All-in effort at Cloverdale fuels outdoor classroom

Standing with teacher Karen Headley, second-grader Mabel Meluch shows her representation of time, treasure and talent as the heart of philanthropy. Meluch won a Putnam County Community Foundation art contest and received a $500 grant that went toward the new Cloverdale Elementary School outdoor classroom.

Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

CLOVERDALE — A project set out by second-graders collecting change at Cloverdale Elementary School has come to fruition. Support from school leaders and partners was at the forefront.

So it was all excitement last Thursday as the whole second-grade class met to dedicate a new outdoor classroom. The space was celebrated as an all-in effort to benefit the community.

Teacher Sheryl Hall proposed the concept to the Cloverdale School Board in March. The impetus was students always looking forward to going outside for school activities. They worked for it.

Second-grade classrooms have participated in Kids Make Change, an initiative piloted last year by the Putnam County Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Committee. The program’s aim is to educate and empower youth to give their time, treasure and talent.

As such, the program issued three challenges to students. These included an art contest, a coin drive and a service project to support a cause of their choice.

While four classrooms were chosen last year, all second-graders were invited to contribute this year. Cloverdale’s Mabel Meluch won a $500 grant for her artwork depicting time, treasure and talent as the heart of philanthropy.

With school leaders and community partners attending, second-grader Lane Burnham helps teacher Sheryl Hall (center) cut the ribbon on a new outdoor classroom at Cloverdale Elementary School last Thursday. The project is the culmination of second-grade students’ participation in the Kids Make Change program.

Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

Cloverdale Elementary raised the most money in a two-week span with over $2,800 (again, in change), garnering an additional $1,000 grant from PCCF. But, as teacher Karen Headley illustrated, the train picked up steam.

The school board and Supt. Greg Linton came with their support from the get-go. While PCCF was the engine, Hall was the conductor who spent time on grants and fundraising in the community. Ultimately, the project became a schoolwide commitment.

Walmart and the Mary Allison Children’s Trust, as well as private donations, were cars added to the train, while the Youth Philanthropy Committee gave another $1,000 after students gave a presentation. As the caboose, the school corporation made up the difference, while Travis Ferran gave his time to construct the space.

“It is our intention that this is used freely by the students, by the community, by parents and teachers,” Headley told the students. “And we hope that we take care of it and respect it, don’t we?”

To drive that point, Headley suggested that as one was taken at its dedication, the class of 2034 will get another photo at the space when they graduate.

“It’s neat when you have a project like this that’s generated by the kids,” Linton commented. “I just appreciate everyone’s buy-in and support of our school to be able to do something that’s never been done.”