The Courtyard Classroom is now open for business. This picture was taken before our colorful chairs arrived. Students use the courtyard for reading and studying while teachers have class in the amphitheather.

Mayor Lindsey Lyons was present with our students for the ribbon cutting on October 16th. Both our faculty and our students are very excited about the new addition to our school.

The ribbon cutting had a great response from our community.

Here are my sixth period students after they have planted their tree. We can't wait to see it grow.

My sixth grade students decided they wanted something that would allow them to remember that they had a huge part in making the Courtyard Classroom a reality. It began when these students were in my fifth grade classroom. So, I decided that planting a tree would be the perfect option. My sixth grade students are divided into two class periods, so we made sure each class period had their own tree to plant. Here is my 5th period class planting there Ornamental Cherry Tree.

Here is the completed amphitheater. The students can use the stage for performances, readers theather, skits, or any number of activities. Teachers can use the stage as a teaching area. This will be perfect for reading classes, science classes, history classes. or anyone that would like to use it.
Our new weather station is installed and working. We are learning how to use it to predict the weather. Students will use the new equipment to gather information and prepare a forecast to use on our daily closed circuit broadcast for our school. We are also in the process of applying to be a NOAA weather reporting station. The information our system gathers will be used by NOAA to help predict and study weather changes.
Here is one of the five beautiful azaleas we have in our Courtyard Classroom. The colors are wonderful and they are already attracting butterflies
Our benches were delivered and set up last week. They were a perfect addition to our garden and will make a great place for students to read or study.

Mr. Sims tries out the new seating in the amphitheater. They work great and will hold about two classes!
The guys are thinking about the best way to go about building the seating in the amphitheater.

It's been while since I posted an update on the courtyard. We have had many developments and pictures will be posted soon, so stay tuned for those. All the plants are in, the underground watering system has been installed, the benches arrived, and the weather station has been positioned. We are still waiting for the iMac computer to be delivered to help run the weather station; however, we can get readings from it daily. For instance, today the high temperature outside has been 79 degrees with a wind gust out of the Southeast at 11 MPH. ;) See what I mean. My students love it!

Also, the stage for the amphitheater has been completed and the tables for the out door classroom will be delivered this week. The door to the hallway will also be delivered and installed this week. Our work day is scheduled for October 1oth and the grand opening is tentatively scheduled for October 17th. I hope you can join us. Check back tomorrow for another update and pictures of the changes. You will be surprised!

These pictures are of our lovely volunteers. We had members of two garden clubs come and install the plants in our Courtyard classroom. This made such a difference. The ladies spent about two and a half hours planting in our garden. The change was dramatic. We still have sevaral trees and few more small plants to put it, but for the most part the planting is done. Thanks to the Green Lawn Garden Club and the Albertville Garden Club.

Russ Jones is our contractor (on the left). My husband, Bryan Waldrop (on the right) showed up with a shovel to help out also.

Work on the courtyard is progressing at a fast pace. The guys have started the "Courtyard Cafe" and added mulch to much of the area. Shade screen has been added to the amphitheater and the reading arbor. The teachers are excited about he shade produced after that addition. Tomorrow, the iron on the Cafe fence will be going in. We are in the process of looking for volunteers to install the plants in our Courtyard on Monday. If you're intrested, let me know. We need eight to ten volunteers to meet in the courtyard on Monday morning at 9:00. Come with your own gardening gloves and a shovel. :)

Mr. Sims looks on as the Courtyard Cafe' is started.

Shade fabric on the amphitheather will make such a difference on a sunny day.

I can't believe how fast the courtyard is progressing. Today, the workers are putting up the shade fabric on the amphitheater. It is making such a difference. I can't wait to get my class out there to use it. We are having a great time watching the workers out the window.
The Courtyard will have WiFi, so we will be able to take our computers out to work on our projects. This area will be a wonderful addition to our school and our community. We are in the process of looking for an outdoor sound system with a wireless microphone to add to the project. We are also looking for furniture to use under the reading arbor and in the Courtyard Cafe.
We are in the process of setting dates for a community work day and our ribbon cutting. Stay tuned for updates on these items!

The rocks for the dry creek bed are going in. They look great and will help keep our Courtyard Classroom usable when the Spring rains come.

The old landscaping is coming out to make room for the new!
This tells us Locator Services has been here and we are ready to roll!

Bye Bye! Old plants!

Newspaper Article

The groundbreaking for our courtyard renovation project was recently featured in the Sandmountain Reporter.

http://sandmountainreporter.com/story.lasso?ewcd=8d5f47799baad7d2

Work on the Courtyard Classroom has begun. We are well underway with the construction of our project. The reading arbor is complete and the amphitheater is almost there. Stadium style seating in next on the list for the amphitheater. The dry creek bed is being put down, even as I type. I am wathcing the workers outside my window. It is raining and these guys are still going strong. We are taking pictures daily and I will have those up very soon. Stay tuned!

In the Beginning....

Our Courtyard Classroom is under way! Yahoo! We are in the planning process and our excitment is growing. Watch for construction to begin soon!