On Monday, May 14, Perry Hill School in Shelton celebrated the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their Outdoor Classroom.
Five years ago, a committee came together led by the vision of Deb Tucker, special education teacher at Perry Hill School, to create an outdoor space where students could experience learning outdoors with their peers. Little did the committee know the adventure they would be on for the next several years.
The courtyard where the beautiful classroom now exists was overgrown with various vegetation, but it was a task that the committee, staff, students and community members were certainly up to.
With the help of local businesses like Target and Home Depot, the students and staff have tackled and transformed the space into a unique learning experience that will allow for both academic classes to take place in the classroom space as well various gardening activities in the raised bed areas.
The ceremony was led by Tucker and Melissa Fenstermaker, grade 5 teacher and committee member. It was a wonderful turnout with current and past students and parents showing up to see the final outcome, along with the Superintendent of Schools, Central Office Staff, and many community members.
The classroom is now open to all classes at Perry Hill School to use daily for lessons and gardening. The raised beds will feature pumpkins and watermelons in the fall but during the ceremony, many attendees had the chance to plant flowers in designated flower beds in honor of the “Michaela’s Garden” project.
A plaque will adorn the entrance to the new space which says everything the classroom has meant and is meant to be:
“Dedicated to the growth of young minds through the beauty of nature. Made possible by those who seek to prove that with a little love, care and determination, miracles exist.”
