The Hatton-McCredie outdoor classroom is one dad's weekend away from being finished now that the Fulton school received a grant to build two bridges on the trails.
The school was gifted a $2,500 donation from the America's Farmers Grow Communities, which is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, after local farmers Brooksie Teel and Rod Shryock designated the grant to helping the school, according to a release.
"We're very thankful to the generosity of our community," Principal Brian Jobe said.
With the funds, Jobe said that the school will host another dad's weekend to construct two bridges to cross over the creek that separates the outdoor classroom from the rest of the school grounds. The current crossway over the creek is dilapidated, Jobe said, and students have to walk a short way up the creek before reaching a point that's safe to cross.
Jobe said that the student council is leading the initiative to purchase the bridges, as well as an outdoor water fountain the students could access during recess. Designs for the bridges include both a stationary and swinging bridge that will be constructed in the spring during the next dad's weekend, where the fathers of students help complete projects and provide manual labor on the school grounds.
During the last dad's weekend a lectern and new seating was created to replace the seating area in the outdoor classroom.
The water fountain is a project the students have already started by raising funds and looking at different styles available for outdoor use. The students have already raised half of the funds that would go to purchase the fountain and have already began a cost benefit analysis. Once the analysis is complete the students will select a style and open the bidding process, Jobe said.
"During recess students have to come back into the building for a drink and as for the staff, we want to keep students hydrated," Jobe said. "But students want to protect their recess time and they thought if they had a water fountain outside they'd have more recess time."