Roachdale Elementary creates fitness trail

Saturday, May 3, 2008

It's never too early and you are never too young to take part in a community project.

Roachdale Elementary school students learned this firsthand as they toiled away last Saturday building a fitness trail at their school.

These students and teachers from Roachdale Elementary took part in the building of the the Community Fitness Trail.

With students, teachers and a host of volunteers the first phase of the Community Fitness Trail was completed Saturday and was already in use early this week.

Students were part of a group working with a Learn and Serve Indiana mini-grant from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), which Roachdale Elementary School received this year.

By buying rock, mulch and plants at cost from local businesses the project, which included the trail and two classroom flowerbeds, was completed for $1,483.15.

The trail was dug out and the stone laid in by students, teachers and community members.

A layer of topsoil was placed on grass in flowerbeds planted with perennials and annuals, then mulched.

The overall goal for this property is to create a fitness trail and outdoor classroom. Some of the projects on the school's agenda include a walking track, fitness trail through the woods, flower gardens, amphitheater and an outdoor classroom.

Students will use the walking track during physical education classes and during a "walk before school" program.

Students planted and will cultivate and maintain the classroom flowerbeds.

Grade levels participating in the creation of the trail include first, fourth, fifth grades and physical education classes.

Fourth-grader Natalie McFadden was one of the many students to work on the project. She helped out by taking pictures, spreading rocks and mulch and planting flowers.

"It was really fun and we spent a lot of time making sure everything was just right," she said.

"We even had little kids 4,5 and 6 years old helping out," said School counselor Dan McMurtry.

"Pre-schoolers Jordan and Holt Taylor brought their own dump trucks and spent the entire day filling them up with rocks and helping to spread them on the trail. They worked so hard.

"We also had great support from our principal Helen Blubaum, as well as the teachers coordinating everything," she continued. "They are Beth Taylor, Jennifer Simpson, Kerry Ferguson, Jonathan Shannon and Joanie Knapp."

Physical education Instructor Kerry Ferguson talked about how good it was to see even some of the kids who struggle with classroom work enjoy working on the project.

"Sometimes just getting kids into a different environment from everyday helps them to be more responsive," she said. "It was wonderful to see the whole community come in and help. From adults to very small ones, we had so many people participate. It was awesome."

The project would not have been possible without the help of volunteers and the assistance of local businesses.

"We hope that not only our students will enjoy this experience but that the whole community will come out and use the trail. We love our community and we want to keep them healthy and happy," said McMurty.

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  • Roachdale Elementary would also like to thank:

    Shrubworks, of Roachdale

    Cox Trucking

    Harris Stone

    Logan and Denver McMurtry.

    -- Posted by r4j2c5 on Sun, May 4, 2008, at 10:57 AM
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