Pactolus Global School Transforms Media Center with $57,356 Grant

Pactolus Global School is giving students, staff and the community a new place to learn, collaborate and connect following the completion of a major transformation of its media center, made possible by a $57,356 grant from the Mildred Sheffield Wells Charitable Trust.

The newly redesigned media center moves beyond the traditional concept of a library, creating a flexible, welcoming space that can support the many ways students and educators learn throughout the school day. The transformation includes new tables and seating in a variety of heights and styles, along with flexible, comfortable and modern furniture. The updated layout creates distinct learning zones throughout the media center that can easily adapt for independent reading, classroom instruction, small-group work, collaboration, professional learning and other activities.

The project also maximizes the existing space through perimeter wall shelving, opening up valuable floor space for a modern makerspace and additional areas for students to create, explore and work together. Another important feature of the redesigned space is an area dedicated to educator collaboration, providing staff with a place to plan, coordinate instruction and work together. The media center also serves as a welcoming gathering space for Pactolus' diverse global community.

The vision behind the transformation was to create a technology-rich commons that could serve as a central hub for the school; a space where students, educators and community members can read, create, collaborate and learn together.

Pactolus partnered with Meteor Education to bring that vision to life and develop the layout for the renovated space. The completed design reflects the school's goal of creating an environment that is open, flexible and responsive to the needs of its students and staff. It is a dynamic space designed to support learning, creativity and connection across the Pactolus Global School community.