When you step onto campus, the goal is clear–Starr’s Mill is more than a school. It is a place that demands excellence.
First-year Principal Jamie Voorhies is leading the charge to transform the physical environment of the school to match its motto, “Demand Excellence.”
These changes are more than an aesthetic or vibe. They are designed to create a space that students, parents, and staff can take pride in.
“When you walk into a school, does it demand excellence?” Voorhies said. “If we demand excellence from ourselves, then our exterior and what our school looks like should do the same. When you walk in, it should feel like a place that sets high standards for everyone who enters.”
Her vision is to create a school that not only inspires pride but also leaves a lasting first impression on students and visitors.
A variety of school beautification ideas came about due to feedback from parents, the PTSO, and students themselves. Voorhies emphasized that while the ideas may have started with leadership and parental input, students’ voices are still heard and taken into account. Through the Principal’s Advisory Board and Student Athletic Board, students are helping to decide what their school should look and feel like.
“I want the students to be proud to come to high school, and I think it’s more than an attendance zone,” Voorhies said,” Voorhies said. “It should be a place that you want to spend your time and that you’re proud when you take pictures.”
Some visible improvements have already been completed.
The rusted front pillars have been repainted and sealed, and the basketball gym is set to receive custom-designed wraps from Minuteman Press. These wraps will adorn the walls behind both basketball goals and the Hall of Fame area near the gym entrance. Meanwhile, plans to paint the gym hallway frames black and add new greenery across campus are taking place.
Other projects include removing outdated landscaping, adding tables in courtyards for outdoor studying or learning, and rethinking the entrance to each hallway. Voorhies wants the school’s physical spaces to reflect its identity and purpose.
Though the vision is massive, Voorhies acknowledges all these plans will take time. Repairs like fixing cracks in walls or removing dying bushes require coordination with facilities, which will be lengthy.
“It might take over two years to get everything done,” Voorhies said.
By the time these efforts are complete, the school will be more than just a building. It will be a reflection of the excellence it instills in its students and a place that students and the community can celebrate for years to come.