Over 100 Volunteers Beautify Emerson Campus on Big Sunday

[EmersonMS]

On May 14, 2011, over 100 volunteers from Emerson, Westwood Charter
Elementary School, University High School and the community at large
participated in the city-wide Big Sunday community service event by
volunteering their time at Emerson Middle School. School Board Member
Steve Zimmer chipped in as well as Emerson alumni, including a
graduate from the Class of 1971 who showed up in his Emerson t-shirt
from that year. Many students came without their parents and brought
friends from other schools. Others had no connection to the school
except their interest in supporting their neighborhood public middle
school.

The volunteers greened the campus with plants and flowers, distributed
wood chips around plants, weeded in the garden and installed pavers in
the quad where student traffic had made it difficult for grass to
grow. Students helped clean the classrooms and halls. Two loads of
scrap was hauled away in dumpsters donated by parents.
The painting project in the school entryway, designed by Shari
Dalconzo and organized by other parents, was extended to the halls of
the front and back buildings with the help of professional painters.
One teacher even painted her desk blue. The painters are expected to
return next week to paint part of the foyer of the auditorium and the
benches.

The event had a festive community spirit. Pizza and snacks were
provided to the volunteers who started arriving at 8:00 a.m. and did
not leave until 4:00 p.m. Laura Dreskin, the Emerson parent who
coordinated Emerson’s participation in Big Sunday, said after the
event ended, “The school sparkles and there is lush greenery and
flowers throughout the campus, especially in the quad. I believe that
Emerson has a renewed energy and vitality. There was a wonderful team
spirit and a strong feeling of community.”

Come visit Emerson to admire the work of these volunteers. Saturday,
June 4, 2011 is Open House at Emerson with two performances of its
magical production of “Peter Pan” (and another on Friday, June 3).
Look out for the upcoming announcement.