The founding parents were brimming with pride and genuinely humbled at the generous time and work everyone put in that day. With Jackie Moses at the helm, parents eagerly rolled up their sleeves and got to working right away.
In the classrooms, the sinks were scrubbed to a sheen, the windows washed and the closets cleaned all while the volunteers got to know each other. Brawny volunteers moved donated furniture in manageable stacks in the breezeway. The children showed their creative talents by painting the colorful picket fences and creating the plaster castes.
Their expertise came in handy when testing their future school grounds by running through the field, climbing in and out of the tractor tires and having adventures in the play structure. The outdoor classroom, which was set up with bales of hay laid out in a semicircle under a shade tree, impressed both children and adults alike.
The children couldn't wait to have a class there and the adults all wished they had such a classroom when they were in young. Head of School Deirdre Fennessy was beaming with pride at the industrious nature of all involved.
What started as an overgrown weed patch was transformed into a well manicured working garden. There were planter boxes ready for seeds to be sown and vegetables to be planted. Not even the blazing heat of the midday sun and lack of proper irrigation could deter the eager gardeners from the task at hand. The vegetables survived the heat spell due to Boris Decout’s daily watering. Thanks Boris!
Boris at work
Everyone also learned how wood chips can turn a dirt field into a garden oasis.
We’ve built a true community and family at Golden Oak. Thanks again to all those who’ve generously given their time and resources to the various projects. With your continued support we’re on our way to creating a great school!
--Frank DeJesus, Founding Parent
(photos courtesy of Aneema Van Groenou & Murielle Bichard, layout and editing by Mark Tanaka)
