FCHS Outdoor Classroom
Donation protected
Hey FCHS alums, parents, and other interested community members! Do you remember the old bus turn-around in the alcove on the west side of FCHS? It used to be filled with activity---the crisscrossing of students, band practice, vehicles coming and going---a hub of sound and movement. Now it's an empty space and, apart from the quiet grass growing there, it's largely abandoned. We (interested community members, plus the Flyer Community--a parent-teacher organization) want to bring life back to this spot by creating new outdoor classroom space and adding beautiful landscaping.
Research shows that outdoor classrooms can increase school performance, improve health, help students develop a sense of place and civic attitudes, and make learning fun. I would have been ALL for it back in those high school days---now, I'm excited about working to help it materialize for today's, and tomorrow's, students!
Our design, courtesy of local landscape design-build firm Inside Out Design, features native trees and shrubs including tulip poplar, redbud, oak, and American hornbeam. Elderberry, spicebush, and oak-leaf hydrangea will attract birds and butterflies. Hardscape will include an amphitheater and other seating. All teachers will have access to the space for classes and other programming. The trees and landscaping will also be visible from indoor classroom windows and will provide an attractive welcome to visitors to athletic and other school events.
Sounds fabulous, right? So let's do it! Any class, organization, or business who donates $500 or more, plus any individual who donates $100 or more, will be permanently recognized at the site. (If you want your graduating class to be recognized, please include your class name--i.e. Class of 77, etc.--alongside your name when you donate here.)
Will you join me to help make this happen? Donations of any size will be very much appreciated. True, there are a lot of funds to raise, but I believe we can do it. We would love to begin construction this fall. However, we will keep campaigning to raise funds until our goals are met and the FCHS Outdoor Classroom becomes reality! (All funds raised will be held by the Flyer Community Acting Treasurer for this project, Todd Bailey. In the event the project fails to raise needed funds for completion, your donation will be refunded.) And PLEASE share this widely with your FCHS, or community-minded, friends!
With much gratitude (and a little gumption),
"The Team" (Fonda, Trina, et al)
P.S. We would also be glad to accept donations of materials. Contact our team here for more info. For a list of needed materials, see below:
Materials needed for FCHS Outdoor Classrooms
Small outdoor classroom
wall is about 70’ long with 5 extra boulders in the middle and within the wall – the limestone blocks (seconds are fine!) should be 16-20” wide and about 20” tall, random lengths;
2.5” thick (or thicker) Jumbo Flagstone (not a bunch of small pieces- this will help with long term maintenance) 465 sq ft or about 7-8 tons
14 tons dense grade
2 tons river class I sand
10 bags WIDE joint (for flagstone) Gator polymeric sand in gray or tan (Lee Brick and Block)
The large classroom will take some time for calculations and will depend on material, but here are some basics:
Topsoil fill (we will need a lot) as in truckloads and truckloads
10+/- boulders to match small classroom to be worked into amphitheater design
Stone walls/curbing 9” high x 12” wide and random length - Top wall – 106’ long; 2nd wall 81’ long, 3rd wall 59’ long, 4th wall 39’ long; 5th wall 21’ long = 306 lineal feet of wall
Optional flagstone center at bottom 200+/- sq ft
16 tons dense grade
12 tons #57 gravel
Fescue blend seed, straw
Research shows that outdoor classrooms can increase school performance, improve health, help students develop a sense of place and civic attitudes, and make learning fun. I would have been ALL for it back in those high school days---now, I'm excited about working to help it materialize for today's, and tomorrow's, students!
Our design, courtesy of local landscape design-build firm Inside Out Design, features native trees and shrubs including tulip poplar, redbud, oak, and American hornbeam. Elderberry, spicebush, and oak-leaf hydrangea will attract birds and butterflies. Hardscape will include an amphitheater and other seating. All teachers will have access to the space for classes and other programming. The trees and landscaping will also be visible from indoor classroom windows and will provide an attractive welcome to visitors to athletic and other school events. Sounds fabulous, right? So let's do it! Any class, organization, or business who donates $500 or more, plus any individual who donates $100 or more, will be permanently recognized at the site. (If you want your graduating class to be recognized, please include your class name--i.e. Class of 77, etc.--alongside your name when you donate here.)
Will you join me to help make this happen? Donations of any size will be very much appreciated. True, there are a lot of funds to raise, but I believe we can do it. We would love to begin construction this fall. However, we will keep campaigning to raise funds until our goals are met and the FCHS Outdoor Classroom becomes reality! (All funds raised will be held by the Flyer Community Acting Treasurer for this project, Todd Bailey. In the event the project fails to raise needed funds for completion, your donation will be refunded.) And PLEASE share this widely with your FCHS, or community-minded, friends!
With much gratitude (and a little gumption),
"The Team" (Fonda, Trina, et al)
P.S. We would also be glad to accept donations of materials. Contact our team here for more info. For a list of needed materials, see below:
Materials needed for FCHS Outdoor Classrooms
Small outdoor classroom
wall is about 70’ long with 5 extra boulders in the middle and within the wall – the limestone blocks (seconds are fine!) should be 16-20” wide and about 20” tall, random lengths;
2.5” thick (or thicker) Jumbo Flagstone (not a bunch of small pieces- this will help with long term maintenance) 465 sq ft or about 7-8 tons
14 tons dense grade
2 tons river class I sand
10 bags WIDE joint (for flagstone) Gator polymeric sand in gray or tan (Lee Brick and Block)
The large classroom will take some time for calculations and will depend on material, but here are some basics:
Topsoil fill (we will need a lot) as in truckloads and truckloads
10+/- boulders to match small classroom to be worked into amphitheater design
Stone walls/curbing 9” high x 12” wide and random length - Top wall – 106’ long; 2nd wall 81’ long, 3rd wall 59’ long, 4th wall 39’ long; 5th wall 21’ long = 306 lineal feet of wall
Optional flagstone center at bottom 200+/- sq ft
16 tons dense grade
12 tons #57 gravel
Fescue blend seed, straw
Fundraising team (3)
Fonda McWilliams
Organizer
Frankfort, KY
Robert Brewer
Beneficiary
Trina Peiffer
Team member
