Auditorium Something More To So Many In The Valley
In the fragmented, modern world, elementary schools seldom have the opportunity to serve as the centers of the communities around them. Fortunately, Trent Elementary is different. It is situated at a busy crossroads - near Trent and Pines roads. And unlike any other school in the Spokane Valley, it has an auditorium. Adamson Auditorium has been a community gathering place for decades.
My first experience with the auditorium was as a parent. I took my children to see Children’s Theater productions there and 25 years later, I have returned with my grandchildren to attend music programs. The joy they have all experienced makes me thankful that the community that built our school in 1941 had the foresight to include such an important community center.
Many moments of magic have occurred in the life of the auditorium, but I especially recall a choral production in my first year as principal here. “Alice in Wonderland” was the theme. I was struck by the opportunity for learning provided by Mrs. Sherrodd and the other teachers who worked with her. I saw the excitement on students’ faces and the pride on the parents’ faces. And I felt so proud that the auditorium was the center of community and learning that night.
As principal of this school to which the auditorium is attached, I feel a great sense of stewardship. It is our responsibility to continue the service to our school’s children and families. Using the auditorium for school and school-related activities is the highest priority, but we do make it available for other groups.
We have made the auditorium available for violence prevention workshops, band concerts, kindergarten commencements, Martin Luther King Day events and we also offer the facility to other districts who don’t have auditoriums of their own.
The auditorium’s 630 oak seats evoke another era, which is part of the auditorium’s charm. These seats will be preserved during remodeling next year, as will the ambiance of the auditorium itself. Although members of the public won’t be able to use the auditorium during the remodeling, they will be welcomed back in the fall of 1998.
Sharing Adamson Auditorium promotes the idea that school is a place where all are welcome. The auditorium is our jewel and we like to share its beauty.
MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.