Every year, the Princeton Education Foundation advertises that teachers, faculty, staff, and administrators are able to apply for a grant up to $2,000. Bryan Hoffman, an English teacher at PHS, decided to use this opportunity to create an outdoor space for students within the school campus where they can relax, recharge, and enjoy the beautiful art in it.

Hoffman recruited some of his fellow teachers to create a committee for the creation of the envisioned courtyards. The vision was to create three courtyards. Their goal was to finish the first courtyard by the beginning of the 2022–2023 school year, and the second a year after, and a third the year after that.

Even though the whole process is still in the planning phase, Hoffman never loses sight of the courtyards’ ultimate goal, the students. He wants as many students involved in the creation process as possible, and hopes that these courtyards would help to improve the mental health of the PHS students.

“Students who are in crisis, we know that they can benefit tremendously from having natural spaces.” said Hoffman. “So if you go out and sit next to a tree, you can be out of the stressful situation… in the sunshine, that can have a tremendously positive effect on students.”

Hoffman has enlisted the help of the environmental club at PHS, which helped advocate for the use of sustainable materials during the construction of these courtyards. They are working together to ensure that everything in the courtyards will be eco-friendly.

Prior to this, Hoffman looked towards the art department for a potential mural to be put out there as well. He hoped that art students could help paint the mural as well as create many of the sculptures and possible bird baths that will be part of the landscaping.

Another idea Hoffman had was to include the word “joy” around the walls of the courtyards in many different languages, beginning with the oldest language known to humans – Sumerian. He believes this will have a significant impact on the students and remind them to include more optimism in their everyday lives.

“You would see the word in multiple languages. The impression you get is that this is a part of the human. It's like a human right, a human experience, to have joy, to have kindness and to feel good. The fact that the word exists in the oldest language known to humans, the oldest written language, I think is inspirational.” Hoffman said.

The three courtyards will be located on the open areas beside the Numina Gallery, next to the nurse’s office, and by room 161.

Hoffman’s vision for the courtyards includes amphitheaters, art, yoga, produce gardens, nature, and most of all, peace and relaxation.

“It should feel like you go out there and you're not in school. You'll see artwork, probably sculptures, spaces to sit and read, maybe under a tree, we're looking at whether or not we can put trees out there, but definitely garden boxes with bushes and native plants.” Hoffman said.

The construction process for the first courtyard beside the Numina Gallery will be completed over summer break, in time for the beginning of the next school year.