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Photo by Judith Spitzer

Don Carpenter is standing in the newly painted Capasso Court at Molalla High School last week. Carpenter, head custodian for the Molalla River School District, and his crew of three have been painting the hallways in the school colors of black and orange. 

   Orange and black we are behind you,
   We will serve you 'till the end.
   We'll be true and faithful always to our dear old school defense.
   Fight, fight, fight!
   Proudly we will hail our colors, orange and black is sure to win.
   Fight, fight, fight!

   If Molalla High School students don't have school spirit next year, it will not be Don Carpenter's fault.

   Carpenter, head custodian for the Molalla River School District, and his crew of three started painting the hallways in orange and black - MHS' school colors - the minute school was out this year.

   "I was supposed to bring the school back to new again," Carpenter said. "We wanted the building to look new for the kids. For their pride and spirit."

   The hallways have been painted black halfway up with a bright orange border. Lockers have been painted black as well, and are decorated with a small school emblem that Carpenter airbrushed on. The floors in the locker rooms are orange and black with a high gloss finish.

   And Capasso Court looks brand-new once again.

   "We painted the gym keys orange and black," he said. "They'd never been painted before."

   Carpenter pointed to the gym floor proudly, describing the work that had to be done to get it to its perfectly shined condition.

   "It's a showcase floor finish," he explained. "Just like the one the Blazers play on in Portland. It's easier to maintain a high-gloss finish like this."

   The custodial crew has been busy re-striping the floors, waxing, shampooing and repainting every square inch of the school. Carpenter said he was given the assignment by the district office and former MHS principal Roy Reynolds.

   "They wanted the building to look new again," Carpenter said. "And, we'll be maintaining this every year. And, we'll be adding more projects."

   The mezzanine near the gym will be redone and Carpenter said students' art work will be displayed on several walls throughout the school. Carpenter said all will be ready by the time students come back in the fall.