Photos: Kilmer Middle Opens Outdoor Learning Space

VIENNA, VA -- Kilmer Middle School in Vienna opened a new outdoor learning space to commemorate its 50th anniversary. The school is celebrating the milestone at the start of next school year.

The school held a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the space Tuesday afternoon with school staff, PTA members, school board members and other parents and community members. The space has benches, trees, plants, a pebble path and stone steps.

During the day, it allows teachers take their lessons outdoors. For parents, they now have an after-school waiting area and shortcut path across the grass from the street to the school.

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Principal Ronald James told Patch the space was funding mostly by the school's PTA. "As a school and as a community in collaboration with the PTA, we wanted to do something as a milestone," he said.

There has been much interest in using an outdoor space for learning for a wide range of subjects. "What I've been noticing in the past year...is that teachers were taking their students outside," said James.

Now there's a schedule for the school community can use to reserve the space, and students have already used it for performances. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, student musicians and choir members performed, and one student read poetry by Joyce Kilmer, the namesake of the school.

Even in the ten years James has worked at the school, he has seen many drastic changes. From changes in technology, to the installation of an electronic marquee sign, to improved walking pathways for students, the school continues to find ways to improve the school. This fall, the school will explore task force work to further enhance the learning experience.

Kilmer Middle School is a Fairfax County public school at 8100 Wolftrap Road in Vienna. It serves about 1,250 seventh and eighth grade students.

Images via Patch staff