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Project Update: 9/27/06
Outdoor Environment - Phase II Update
Weekend Schedule
Here's a schedule of events for the next three days.
At last spring’s auction, the Oak Hill Community’s generous support of the Outdoor Environment Project provided funding that will allow the implementation of four main elements to move ahead. The journey from vision to implementation brings to light new ideas and new challenges. Properly managed, these roadblocks will lead us to a better outcome than was even hoped for in the conceptual phase.
Guided by the teaching staff, the Outdoor Environment Implementation Committee has been hard at work behind the scenes to execute the following project components:
The Native Gardens:
If you have peeked over the fence outside of the Activity Room this week, you may have seen Katie Johnson, Project Coordinator for this piece working with the children to install several native species of plants that will make up the cultivated garden. The plants have come from separate donations by the DNR and Heartland Montessori School. This aspect of the project will be completed over the course of the next few weeks, with classroom participation. Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to lend a hand, the children, and especially to Katie Johnson for the work that is now “in bloom”!
The additional aspects of the native gardens and pond restoration will continue over the course of next year. A grant application has been made which would allow the dollars contributed at the auction to go even further. Watch for additional updates on this aspect of the Outdoor Environment Project.
The Basketball Hoops:
The children have been enjoying the two recently installed commercial basketball hoops. The fact that they are adjustable has allowed children of all sizes and skill levels to enjoy them. Thank you to the Nelson family for the work you put into installing these. If you have not noticed these yet, look over the gate as you drive through the pick up line.
the Children's Tea House:
The Children’s Teahouse has been a dream of teachers and parents at the children’s house level for many years. Now that it is funded, the work has begun to make the vision a reality. As the final plans were being pulled together, the members of the Outdoor Environment Committee were presented with an alternate location for the structure, which would eliminate some of the challenges of the original location while also expanding the useable space of the children’s house outdoor area. The new location requires a variance request to be approved by the city. This is a drawn out process, which will have resolution in November. The teaching staff affirmed that this potential location was worth waiting for. While we are waiting for approval on the desired location, preparation work continues. The parent behind the vision, Eric Malenfant, will continue with the milling of the recycled lumber and off-site preparation work. If you would like to lend your skills to this effort, please contact Eric Malenfant. If you have more time than skill, an opportunity to prepare some of the poles for milling will be available in the weeks to come. If the variance is approved and the weather holds out, the footings for the structure will be poured in November, with work continuing as weather allows, through the winter. Our sights are set on a spring tea ceremony!
The Stage:
The multi-use element, referred to as the stage, has been the personal favorite of the staff and Outdoor Environment Committee. It will provide formal and informal gathering areas for children, classrooms, and community events. It was intended to install this piece via a community build effort, in close adherence to the conceptual plan. As was communicated a few weeks ago, the project has hit a snag in that – due to the relatively small scope in relation to the potential liability – the designer we intended to utilize to put together the detailed plans required for city approval and construction has opted out. While several alternate avenues are currently being pursued, this particular road block has not yet been surmounted. Due to the multi-use nature of this piece, combined with the desire to ensure that it meets all applicable safety and accessibility standards, the committee will continue to diligently pursue the services of a licensed professional for the final design. All leads in this area are welcome and may be passed along to Geralyn Nelson. We will continue to inform the community as progress is made.
Community Work Weekend:
As per the above issues, the community build scheduled for the weekend of October 7 has changed in nature. A smaller scale Community Work Weekend will take place on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7. The nature of the work will focus on maintenance of our grounds and the tree house structure. It is an opportunity to get together with other families and lend a hand toward keeping our outdoor environment safe and beautiful. Please watch for the flyer that was distributed via email. If you have signed up to volunteer, you will be contacted with more details. Coordinators for childcare and the individual work tasks are still being sought – please contact Mary Santelman or Geralyn Nelson if you are interested.
Thank you to the community for your ongoing support of the Outdoor Environment Project. I encourage you to contact me directly if you are interested in learning more about any aspect of the project or would like to become more involved in the implementation efforts.
Sincerely,
Katie Toghramadjian
(Wearing my Outdoor Environment Hat)
Your feedback is always welcome. Please click here to share your comments, concerns, questions or suggestions on any aspect of the Outdoor Learn & Play Environment Project.
Oak Hill Montessori is an independent non-profit school accredited by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).