On Oct. 19, the completed renovations of the Howard Middle School Academy of Arts were celebrated with a ribbon-cutting, dignitary speeches, food trucks, an art show and a Prism performance. Teachers, staff, students, alumni and neighbors all took part in the event, which also kicked off the centennial of the building housing Howard Middle School.
A large crowd of teachers, students, alumni and neighbors gathered on Oct. 19 for the ribbon-cutting marking the completion of the renovation of Howard Middle School Academy of Arts. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)
The building originally opened in 1927 as Orlando High School. The cornerstone of the building was laid in the fall of 1926, 100 years ago. The school was converted to a junior high in 1952 and was named for previous school board chairman Clarence E. Howard.
Coincidentally, Howard had been an advocate for the inclusion of art and music in the school curriculum, so it is fitting that today the school houses a fine arts magnet program by Orange County Public Schools.
OCPS School Board Member Stephanie Vanos delivers remarks at Howard Middle School’s centennial kick-off and the completion of a large renovation. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)
“For 100 years, this building on Robinson Street has told Orlando that public education matters,” said OCPS School Board Member Stephanie Vanos. “Thank you to Orange County community taxpayers who have always supported funding our schools. The columns, the restored façade and the OHS letters are right where they’ve always been, and every iteration of Howard was important and special and will be an enduring part of this legacy.”
The comprehensive renovation began in June 2023 and consisted of four phases. Some of the work highlighted includes new lighting, sound, rigging, seating and dressing rooms in the historic theater. Large dance studios with wood floors were installed, and sound-proof rehearsal rooms were created for band, chorus, orchestra, guitar and keyboard students.
Following the dedication, a student art show and Prism performance occurred in the renovated media center and theater of Howard Middle School Academy of Arts. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)
According to Vanos, the courtyard was rebuilt with seating, lighting, landscaping and new basketball courts.
“[During the renovation] Howard kept teaching, rehearsing and performing the whole time,” Vanos said. “[Howard’s] steadfast commitment to inclusiveness, well-roundedness, self-discovery and fun is what makes Howard the incredible school it is today, and is the foundation for its legacy.”
A large crowd of teachers, students, alumni and neighbors gathered on Oct. 19 for the ribbon-cutting marking the completion of the renovation of Howard Middle School Academy of Arts. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioner Patty Sheehan read a proclamation and offered congratulations and praise to the school district, teachers and students.
State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith spoke about the 100-year milestone.
A display of previous principals is in the lobby of Howard Middle School. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)
“This is an incredible milestone — a century,” Smith said. “Think about that — a century of educating students, of inspiring young minds and helping shape the future of Orlando. [Public schools] are the heart of our neighborhoods and our communities. Howard Middle School is proof of what happens when we invest in public education as a priority, and our responsibility is not just to celebrate the last 100 years; it’s to make sure that our public schools are strong enough to serve the next 100 years.”
Howard Middle School’s renovated courtyard and basketball courts. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)
Neighbor and State Representative Anna V. Eskamani, who graduated from Orange County Public Schools, also addressed the crowd:
“[Howard] speaks to the talent we have here in Central Florida, the talent we have in Orange County, and I really want to thank the parents because schools like Howard don’t exist without parents choosing public education, and so I thank you.”
Howard students decorated the sidewalks with chalk art. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)
Principal W. John McHale closed by saying: “Throughout the past century, this school has been a place where knowledge is shared, characters develop, friendships are formed and the possibilities become realities. Stories and dreams have floated through this building like the leaves in an autumn rain.”