Aiken Middle School gets a spring cleaning

Jaquan Guzman will finish the eighth-grade at Aiken Middle School in about three months and head to Aiken High.

He didn't have to attend the "Gator Grounds Day" Saturday, joining dozens of people in cleaning up the entrance to the school and the retention pond area.

"I just like volunteering, and this is a fun place to be in school," Jaquan said. "There's so much pride here, and the teachers really help you a lot when you need it."

Teacher Jennifer Coffey coordinated the project, made possible in part by a $750 mini-grant through Champions of the Environment. It wasn't just students, teacher and parents; other community residents participated in picking up litter and fallen tree branches. They pulled weeds, raked leaves and trimmed trees.

"People just keep coming and everything is going quite well," Coffey said at the event. "The water level is down in the pond, and we were able to get in there and pick up trash. The kids have asked if they can come down here and eat lunch."

Volunteer Joey McLothin trimmed trees, while his wife, Lea Ann, invited her Troop 681 Daisy scouts in kindergarten and first-grade, including her daughter. After reading a newspaper article promoting the cleanup session, John Head brought his son, a member of Cub Scout Pack 146 at South Aiken Presbyterian Church.

"He just happened to need a service project," Head said. "It's about becoming part of the community."

Students like Sh'Nia Sullivan, siblings Bryson and Katelynn Cook and Brooklyn McKenzie agreed that they like the idea of investing in their school.

"I'm really glad I can help my school," said Brooklyn, an eighth-grader. "When I come back to visit, I want to see it all nice and pretty."

Principal John Bradley was pleased with the turnout.

"We save a vision for the school, and we're starting to get there," he said. "There's a sense of ownership when students participate in events like this."

Teacher Lucy Fabrick appreciates the chance to bring people together for a good cause.

"It's wonderful," she said. "I've always thought that I'd love to get my students out here and draw the trees with them. Now I can actually do that."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com .