JOPLIN, MO.--- Over spring break, Jefferson Elementary School students and administrators have been planting, painting, and moving dirt.
"We were actually able to receive a grant from Lowes for $5,000 and we are just trying to update our outdoor learning center," said Jarrett Cook, Jefferson Elementary School Principal.
Administrators picked the small garden and patio area on the schools west side for the makeover.
"The space has never really been used as a learning center and we just want to be able to use every space. We are limited on space here at Jefferson and we want to utilize every space that we can for the kids," says Cook.
The plans include both functional and aesthetic changes.
"We're going to actually have some benches out here that we will be putting in here, and also doing some painting and making it look a little bit nicer. We're also going to have a sun shade up here at the top," says Cook.
Lowes improvement professionals were on hand helping students and teachers create the outdoor classroom.
"Well, it's good because they don't give any speculations on how you have to spend the grant. It's whatever would help build morale in the school, and as you can see, kids are out here on their spring break and they are having a ball digging in the dirt and everything," says Darla Baggott, Lowes Pro Service Specialist.
Principal Jarrett Cook says changing learning environments for even just one class period can make a world of difference for students.
"It's always nice to get out of the classroom and go somewhere else and into another atmosphere of learning," says Cook.
The outdoor learning center will also include a refurbished memorial area in honor of Jefferson Elementary School student Jessica Mann who died in 2004.
"We were actually able to receive a grant from Lowes for $5,000 and we are just trying to update our outdoor learning center," said Jarrett Cook, Jefferson Elementary School Principal.
Administrators picked the small garden and patio area on the schools west side for the makeover.
"The space has never really been used as a learning center and we just want to be able to use every space. We are limited on space here at Jefferson and we want to utilize every space that we can for the kids," says Cook.
The plans include both functional and aesthetic changes.
"We're going to actually have some benches out here that we will be putting in here, and also doing some painting and making it look a little bit nicer. We're also going to have a sun shade up here at the top," says Cook.
Lowes improvement professionals were on hand helping students and teachers create the outdoor classroom.
"Well, it's good because they don't give any speculations on how you have to spend the grant. It's whatever would help build morale in the school, and as you can see, kids are out here on their spring break and they are having a ball digging in the dirt and everything," says Darla Baggott, Lowes Pro Service Specialist.
Principal Jarrett Cook says changing learning environments for even just one class period can make a world of difference for students.
"It's always nice to get out of the classroom and go somewhere else and into another atmosphere of learning," says Cook.
The outdoor learning center will also include a refurbished memorial area in honor of Jefferson Elementary School student Jessica Mann who died in 2004.
