Lowe's Grant Helps Lordship Students Get Their Hands Dirty

It was Reading Specialist, Patricia Hines, who took the initiative last fall to complete the Low’s Toolbox Educational grant application “We have such an awesome school community here at Lordship. I like to think of us as a family. The fact that we had parents (through the guidance of Patty Starkey) already create our beautiful garden was an impetuous for extending this area into a true outdoor classroom.” Hines added, “Developing assets (the building blocks that help make children successful in life) was another reason for creating this outdoor learning lab. Our goal is to have students help in the development of this great resource.”
The outdoor classroom does complement the community garden that was created by students, staff and parents in 2012. It serves as a great extension of the garden where students can have hand-on experiences observing, exploring and researching various occurrences in nature, such as weather patterns and vegetation. One of the most exciting projects was learning about the plight of the monarch butterfly and creating a stopping place for them on their migratory journey. Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Jennifer Silberger, a Lordship School parent, the butterfly garden is now on the Monarch Waystation Registry as a migration stop.

Teachers have already utilized the space for science, reading and math activities. This fall students harvested the garden and are prepping it for the winter. In the near future, the school hopes to add an updated weather lab and benches for our school and community to enjoy. This endeavor would not have happened without the many parents, staff, students and community members who supported it throughout its many stages. “We appreciate all the volunteers who helped make this happen, especially the Silberger family, who went above and beyond to make this project happen.” added Hines.

There has been a tremendous amount of positive feedback and support from the Lordship School community. While working on it over the summer, many neighbors visited the site and mentioned how pleased they were with the new design.
This endeavor would not have happened without the many parents, staff, students and community members who supported it throughout its many stages. A special thank you to the original sign artist, Karen Tomsheck, for renovating and repainting the school sign to look as fresh and new as the outdoor learning space.