Cabin John PTSA Reintroduces School to Students, Families

With a four-year rebuilding process nearly completed, Cabin John Middle School finally reopened its doors to students Monday, Aug. 29, for the first day of the 2011-12 school year.

Following the school day, the brand new, 160,000-square-foot facility played host to a Parent-Teacher-Student Association Open House so parents could join their young students in a tour of the new building.

PTSA president Merry Eisner, involved in the revitalization project since the schematic design process, couldn’t hold back her joy.

“It’s thrilling to have it come to completion. It’s amazing and exciting to have my kids actually in the building," Eisner said.

"I think it’s important to note though, that it really is still just a building. What’s really great about it is the staff is great. Everybody is great in the building. It’s a wonderful community.”

Eisner’s children and the rest of the Cabin John Middle School’s approximately 950 students and 115 staff members spent the past two years at the Tilden Holding Center in Rockville. Upon entering the new building, principal Dr. Paulette Smith struggled to describe the feeling.

“I think it’s beyond description,” Smith said. “I just think, I’m not sure if I have the words. I’m amazed. It’s beautiful, it’s open, and I don’t see how you can come in this building and not be happy.”

Along with state-of-the-art classrooms, the school features four computer labs, a mobile lab, an enhanced TV studio, 52 touch screen Promethean boards, and all new athletic facilities including a revamped main gym, multiple auxiliary gyms, a climbing wall, and outdoor tennis and basketball courts, Smith said.

The teachers were “amazed” when they finally saw the finished building, Smith said, adding that most had followed the construction process but had not been in the building until recently. She also praised the work of Eisner, noting that the PTSA president was not even a parent at Cabin John when she first got involved with the planning committee.

“She’s so supportive of our school,” Smith said. “We haven’t necessarily always had that with our PTSA. It’s been fabulous the last couple years. You can tell she loves the school and is very proud of the school."

Meanwhile, Eisner was simply glad her children finally didn’t have to travel far on their way to school.

“My kids have been on the road for three and a half years,” she said. “ [Now] they are walkers. Today they walked to and from school; they got to sleep a little later. They loved it!”