Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences

The Class of 2015 has left its mark on the Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences both phil- anthropically and environmentally with play- ground enhancements for the School's youngest students. Graduating 8th graders conceived and planned the project, helped raise funds for building materials, and spent three days their final week of school building four new nature-in- spired play stations for the School's preschool play- ground. The 8th Grade Class Gift, a tra- dition at Barnesville, is one of many lessons in philanthropy Barnesville students receive, helping our stu- dents understand the need to give back to their community. Community service is an integral part of a Barnesville education, and this year's gift is especially heartfelt because the service project was inspired by the class motto, "Leave Your Legacy," demonstrating their desire to leave behind something that could be enjoyed by their young buddies, as well as future students. Staying true to Barnesville's status as a certified Maryland Green School by the Maryland Asso- ciation for Environmental and Outdoor Educa- tion, this year's gift has an environmental focus. Eighth graders added several new items to the preschool playground that included the use of recycled materials. Additions include a slide hill, a clatter bridge, a reading area under the trees with tree stumps for seating, and a music station that includes recycled pots and pans. Students were LEAVE YOUR LEGACY The class of 2015 built a swing bridge out of recycled materials. responsible for all phases of the process, from choosing the gift, researching and designing it, and finally building it with the help of our Facili- ties crew. Eighth grade student and coordinator of the project, Sam Snitkovsky, explained that the Class of 2015 chose to expand the playground with hope that the kids will be more active, and spend more time playing and learning outside. At a dedication ceremony he said, "We hope the children will put it to good use, and enjoy it for years to come!" Eighth Grade Lead Teacher, Tara Barnhart, explained that the tradition of leaving behind a class gift began several years ago, as part of the students' fundraising efforts for their class trip to New York City. She commented that this year's class gift , "was an extraordi- nary effort by the 8th grade class to select, plan and execute their class gift idea, some- thing that truly benefits their EC/pre-k buddies for years to come."

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