LPS held a ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 1 dedicated to the opening of a new building for the Lincoln Children’s Zoo Science Focus Program. 

The new building includes new classrooms and lab areas, which were previously held in portables. 

Senior Thea Seibel, a student at the focus program, was asked to speak at the ceremony to open the new building. Her speech was mentioned on the LPS HomePage the day after. 

“I wasn’t nervous for my speech at all. I knew what I wanted to say and get across to people and I was excited to say it,” Seibel said. “The new building gives me a lot of hope for the future of the school. The curriculum taught at the school will have a much bigger impact now with the building, and gives students more opportunities to take their projects further.”

Seibel splits her school days in half and attends first and second blocks at LSW, then moves to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo for the remainder of her day. 

“Zoo school has given me a place to grow as a person. This building gives the Science Focus Program a much better reputation to other people,” Seibel said. “It’s more than just those crappy portables in the middle of the zoo. We have our own building that people can be excited about and interested in.”

Thea Seibel has attended the Science Focus Program for all of her high school years, and she recommends getting involved. 

“For middle schoolers, there’s a day to come in and visit. You can go to the Science Focus Program website and fill out an application or call the SFP office for more information.”