rubble that we used to walk though on our way to the cafeteria. 3) The South Campus Office is totally revamped along with the Library. A huge Glass archway now greets all visitors. 4) The Old Marquee that had the magnetic letter and was located just North of the South Campus office (on Ironwood Dr) is now gone. The school now has an Electric Scrolling Marquee that adorns the area right in front of South Campus office. (From what I have heard, someone gave a private donation and specified that it was to go to a Scrolling Marquee) 5) The Old Gym. You remember... pep rallies, Basketball games, Boy Locker room, Weightlifting room, Jr. and Sr. Halls... it has ONCE again been condemned. This time they are claiming that it is "sinking into its own foundation". (Remember back in about 1990ish they condemned it saying that the Roof was Cracking... a month later they reopened it). Speaking of Jr. and Sr. Halls both are completely empty. No lockers. 6) The Quad area.... Gone are the Cottonwoods that would loose their leaves every winter. Gone is the Gazebo (but then again, that was demolished our Junior Year I believe), many small patched of grass are now concrete, a few new trees. 7) Benches... tables... they can be found in many various areas of the campus now. A far cry from the handful we used to have. 8) The tennis courts...the racquetball courts, demolished! Now standing in their old home is a NEW "Skate Park" - it's done now, but NOT officially opened yet. 9) New Tennis Courts (6 to be exact) are almost complete and the are south of where the old ones used to be. They are set back beyond where we used to wait for the buses. 10) Swimming Pool - It's all ripped up right now as the City and the School is expanding it to immense proportions (from what I understand). I have also heard a rumor that it's going to have a Vortex Pool (that would be a pool where you swim in place as the water has it's own current). 11) The football field. Basically the same. The visitor's Bleachers are now METAL not the old splintery wood that they used to be. 12) The campus as a whole got a paint job. The schools official colors are still "Black and Gold" yet all the buildings adorn "Yellow and Turquoise Trim". 13) National Junior ROTC is now located on campus. I believe they are using the rooms on the North side of where Driver's Ed and Mr. Leak's Room used to be. AJHS Campus Photos : [photo] - "The Cafeteria" - The Cafeteria remains largely unchanged. [photo] - "Community Athletic Facility" - The new Gym in the old grassy area of North Campus. [photo] - "Community Athletic Facility" - Looking down at the entrance from the cafeteria. [photo] - "Community Athletic Facility" - Looking east from Ironwood. [photo] - "NJROTC" - The old North Campus English rooms. [photo] - "Tech Facility" - A new building between North and Middle Campus [photo] - "North Campus" - Looking north from the Quad area in Middle Campus. [photo] - "Senior Tree" - The old "Senior Tree" in the Quad area has been replaced. [photo] - "The Quad Area" - Looking east towards the Junior and Senior halls. [photo] - "The Quad Area" - Looking northeast towards the mural. [photo] - "The Mural" - "The Prospector" mural on the old gym in the Quad area. [photo] - "Junior Hall" - Both Junior and Senior halls are now empty of lockers. [photo] - "The Library" - Looking at the library from the Quad area. [photo] - "Library Entrance" - The new Library/Admin. entrance in the Quad area. [photo] - "Administration Entrance" - Looking east from Ironwood. [photo] - "Administration Building" - Looking east from Ironwood, just right of the entrance. [photo] - "South Campus Marquee" - Looking northwest from the Admin. building.
|