Dare County Schools

Cutting the ribbon for the June 7 ceremony for NHES outdoor classroom, from left ‑ UTOTES co‑chair art teacher Cindy Wise; Nags Head Mayor Bob Oakes; UTOTES co‑chair second grade teacher Lora Whitehurst; NHES Principal Dr. Adrienne Palma; rising fourth grader Charlotte Rollason; Board of Education members Bea Basnight; and Ben Cahoon.

Nags Head Elementary School held a ribbon cutting to officially open phase 1 of the school's "Garden of Learning" outdoor classroom on June 7.  The Garden of Learning and related areas are in place at NHES due to a massive collaborative effort by the school and business community, and by grant funding.

The actual classroom is a sheltered area that is complete with comfortable benches, a dual level worktable, and an attractive and functional white board that will serve as the hub of instruction.  To the side is a water garden and rain garden area. The water garden was the first element of the project to be installed as part of the UTOTES (Using The Outdoors to Teach Experiential Science) program of the NC Museum of Natural Science.  With funding from the NHES PTA, museum outreach specialists Mike Dunn and Melissa Dowland guided teachers and students to prepare the water garden. Aspiring Eagle Scout Avery Stone was responsible for the whiteboard structure, dual‑level worktable and benches. The main source of funding for the classroom came from a Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation Toolbox for Education grant. With the $5000 Toolbox grant from Lowe's, and support from individuals and businesses, this first phase of the project was completed in early June.

Although not adjacent to the Garden of Learning itself, the tone is set for outdoor learning at the entrance to the school ‑  the front walkway goes right through a butterfly garden that was primarily funded by The Home Depot of Kitty Hawk.

"Each of Us is a Flower"

A schoolwide contest was held to name the outdoor classroom ‑ rising fourth grader Charlotte Rollason's suggested name ‑ Garden of Learning ‑ was voted as tops by NHES students. For coming up with the name, Charlotte had a coveted spot along the line of ribbon‑cutting dignitaries. The parent and faculty UTOTES and Green Teams provided planning along with the needed guy and girl power to the launch the outdoor classroom; a $2000 grant from the Dare Education Foundation helped to get the project off the ground. Supplementing the Lowe's and DEF grants to bring the first stage of this project to fruition was Vulcan Materials Company, The Home Depot of Kitty Hawk, Food Lion stores of Nags Head, Kellogg Supply, Fire and Rain Irrigation, Northeastern Marine, and notable individual efforts including those by Kenny Beasley, Charlie Nieman, and Jim Fincher.

The entire student body attended the ribbon cutting. NHES Principal Dr. Adrienne Palma recognized Charlotte for naming the classroom, welcomed and listed contributors to the project. Prior to the big event, NHES music teacher Becki Rea led kindergarten students in singing "Put on Your Green Shoes" and first graders in "Each of Us is a Flower." Following, a reception was held for Garden of Learning contributors and supporters, who were presented with a framed pen and ink rendition of fifth grade teacher Doug Potter's vision of the finished project, and a presentation by first grade teacher Kristin Earls that gave context to the butterfly garden and outdoor classroom projects.

Ongoing efforts include the Green Team sponsored composting and herb garden projects. Phase 2 of the Garden of Learning plans for grade level gardens, rain barrels, a storage shed, and a sensory garden.

Community Effort - Individuals and business representatives received a framed copy of fifth grade teacher Doug Potter's pen and ink rendition of NHES' outdoor classroom:  from left, Missy Rotchford (NHES PTA and Kellogg Supply Co.), Christine Zaner (NHES Green Team), Charlie Nieman (Fire and Rain Irrigation), Todd Miller (Vulcan Materials Company), Avery Stone (built the bench, tables, and whiteboard display structure for his Eagle Scout Badge), Laura Kline (The Home Depot), Amy Montgomery and Lynda Wood (Executive Director and Board member, respectively, DEF), third grader Charlotte Rollason (named NHES outdoor classroom), Judi Hornbeck ( Director of Elementary Instruction), Rhana Paris (NHES UTOTES team), NHES Principal Dr. Adrienne Palma, Ron Petty (Manager, 10.5 Shoppes Food Lion), Rick Chance (Manager, Outer Banks Mall Food Lion), and Sarah Gruninger (parent volunteer for entry gardens). (Not pictured, contributors Kenny Beasley, Bill Jones (Northeastern Marine), Vaughn Freeman (Lowe's of Elizabeth City), and Jim Fincher.)

Lowe's Toolbox Grant Makes NHES Vision a Reality - NHES Assistant Principal Freda Ballard presents Vaughn Freeman, Commercial Sales Specialist, Lowe's of Elizabeth City with a framed pen and ink drawing by fifth grade teacher Doug Potter that depicts the schools' outdoor classroom, "Garden of Learning." The print is in appreciation for a $5000 Toolbox for Education grant from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation which helped to make the outdoor classroom a reality. 

copy and photos: sps