A crowd of students, teachers and staff from Radcliffe Creek School (RCS) gathered outside for a Gratitude Tuesday event during Thanksgiving week on Tuesday, November 21st to give thanks to the volunteers and donors who played a pivotal role in the support, planning, and construction of the school’s first outdoor classroom. Due to the generosity of past Giving Tuesday donors, as well as an extraordinary volunteer effort, the outdoor structure was funded and completed this past summer.
Honored at the event was Red Door Remodeling Owner and current RCS parent, Brian Thompson, who volunteered his time and expertise to construct the outdoor classroom. “He is the one who turned these good visions into reality, providing the drawings, meeting with all of the helpers at each phase, digging the footers, hiring the cement contractor, and then building this very sturdy and attractive space from floor to rooftop, while also engaging many of our students in the build,” remarked Head of School Peter Thayer.
Also recognized at the event was Darran White Tilghman, a member of the school’s board of trustees and a current parent, who has been integral to the planning process of the outdoor classroom, as well as in the school’s partnership with ShoreRivers, where Tilghman works as a director of community engagement. Thayer announced, “We have engaged with the folks at ShoreRivers, spearheaded by Darran, to establish a landscaping plan that will, with student input and research, engage all of us in the planting and maintenance of native species, trees, shrubs, and groundcovers to make this space an attractive and environmentally friendly educational space for years to come.”
Thayer led the crowd in a round of applause for the other volunteers who made the project possible, including Phil Jones, who provided architectural support, David Bramble and his excavation team, who prepared the site for construction, and Zack House, who installed a drainage system and graded the site.
Following completion of the landscaping project this spring, a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place. However, the space has already been used to teach fire-making skills to students in a hands-on workshop.Teachers are excited to utilize the new classroom. Teacher Colin Orr remarked, “Radcliffe teachers are always looking for creative ways to engage our students, and the outdoor classroom opens up a whole new avenue of possibilities.”
About Radcliffe Creek School
For the past 27 years, Radcliffe Creek School has been empowering children in a dynamic environment that celebrates unique learning. As the only K-8 school on Maryland’s Eastern Shore focused primarily on educating children with learning differences, the school continues to stand out as a critical resource for area families. It’s students hail from nine counties and 23 different zip codes. To learn more about the individualized education offered at Radcliffe Creek School, visit www.radcliffecreekschool.org online or call 410-778-8150.
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