On Sunday, I spent the afternoon volunteering at McClernand Elementary School in Springfield, IL. I worked alongside my son, Adam and a good friend and fellow elementary principal, Eric Szoke. A local church hosted a Sharefest in which the church and other sponsors provided funds, organization, and direction, while church and community members provided free labor. There were between 50-100 volunteers on yesterday's 1:00-4:00 afternoon shift with us. The school playground was renovated, new tile was installed in the team rooms, halls and classrooms were painted, the kitchen and library were upgraded, the stage was refinished and repurposed back to a performance stage, several classrooms were cleaned and organized, and the bathrooms were repainted. All of this labor was provided at no cost to the school district. These upgrades would not have been possible in this financial climate without the volunteers from the church and community. Last year, Harvard Park Elementary was totally transformed and the renovation has a had a lasting effect on student and staff morale and academic achievement. This is great opportunity for all involved. Schools win, students win, teachers win, and volunteers win.
For more information on the Sharefest events check out:
Check out Instagram at #springfieldsharefest
http://www.sps186.org/schools/harvardpark/?p=298&i=176281
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