Tables!!

The tables for the classroom arrived and were installed.  The tables were purchased with the  money students earned selling cookie dough last fall.  
A special thank you to everyone who supported our effort to raise money for this project. 

The classroom teachers are making plans for how this space can be used.   The students all ready using it during recess!

We can hardly wait to discover all the learning that will take place in this very special classroom!!!

Bird Houses and Feeders

We also installed two bluebird houses on the light poles around the classroom.

The addition of three different bird feeders and a wren house will encourage birds to visit the Washington Township Outdoor Classroom.

Students hang  the feeders.

Finishing touches

The students add mulch around some of the newly installed plants.

Watering the plants will get them off to a good start!!

Adding the Plants

Mrs. Spenler adds native prairie flowers and grasses to the outdoor classroom area.  We also have several large logs for the students to sit on during activities.

Two students plant giant sunflower seeds around the base of the building to attract birds to the area.

Raking the River Rock

The students worked very hard raking and shoveling the river rock into place around the stepping stones.  They turned two large piles of rock into one smooth layer. 

The Stepping Stones

One of Mrs. Oswald's favorite sayings was to remind the students at Washington Township to be "kind, caring, happy, helpful and friendly". 

A generous parent from Washington Township,  Jenny Roth, designed and painted these stepping stones to help the students to remember this important message.

Students carefully place the stepping stones.

The finished product.....

Adding Rock Edging

With the help of some very strong Washington Township Students, we edged one end of the classroom space with large rocks in order to keep the river rock in place.










The students work together to carry the larger stones.

The Work Continues

In early May, we began to get the outdoor classroom space ready for planting native prairie plants and laying down rock to help with weed control.

Several students help Mrs. Spenler lay the landscape fabric as the first step in this process.

Two of the students wait to insert staples into the fabric to hold it in place.

Planting Seeds

The Washington Township Student Council planted native prairie seeds. The flowers we started are Black Eyed Susan, Blue False Indigo and Purple Coneflower.  We also planted Big Blue Stem and Little Blues Stem grasses.

The plants will be transplanted into the outdoor classroom when the weather gets warmer.

The Bench

Mr. Parrott volunteered to build a bench in memory of Voyce.  In the spring, the bench will be placed on the cement slab in the outdoor classroom. 

What's next?????

The students and staff at Washington Township would like to thank the family of Voyce Oswald and the WT Parent Boosters for their financial support of the outdoor classroom project.  We would also like to thank TD Builders for doing such a great job on the construction.  But we aren't done!  We are planning to add tables, landscaping rock, plantings, stepping stones and many other things to the area. With the help of the WT Student Council,  the students raised over $2000 to continue the work on the outdoor classroom.  We have big plans for this spot but it will have to wait until spring. 

The finished product.....for now!

A roof is added to protect the new classroom area from the elements.

Mrs. Spenler adds an inscription to the slab for the bench.

Finishing the slabs

The students watch as the concrete is being poured.

Construction Begins

Construction of the new outdoor classroom began in early September 2010. The staff at WT, along with input from Voyce's family, decided to add to the concession stand area for the outdoor classroom.  Here the a worker from TD Builders is framing the slab which will be used for permanent tables and learning space.

A memorial bench will be placed on this smaller slab, to recognize Voyce's contribution to the outdoor classroom.

Getting Started

The Washington Township outdoor classroom began with a generous memorial contribution by a former staff member, Voyce Oswald, in 2010.  Voyce was an employee in the building for 22 years, first in the kitchen and later, as a para educator.  Sadly, Voyce lost her battle with cancer in January 2010.

Voyce had always dreamed of a space where the students at Washington Township could study and enjoy the outdoors.  Through her memorial, we have been able to begin to make her dream a reality. It will also provide a place where all of us, who were touched by her love and generosity, can go to remember her and her contributions to Washington Township.