Picture yourself outside eating lunch, feeling the refreshing, cool breeze on your skin while you listen to the birds chirping and your friends gush over upcoming summer plans.
Next year, seniors won’t have to picture this. Rising seniors will have the opportunity to eat lunch in the courtyard next year. Oakmont’s courtyard, once inaccessible, will soon be open to students. This was only possible with Mr. Jeffery Lizotte, Oakmont’s principal, who has worked hard to bring it alive again.
Lizotte has been working on the idea since he started here four years ago as at his previous school, Shrewsbury High School, they had a senior courtyard, “In Shrewsbury, seniors had the senior courtyard and were allowed to go outside to eat their lunch which is part of the reason I felt strongly about turning our courtyard into more usable space and doing something similarly as well as creating an outdoor classroom space.”
Lizotte explained, “Many schools have some type of ‘senior privileges’ such as being able to park on campus, or being able to park in certain areas, or being allowed to access a certain area of campus for lunch.”
Before Oakmont’s renovation in 2001, students could walk peacefully outside the building to and from classes. Looking back at the original 1960 construction, it is interesting to see the difference in the now enclosed courtyard, which was once open to the parking lot.
When the school opened, the original class of 1965 had 138 students, similar to the class of ‘25, which graduated about 150 students. Even though the school has changed (and the mascot), the culture has stayed the same.
Mr. Tim Caouette, Oakmont alumn and now current Oakmont English teacher, described how students would often be found outside walking to and from classes, “When the weather was nice, everyone would go outside even if it was just for a minute or two, just to get some fresh air.”
Lizotte explained that before the onslaught of school shootings, most schools were much more relaxed with building security. “After Columbine, that all changed, and access to outdoor spaces was often very limited. We have a great outdoor space that is closed off to the rest of the world and is safe. It is right in the heart of the building. The Oakmont Oak tree also stands in the courtyard, offering shade to the area that will become an outdoor classroom space as well, that teachers will be able to sign out to use once it is set up.”
The courtyard now has two entrances, one by the lecture hall and the other by the AV room. There are a few benches, a pathway, shrubs, and the Oakmont Oak Tree.
The courtyard plans are to add cool furniture, such as tables that fold into benches, handicap-accessible seating, trash receptacles, and heavy-duty tables and benches.
Some more good news on top of the new furniture is that this will be accessible not only to seniors but also to underclassmen. The courtyard will be welcome to teachers who want to take their class out, just like the library can be signed out to a designated class.
The plan is for seniors to have access to the courtyard during first and second lunch when the weather is right. The only other time the courtyard will be available is when a class signs out to use the courtyard.
Most students aren’t even aware of the hidden gem, Layce Lauletta, a rising senior, stated, “I didn’t even know about the courtyard.”
Lauletta, after hearing the news, explained how she was pumped to hear about Oakmont’s new addition.
Lauletta isn’t the only one excited, as Joseph Nsubuga stated he thought it was “pretty fire.” Nsubuga is excited to experience the courtyard, as he claimed, “nature is great.”
When talking to Mrs. Amanda DiMauro, Oakmont English teacher, explained how she felt it would be a good thing, “I think it would be really nice, cause I think sometimes we just need a change of space to work in.”
DiMauro also explained how the courtyard space would be very beneficial for the students, “I also think that, as an English teacher, letting students kinda be able to spread out when they’re reading, and get comfortable, they can engage with the book more.”
Not only is the courtyard good for munching and reading, but according to DiMauro, it’s a good space to do more dynamic activities, “I think also the physical space to be able to maybe do some more active activities, and we’re maybe in a circle and we can move around.”
Class of ’26 will be the first to experience this privilege and will be expected to set an example. To keep this privilege, seniors must clean up after themselves and keep the volume at a minimum.
Lizotte explained, “This is a senior privilege. We will expect Seniors to pick up after themselves, to use the trash receptacles, and to be respectful of the classes around. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll just shut it down, and we won’t be able to go out. Access will also be weather-dependent. We will not be going out in the middle of winter or on rainy days.”
Oakmont, each year, seems to become a better space for students, mentally and physically. Administration and teachers pour their all into their work. Students should respect and value the privileges of Oakmont.
