Primary school dedicates new outdoor classroom

It began with a vision, a picture and a dream, explained North Augusta Elementary School principal Laurie Reese at the official dedication of the school's new Outdoor Classroom last Wednesday

Ceremonies included a ribbon cutting and attendance by many of the school children who will reap the benefits of the outdoor classroom.

The project was the ultimate result of a collaborative effort by the Class of 2011 of Leadership North Augusta, the NAE PTO, the school administration and a host of donors who provided the wherewithal to make the dream become a reality.

Fletcher Dickert, now a graduate of the LNA class of 2011, explained, "We wanted a project with a lasting effect in our community." He pointed out that research has shown that when alternative learning is accomplished through things like an outdoor classroom, there is a "100 percent improvement in student behavior and attitude, as well as a 77 percent improvement in standardized tests."

The story of the outdoor lab began with last year's PTO presidents Michelle Chiswell and Melanie Bessey, along with parent Susan Meehan-Gibbs - who came to Reese with that vision. "She showed me a picture and asked if we could have one built at North Augusta El," Reese said.

Meehan said it first began with numerous requests for something to beat the heat on the school playground. "They were always talking about how hot it was outside," she said, adding that when she and others visited the school playground, "you'd often find them all (teachers and students) huddled under the only tree standing in the playground."

"We looked at shades, but then it became more and more about an outdoor classroom," Meehan said.

The PTO mom said she put together some notes, got teacher input and wrote a grant. As a result, the school received a Home Depot grant for about $2,500.

Then Leadership North Augusta stepped in. After hearing about what was desired, last year's LNA class decided an outdoor classroom would be a great project for them to pursue.

Dickert noted that his class had several people in the building/construction/engineering fields, so the pavilion was a good fit for them.

The structure located at the edge of the playground provides a handicap accessible outdoor hands-on learning environment that is available to teachers and students at North Augusta Elementary and will serve the community for many years. It includes a paved walkway from the school building to the outdoor lab, so that there are no barriers to its use. And it is adjacent to an old nature trail on the school grounds that will be refurbished so it can be used for outdoor lab projects, as well.

The classroom was designed to support many of South Carolina's science standards and give the teachers a chance to make book-to-life connections for the students. The classroom also supports the special needs program at NAES by giving those students a different learning environment.

The 24-by-30-foot covered shelter includes concrete foundations, concrete slab, colored split face concrete block columns, stained wood beams and trusses, stained tongue-and-groove wood roof decking, a metal roof, picnic tables, electrical outlets and fans. The classroom is constructed adjacent to an existing nature trail, which will eventually serve as an extension of this classroom for the science teachers.

The Leadership North Augusta class was able to get many items and labor donated, which combined with the PTO's funds are making the project possible. The PTO raised about $5,000, then parent Meehan wrote a successful grant for $2,500 from Home Depot.

A bronze plaque naming all those who helped make the outdoor classroom possible will be erected on the facility, as well.

Key contributors listed on a plaque at the outdoor classroom are Kyle Watson, Construction, Aiken-Augusta Paving, Horizon Group, North Augusta Roofing and Construction Co., Posey Funeral Directors, Maner Builders Supply, Leadership North Augusta, Ferrell Electric Co., Sherwin Williams, Allen-Batchelor Construction, Keystone Homes, Hap Greenway Insurance, Cranston Engineering Group, Home Depot, Augusta Concrete Block, Team Excavating, Pioneer Cleaning, Holcim Ltd., Macuh Steel Products, Pete Alewine Concrete, Ray and Lynette Fleming, SRP Federal Credit Union, Rowland Funeral Home, S3 Network Support, Sertoma Club of North Augusta, Rotary Club of North Augusta.

The Leadership North Augusta Class of 2011 are Toi Bowie, Chris Chavous, James Dean, Karen Denny, Fletcher Dickert, Alphia Dunbar, Michael Ford, Danny Geddes, Kristi Harwood, David Noyce, Walker Posey, Josh Rhoden, Chad Shaver, Rebecca Sylvester and Karl Waldhauer.