The Beachwood community has been buzzing with excitement over the opening of the new Hilltop School.
The new building was designed to improve learning, safety and student comfort through updated technology, collaborative learning spaces and modern design features. Students and teachers say the difference is noticeable as soon as they walk through the doors.
The building includes about 36 classrooms and a gymnasium, providing significantly more space than the old school building.
For years, Hilltop students and teachers worked in a building many described as crowded and outdated.
“…They were crammed in tiny spaces before,” Principal Amy Pinney said. “Sharing spaces wasn’t really good for kids or teachers.”
Teachers often shared classrooms and had limited space for instruction and group work. The old building also had poor lighting and temperature control. The halls were congested. Moving into the new facility has completely changed the atmosphere.
The new building is bright and open, with high ceilings, natural light and wider hallways designed to create a calmer learning environment. Staff members said the design was intentional in order to make students feel comfortable and supported throughout the school day.
According to Pinney, one of the most rewarding parts of the transition was watching students adapt to the new environment.
“It was really cool to see them become different kids,” she said. “[The new building is] a nice, calm space for them.”
While some students were initially sad to leave the old Hilltop building, they quickly became excited about the new school.
The high ceilings and natural lighting create a more open atmosphere, while larger classrooms and quieter hallways help students feel less crowded.
Teachers say the new building has changed the mood of students and staff.
Students who attended the old Hilltop building immediately noticed that the new school feels modern and open while the older building often felt darker and more confined.
Teachers repeatedly described the new building as calmer, brighter and more welcoming than the old space.
The school’s layout was also designed to create a smoother experience for students. Wide hallways reduce crowding between classes, and grade-level wings help students move through the building in a more organized fashion. Staff members said these details may seem simple, but they have already made a noticeable difference in the atmosphere of the school.
A School Designed for Learning
One of the largest upgrades at the new Hilltop School is the technology available in classrooms. Each classroom now includes touchscreen smartboards that allow teachers to display documents, presentations and lessons more efficiently. Teachers can quickly access Google Slides, assignments and interactive activities without needing additional equipment.
“There’s so much more space to work and [spread out],” Pinney said.
Teachers now have room to create flexible learning environments that support different teaching styles, and students can spread out more comfortably while working.
Each grade-level hallway includes an open shared area where students can gather, complete projects or participate in group discussions outside the traditional classroom setting.
The collaborative spaces are among the most frequently mentioned features of the building.
Sara Takavitz, a third-grade teacher, said the collaborative spaces are one of her favorite additions because they give students opportunities to work together in a different environment.
Pinney said the hallway design also helps students stay organized while maintaining independence throughout the day.
“I think the best part is having each hallway separate,” she said. “Kids can still move and have freedom to change their classes, but they’re still with their own grade level.”
Another major addition is the school’s greenhouse.
“Science teachers are already starting to think about how they can use that space,” Pinney said.
Third-grade teacher Mary Bruce said the greenhouse is one of her favorite features of the new building.
Teachers appreciate the opportunity for hands-on learning experiences that were not possible in the previous building. Students in science classes can now grow plants, conduct experiments and explore environmental science in a more interactive way.
The new library has also stood out to staff members. Shahnyn Moody-Benedict, the Hilltop Librarian, said she enjoys the library’s tall ceilings and natural lighting, which create a more comfortable space for students to read and study.
The updated library is significantly larger and brighter than the previous space, which felt crowded and closed-off by comparison.
Teachers said the improved learning spaces and updated resources help students stay focused throughout the day.
Several teachers also said teaching is easier in the new building. Lessons can be more interactive with updated technology, students have more room to collaborate and classrooms feel more organized overall.
Third grade teacher Elizabeth Riley said she especially appreciates the dimmable lighting in classrooms. Combined with natural light from large windows, the lighting creates a calmer classroom atmosphere, making learning spaces feel less overwhelming for students.
Pinney said many of the upgrades may seem small individually, but together they improve the overall learning experience.
“A lot of it’s little things that make learning just a little easier,” Pinney said.
Safety and Comfort
Safety was one of the top priorities during the design of the new school. Pinney said the building was designed to improve both physical safety and student well-being.
During emergency drills, large doors throughout the building automatically close to help secure the school quickly. The building also includes alarms that notify staff when doors open unexpectedly, along with security cameras throughout the hallways.
“If a door opens in a classroom, there are alarms that go off,” Pinney said. “Now if someone’s missing, I can look on the cameras and see all the hallways.”
The upgraded security features allow staff members to respond more quickly if problems occur.
The school also includes sensory rooms and break spaces designed to support students emotionally.
The sensory rooms feature calming music, colored lighting and tools that help students regulate emotions and take breaks when needed.
“Every wing has a break room too,” Pinney said. “Kids can regulate their emotions if they’re having a hard time.”
Pinney added that the sensory rooms are designed to give students opportunities to reset and refocus when needed. These areas provide support without removing students from the learning environment completely.
Adjusting to a New Building
Although excitement surrounding the building has been high, the transition did come with challenges.
One of the biggest obstacles was creating routines that worked with the building’s new layout.
“The biggest thing was pre-planning routines and structures,” Pinney said. “Something as simple as walking down the hallway had to be completely rethought.”
Arrival and dismissal procedures also had to be redesigned. Staff members spent months planning how students would enter the building, move between classrooms and transition throughout the day without overcrowding the hallways.
Unlike the old building, where grade levels were more randomly placed, the new school includes multiple hallways and shared spaces.
Each grade level now has its own hallway connected to the school’s large central hallway, known by students as “the hill.”
“The kids love the big hill,” Pinney said.
The hill has quickly become one of the building’s most recognizable features. Students often mention it when describing the new school, and teachers said it adds personality to the building’s design.
Gifted teacher Nerissa Taub said the similar hallway layouts help students learn the building more quickly and make transitions between grade levels easier.
Over time, routines became smoother and students adjusted to the new environment. Teachers said students now move confidently throughout the building and appear more comfortable in the larger space.
Administrators also said moving into the new building in the middle of the school year created a unique experience since students were able to directly compare the old and new schools.
A Fresh Start
For many teachers, moving into the new building felt like a fresh start.
Most classrooms were redesigned with new furniture and equipment, giving teachers opportunities to personalize their rooms while creating updated learning environments for students.
“We really just kind of reset,” Pinney said.
Rather than moving large amounts of furniture and materials from the old school, many teachers chose to begin fresh in the new building. New furniture, updated equipment and redesigned classrooms helped create a clean and modern atmosphere throughout the school.
The updated spaces also allowed teachers to personalize classrooms more effectively. Decorations, flexible seating arrangements and improved storage all help classrooms feel more welcoming and student-centered.
Physical education teacher Mary Deitrick said one of her favorite upgrades is the new gymnasium because it provides more space and includes air conditioning.
The larger space allows more activities and creates a more comfortable environment during physical education classes and school events.
Fourth grade teacher Alesha Trudell pointed to the improved staff facilities, including additional bathrooms for teachers.
Mickayla Rosenbaum, technology teacher, described the new building as “awesome.”
Many staff members said the building feels more organized and functional than the old school. Teachers now have dedicated spaces for instruction and student support services, rather than needing to share classrooms or rotate between areas.
For many educators, the new building represents an opportunity to improve instruction and create new experiences for students.
Looking Ahead
Students were initially nervous about leaving the old Hilltop building behind, but teachers and administrators said that feeling quickly changed once they began exploring the new school.
The bright classrooms, collaborative spaces and modern features have helped students feel more excited and comfortable at school.
Teachers believe the building will continue supporting students for years to come by providing updated learning spaces, new educational opportunities and safer environments.
For many people in Beachwood, the new Hilltop School represents more than just a new building. It represents an investment in students, teachers and the future of the community.
