One of the things that I love about being a media specialist is that my reach can be felt throughout the entire school and not just in one classroom. I can team up with different groups of teachers and staff to create and execute projects, and I try to take advantage of that as much as possible.
A few months ago, we created the Garden of Readin', a beautification project just outside the media center. That went over really well! This Thanksgiving break, we took on another area of the school that needed some renovation, the outdoor courtyard just outside the cafeteria. Over the years, the mural had faded, the tables were neglected, and it became a home for trash cans and other assorted paraphernalia. It was an unattractive mess. This area became our new project.
Pride Plaza BEFORE the renovation
Over the course of the first weekend of Thanksgiving break, a team of teachers painted, planted, and cleaned up the area to make it an inviting area for kids, staff, and parents. The idea was that parents could come in and have lunch with their kids in the plaza or we could hold some outdoor events in this area. It was an area of school that needed to be refurbished.
Things went well over the course of those two days. We painted, planted, hung canvas shade sails, and cleaned up the area. The area now looks crisp, clean, colorful, and inviting. We could not be happier with the results. Upon returning to school, the kids seemed to love the new plaza. They remarked about how cool it looked and immediately wanted to eat lunch on the plaza.
This is another example of what we can do as a staff and student body when we take ownership of our surroundings and work to improve them. Now, we are looking at other areas of the campus that might need a little work. Here are some pics of the finished Pride Plaza.
