October 31, 2022 – Mount Tabor High School officially unveiled its new outdoor classroom space with a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning.
The outdoor classroom is the latest project by the Mount Tabor PTSA and their Spartan Legacy Campaign. The annual fundraising effort has generated over $600,000 in donations since it was established 12 years ago, and the outdoor learning space has been one of the most well-patronized projects that the campaign has pursued. Families and community partners who believe in the value of a flexible learning environment have shown incredible support to help build the space.
“Today is a reminder of the power and magic that happens when parents and our local community come together to support our young people,” said Past PTSA President Janet Fangmann.
The outdoor learning space consists of a courtyard with several tables, greenery and integrated classroom structures where teachers can post presentation materials. Depending on available resources, the space will likely expand over the next few years, possibly incorporating an amphitheater for performances. The plans were created by PTSA Parent Kimberly Barb, who works as a partner at the architecture company Stimmel Associates. Construction remains as costly as ever with post-pandemic economic factors restricting labor and supplies available, but Barb says that the full community buy-in on the project has allowed for progress to be made at an encouraging pace.
“It takes so many people,” Barb said. “It took a team effort to get this done under budget and on time.”
Educators expect the outdoor class space to have an uplifting impact on the school’s culture. Studies show that students with regular access to outdoor education sessions show better mental health, stronger academic performance, and fewer disciplinary issues. Principal Evette Clemons feels that it’s important for Mount Tabor to “think outside the box” to make lessons more engaging, and she’s grateful that the community has gotten behind a major effort to do just that.
“We always discuss how important it is to extend our reach past the conventional four walls of the school,” Clemons said. “I am honored to share in this extension of our educational reach.”
Original source can be found here.
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