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Window of Opportunity Grant Project

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Star Elementary

302 South Main Street, Star, NC

Montgomery County

Project: Enriching our World

Application Request/Project Summary:

Star Elementary School

Project Name: Enriching our World

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Narrative / Scope of Work

Star Elementary School has established an Outdoor Classroom area over the past two years. This area includes multiple weather stations, pollinator gardens, natural areas, raised beds, and more. We are extremely grateful for this grant opportunity because we have ongoing goals to better equip this area to meet the NC Standards for our students, particularly in Science and Math, as well as to sustain many of the activities we have developed space for.  These sustainable activities include, but are not limited to, seasonal plantings in our raised beds and pollinator gardens.  Our Outdoor Classroom is available to all students, Pre-K through 5th Grade.

           

Over these past 2 years we have found that the Outdoor Classroom learning environment crosses all curricular areas. From our NC Standards as well as our Core Knowledge Language Arts, this classroom provides opportunities for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, Math (STREAM), Social/Emotional development through interactions and teamwork, and just absolute FUN through real world experiences.

           

​​Keep North Carolina Beautiful’s WOO Grant Program is helping transform this school’s outdoor space into a dynamic Outdoor Classroom where students can experience hands-on learning through nature, science, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

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Serving multiple grade levels, the project will provide students with immersive opportunities to study weather, ecosystems, gardening, agriculture, erosion, recycling, composting, pollinators, and sustainability through real-world experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. Students will actively participate in maintaining gardens, collecting weather data, building bird houses, conducting science experiments, and designing environmentally friendly learning spaces.

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The Outdoor Classroom will feature raised garden beds, pollinator and sensory gardens, weather observation stations, composting areas, bird habitats, erosion studies, and interactive learning stations that support science, math, engineering, and environmental education throughout the school year.

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Beyond academics, the project encourages student leadership, creativity, teamwork, and community pride while helping foster a lifelong appreciation for nature and environmental responsibility. As the space continues to grow and evolve over time, it will serve as a lasting educational resource and community asset for years to come.​

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Project Site Photos

KNCB Visit / Pre-project

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Project Development & Learning

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Approximately 160 plus Star Elementary School students used this Outdoor Classroom on a weekly basis, along with other student groups using it intermittently.

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This space has also provided a welcoming area for our school events such as our Girls on the Run 5K and our huge outdoor food and games Cinco de Mayo celebration. Families sat at the tables and students shared their Outdoor Classroom activities.  We even have community members enjoying this space on the weekends.

This area has also been noticed as a beautification of our school and town. Enriching and Enhancing Our World!!!

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KNCB's WOO Grant program has made a difference in the hearts and minds of our students that will remain with them throughout the future. KNCB not only made these educational activities possible, you made real world learning experiences that students can use throughout their lives.

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To name a few: growing their own food, knowing the importance of pollinators and how to attract them, understanding weather, using simple machines, knowing properties of matter, understanding Newton's Laws, grasping the importance of working together, helping as well as respecting wildlife, becoming Earth Protectors through conservation, preservation, Leave No Trace Principles, and all the components of recycling, along with seeing the importance of a positive mindset as well as being Life-long Learners!

 

There are no words to express the depth of our gratitude! Thank you for this amazing journey!

 

Sincerely,

Jewel Hussey 

Star Elementary School

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