More Than a Screen: How Shared Spaces Strengthen School Communities

Walk into a high school gym on a busy night and you’ll see it right away: it’s not just a game.

It’s a senior being introduced for the first time under bright lights, trying to look calm while their family quietly tears up in the stands. It’s a freshman band kid watching the drum major, counting beats in their head, hoping they don’t miss their cue. It’s a coach pulling a student aside after a tough moment and choosing encouragement over criticism. It’s neighbors who don’t even have kids at the school coming in because they want to support local kids and feel connected to something bigger than themselves.

A school gym is one of the last true “town squares” we have left. It’s where the community gathers without needing an invitation, a ticket, or the right last name. It’s where we all get to be on the same side.

That’s why the LED screen matters.

Not because it’s flashy. Not because it’s new. But because it supports the moments that shape people.

An LED screen helps make sure students are seen:

• Their names are spelled correctly.

• Their accomplishments are recognized.

• Their events are communicated clearly.

• Their families feel proud.

• Their community feels connected.

  
  

It also helps make sure the experience is better for everyone in the room:

• Clear communication during games and events

• Better visibility for sponsors who keep programs funded

• A more modern, welcoming environment for community events

• More opportunities to celebrate academics, arts, service, and athletics equally

And if you’re thinking, “That’s great, but I don’t have a student at MG,” you’re still part of this.

Because these students are the future employees in our local businesses. They’re the future volunteers in our nonprofits. They’re the future leaders in Marysville. The way a community treats its young people becomes its reputation — and eventually, its reality.

When we invest in shared spaces, we’re saying something simple but powerful:

 You belong here. You matter. We’re proud of you.

Join us January 12 at 7pm

If you want to learn more about the LED screen project and what it means for Marysville Getchell, please join us Monday, January 12 at 7pm to hear from Keri Lindsey, Principal of Marysville Getchell High School. She’ll share the vision, the “why,” and how the community can help bring it to life.

Action item

• Attend on January 12 at 7pm and bring a friend or neighbor who loves supporting local kids.

Because the truth is: this isn’t just about a screen.

 It’s about building the kind of community our kids will want to come back to.