Project Breezeway Gets Started

 

Project Breezeway

By Candy Lancaster, SMS

[[  Updated October 20, 2009 ]]

Project Breezeway is a Talented and Gifted (TAG) venture to clean and beautify Southside Middle School’s breezeway area. Our goal is to create a “park-like” atmosphere.

We are asking the TAG students and their families to work with us on November 7th (1:00 pm– 5:00 pm) to help us meet the goal of our project.

THE PLAN:

• Plant low maintenance bushes along both school walls.
• Add mulch to bushes.
• Add a few trees.
• Remove timbers from around the crepe myrtles.
• Add mulch to the crepe myrtles.
• Plant monkey grass along both sides of the sidewalk.
• Bring in soil to add to low lying areas.
•Bring in equipment to move the gravel to designated paths.
•Bring in sod for “bald” areas.
• Build 20 benches for students and teachers to use.
• Install a stone with SMS carved on it.
• Pressure-wash the covered metal areas of the breezeway.
• Take out old metal posts.

Other Volunteers and Donations:

Charles Pollard, Pollard Nursery, Adviser; City Parks and Recreation Staff; Paul Taylor, Elmore County Commissioner; Johnny Allen, Tallapoosa County Commissioner; True Value Hardware

 

 

 

The original article follows from August 2009

 

When Southside Middle School was remodeled last year, the school lost its familiar Breezeway area.  However, the renovations did leave an outdoor area between the main hallway and the eighth grade hallway. 

 

Southside’s TAG students are sketching designs for the Breezeway area for Principal Kenneth Varner to approve.

 

You may have heard of Project Greenspace, which redesigns existing grounds as more eco-friendly zones. 

 

TAG students at Southside Middle School are making this a reality. [see attached photo, names listed below]

 

“Basically, they are in teams, similar to shows on T.V., to make the grounds look better,” said Mrs. Lancaster.  “They will till up and amend the soil, plant bushes, and add mulch. They will trim the crepe myrtles, replace the railroad ties, and add soil to the area around the crepe myrtles.”

 

TAG, which stands for Talented and Gifted, is comprised of students who meet weekly to complete enrichment work, most notably for B.E.S.T. Robotics competitions and the school’s yearbook. 

 

Mrs. Lancaster and the students decided that SMS needed a green space, and so the seeds were planted for a re-imagining of the breezeway area.  Thus, the name, Project Breezeway.

 

“Each team has a leader, designer, and resource manager,” added Mrs. Lancaster.  “We will also work to get the student body to take the responsibility to keep it looking good.” 

 

Mrs. Lancaster is currently in her fifth year teaching at SMS, and is a National Board Certified teacher.  She has also been the recipient of WSFA-TV 12’s “Class Act” award on multiple occasions, and is widely regarded by her peers as a master educator.