On September 25, the project team at Norton Elementary School in Cheshire officially kicked off O&G Builds, a unique program designed to give students a front-row seat to the exciting process of constructing their new school.
Although the sixth graders participating won’t ultimately attend the new Norton Elementary, this nine-month program offers them something truly special: the opportunity to explore the building process firsthand and enjoy the “first look” before any other students. Originally planned for 20 participants, the program drew enthusiastic interest, enrolling 32 students and two teachers.
The day began in the project trailer, where each student received PPE gear, including personalized hard hats prepared by Superintendent Brian Pracuta, along with vests and safety glasses. Safety Manager Mark Cordoano led a briefing highlighting the day’s headline – severe weather safety – and provided each student with an official safety orientation sticker for their hard hat.
The team introduced themselves, sharing not only their daily responsibilities but also the educational pathways that led them into construction careers. They emphasized the importance of school subjects like math and science in shaping future builders.
Excitement filled the air as students swapped stories and peppered the team with thoughtful questions. Some shared personal connections to construction—one student’s father is a mason contractor who frequently buys from O&G Mason Supply, while another’s father works for J.E. Shea, the fire alarm contractor on both the Norton and Barnum projects.
The students’ questions revealed genuine curiosity about construction challenges and sustainability:
On challenges: The toughest challenge so far was contaminated soil that had to be removed and replaced with clean fill for future landscaping and a turf field.
On sustainability: Students learned that cut-down trees were repurposed; logs sent to a lumber company, stumps ground into heating pellets, and that new trees will be planted when landscaping begins.
On preservation: Stone benches, birdhouses, exterior bricks, and parts of the playground from the old school will be saved and reused.
During the site tour, students explored the planned locations of classrooms, the gymnasium, cafeteria, two-story media center, and art and music rooms. Two highlights stood out: spotting the beam they had previously signed now installed over the school’s main entrance and watching a spider crane in action.
The Norton Elementary O&G Builds program blends hands-on activities, interactive presentations, and direct conversations with project architects, engineers, tradespeople, and O&G staff. For the sixth graders, it’s not just a peek behind the construction fence, it’s an inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime chance to see how their community’s future is built.
