News | Article
from Fontana Herald
By Bob Otto
Volunteers give South Tamarind a
dazzling makeover
Fontana (April 27, 2007) - From dull and drab to
bright and dazzling -- all in a day's makeover at South Tamarind
Elementary School.
But with some mighty big "if's" to make it possible:
If 450 volunteers could be rounded up to provide the labor. They
were.
If caring and generous sponsorship could be secured. It was.
And if participants in the Inland Empire's United Way Hands On
School program would provide the national and local support to
make it all come together. They did.
Last Saturday all the "if's" united as one to give the old
school built in 1951 a much-needed makeover. And on Monday
morning, South Tamarind students walked onto their old campus
and were delighted with the school's new, appealing look.
"The kids are so excited," said South Tamarind Principal
Joanne Thoring Monday morning. "I've heard them say, 'It's
awesome! It's tight!' And their faces look like they can't
believe it."
Fresh paint glistened on portable classrooms. Bright stars
shone a rich blue, lining the outside of stuccoed classroom
walls. Eight murals -- on walls and pavement -- greeted students
as they scampered to their classes. And an outdoor classroom and
an expanded walkway were major improvements on the teachers'
wish list.
Volunteers from 16 Home Depot stores, Dave and Buster's,
Costco, the El Gallo Giro Corporation, the Fontana Area Chamber
of Commerce, Albertsons, Starbucks and Rockview Farms made it
all possible. Along with parents, students, and teachers.
"This (makeover) will give the school a better learning
environment," said Adam Anderson, a fifth grade student teacher,
as he and his wife Lisa spray-painted stars on the outside of
classroom walls. "The kids are going to be so excited."
A few feet from the Andersons, Mario Gutierrez of the South
Upland Home Depot led his volunteers in building a billboard for
the front of the school. On Monday morning the sign was
prominently displayed.
"It's a wonderful feeling being here with the volunteers and
getting to see the expression on the faces of the people we're
helping," said Gutierrez on Saturday.
Along with South Tamarind, six other schools from throughout
the U.S. were selected to undergo a revitalization Saturday. All
accomplished through the Hands On School program, and through a
matching $3-million grant from The Home Depot -- along with
generous local support.
"There was a fabulous response from the community," said Jan
Stephens, Hands On Inland Empire community resource manager. "We
had to show the need, and this school had a need."
Within two years, Hands On plans to revitalize 100 schools
throughout the country that show a need such as South Tamarind.
IN EARLY March, students gathered with the staffs of Hands On
and The Home Depot in a planning session. Students said they
wanted murals. They got murals -- murals painted by student
volunteers from the California State Universities of San
Bernardino and Los Angeles, and the University of California
Riverside (UCR).
"I've done church projects, but this is my first school,"
said Lisset Zavala, a student at UCR. "I'm a big advocate (of
volunteering). It's great to make this a better learning
environment for the students."
U.S. and world murals (both measuring about 30 feet x 20 feet
in size) were painted on the blacktop with splashes of reds,
whites and blues, and nearly every hue in between. And a mural
portraying the Earth with a heart in the middle with a tree
growing from its top covers an entire wall. As students head for
their classrooms, the mural grabs their attention.
The Earth mural shows a girl holding a watering can and a boy
holding a shovel on each side of the Earth. When the sun hits
the wall, the reds, blues, yellows, oranges, and purples explode
in radiance.
"The murals are absolutely beautiful," said Sandra Quinonez,
who has three children attending South Tamarind. "I can't
believe they finished them in one day. Instead of a dull place,
it's now a happy place, an exciting place."
Teachers wanted an outdoor classroom. They've got an outdoor
classroom.
"This will make learning a lot more exciting and raise pride
in the school," said Dr. Arlene Piazza, a member of the FUSD
Board of Education. "We're seeing the community come together."
Home Depot volunteers also worked in the rain on Friday and
into late Saturday to finish an expanded walkway. The walkway
will keep students and parents safe from buses and cars dropping
students off at the school.
"There wasn't enough room to walk with buses and cars coming
in and out," said Salvador Reyes of the Rialto Home Depot store.
"The kids were walking in the dirt to avoid the (traffic)."
At the far end of the grassy playground, volunteers planted
10 leafy shade trees along with 40 flowering plants of African
Daisies and Orange Symphony breathing a vitality and freshness
with the plain green grass.
After students arrived at school Monday morning, they
scampered about inspecting the volunteers' work.
"It's cool! It's fun! We love it!" said students when asked
their thoughts. "I like the murals best," said second grader,
Christopher Malave, 7. "They make our school look beautiful."
From dull and drab to bright and dazzling. Exactly the plan.
< view all news
|
