Volunteers Come Together to Spruce-Up School

A troop of parents and students gave up their Sunday morning to converge on Highland Ranch Elementary School in Carmel Mountain Ranch this past weekend.  The goal was to clip, trim, buzz, snip, whack, plant and rake the grounds of the school before school begins on August 24th.
 
According to organizers Jennifer and Tom Burkey, approximately 20-30 parents and some hard-working students began the daunting task of getting the school ship-shape for opening.  Mrs. Burkey had originally began generously giving of her time last year when she started spending more time on campus working with the school's educational foundation.  The more they visited the school, the more they noticed how desperately the grounds needed some TLC.  So, twice she and her husband trimmed the overgrown bushes and shrubs throughout the campus all by themselves!  Becca Barr, Vice President of Highland Ranch's Educational Foundation called Jennifer a "bright warm and dedicated asset to the foundation and the school at large and is always the first to ask; What can I do to help?".  This time, it was the Burkey's turn to ask for a little help.  With the assistance of HRES Principal Anita Watson, they put out the call for parents to lend a hand.  Each team of arriving volunteers was sent to a different area of the school to get as much achieved as possible.  I was sent to the front of the school (with my borrowed shears and gloves) to hand-trim the bushes.  I was lucky, my job was easier since I was in the shade.  Hours later, still working hard under the midday sun, wearing jeans, t-shirt and work gloves, Jennifer Burkey took a moment from trimming an overgrown hedge to talk.  "We are very appreciative for the kind assistance we received today.  The strategic cuts by the district were made so as to least impact education and grounds keeping has suffered greatly". She continued; "Our desire is to add family work days in the coming year to avoid decay at the school and address those areas that the district is unable to afford."  Well into the afternoon I found Sundar Karthikeyan (pictured) working to complete an entire side of the school's perimeter.  He was working carefully and methodically as he trimmed and shaped the fragrant Rosemary bushes that line the school's side gate.  Sundar was happy to know his hard labor will help improve the attractiveness of the school and will have a positive effect on the incoming students, teachers  and the community it serves.  His daughter will be entering 1st grade this year and as he says, he simply "wanted to do something to make the school look nice".  He certainly did! They all did!
 
For more information about the Highland Ranch Educational Foundation, upcoming events and fundraising opportunities, please visit:      
http://www.highlandrancheducationalfoundation.org/