Most of the West Albany High School student body knows the bustling of the commons as students arrive in the mornings, eat breakfast and do homework in the new building before school and the quiet shelves of the library stacked with books as students study and read, but there are certain spots on campus that only select students see. Places like the “Hive” that is used by the Swarm Robotics team, the Commercial Kitchen the Bistro and Baking and Pastry classes use, and specialized art class rooms like pottery and jewelry are some of the spots on campus that are hidden in plain sight.
Commercial Kitchen
Baking and Pastry is a semester-long class that is offered at WAHS every other year. On the years it isn’t being offered Culinary III is held in its place. Since Baking and Pastry is every other year, it is a very popular class with a long wait-list. Similar to Bistro, the Baking and Pastry class is taught in the commercial kitchen during fourth and sixth period.
Pottery Room
Pottery is one of the many art classes that are offered at WAHS. The class is taught by Babette Grunwald sixth and eighth period in the new building: room 135. The prerequisite for pottery is basic design. Students use pottery wheels and tools to create artwork out of clay, making several projects throughout the semester.
The “Hive”
Swarm is a competitive robotics team in Albany. It has members from WAHS, SAHS, and other neighboring schools. From January to April/May the team prepares for competitions, meeting in a space nicknamed the “Hive” behind the
old stage multiple times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from six to nine and Saturdays from nine to five The team is split into four subsections: mechanical, electrical, software, and the media team.
