OliviaGuthrow

DedicationSpeech

ThankyouforjoiningustoofficiallydedicateandpresenttheJamesRiver
OutdoorClassroominmemoryofourbelovedteacher,CarrieRoarty.Thisstructurehas
takentheeffortsofmanytobuild,andwearegratefultoallwhohelpedbydonatingtime,
money,andexpertise.

IntheFallof2012,thenseniorJordanAtkinschosetocreateanOutdoor
ClassroomashisseniorCapstoneProject.AsaLeadershipCenterstudent,hewas
requiredtocreateaserviceprojectthatinsomewaybetteredthelivesofothers.Hesaw
aneedamongthestudentbodyatJamesRivertocreateaspacewheretheycould
escapethemonotonyoftheindoorclassroomsetting.Jordan,inhisyearofeffortand
withtheexpertiseofcontractorBobTurner,afamilyfriend,aswellasthemanuallabor
ofhisfellowclassofficersandclassmates,wasabletobuildthepavilionthatwesee
beforeustoday.Fewpeopleareawareofthehoursofworkittakestobuildeventhe
simplestofstructures.JordanbeganaspacethatJamesRivercanbeproudof,and,with
thehelpoftheclassof2013andtheirfamilies,hewasabletobuildthestructure,
completewiththecupolathatechoesthesilhouetteofourmainbuilding.Hewasunable
tocompletetheroof,butheandhisclassmatesraisedenoughmoneytobuyallthe
materialstocompleteit.

AtthebeginningofthisyearaJamesRiverparent,Mr.DennisWotapka,anda
JRHSsocialstudiesteacher,Mr.AndyWomble,preppedthestructureforinspectionand
addedtheshinglestotheroofandthesidingtothegables.ThisspringMr.Wotapka
alsopaintedthecupolawindowssotheyechothearchitecturaldetailonthemain
building.[POINTHERE?]

WhenKateWoodandIbecameinvolved,wesawthat,althoughgreatstrideshad
beenmadeinmakingtheoutdoorclassroomareality,therewasalotlefttodoinorder
forittobecomeafunctional,usablespacefortheschool,andweadopteditscompletion
asourCapstoneproject.UndertheAmericanDisabilitiesAct,theclassroomhadtomeet
codesandguidelinesbeforestudentswereallowedtoenteritanduseit.These
requirementsincludedaspecificallygradedsidewalkandasuitableflooringforthe
classroomnotaninexpensiveundertaking.Wewereluckyenoughtoreceivethe
Seniorclassof2014ClassGifttogotowardsourproject.Butmanyfundswerelefttobe
raised.KateandIdecidedthatinordertoearnthemoneythatweneededwewould
writegrants.WiththehelpofSusanDandridgeandcountlessothers,wewroteand
submittedagrantproposaltotheLuckStoneCorporation,whichawardedusagenerous
grantthatwentalongwaytowardfinishingthespace.OurownJamesRiverStudent
CouncilAssociationpitchedinthelastfewthousandweneededtopaythebills.Weare
indebtedtotheScherzerfamilywhoputusintouchwithJohnBoyce,whosecompany
pouredtheconcrete,donatinghistimeandlabor,whichmadetheprocessaffordable.
WearegratefultoMrs.MalloryStrittmatterandtheSCAwhosteppedinwiththelastbit
offinancingweneededtofinishthebuildingandmadethisdedicationpossible.Finally,
wearegratefultohorticulturistMrs.BerniceStanleyandtheChesterfieldCountyParks
andRecOfficeandourfamilieswhohelpedlandscapetheareaaroundtheclassroom..
Youcansee,wewouldnotbebeforeyoutodayifnotforthegenerosityofbothour
immediateandgreatercommunities.

Thoughwearededicatingthebuildingtoday,thereisonemorephasetobe
completed.RobbieSiemers(doublechecklastname)willbuildbenchesforthe
classroom.Whenheisdone,therewillbeenoughroomforaclassof30studentsor
more.Iimaginethatstudentswillbeabletositunderthisroof,dryandcomfortable,
listeningtobirdscall,watchingthesunmovethroughtheleaves,andbreathingfreshair.
Learningwillbeenhancedandwillbealittlemorejoyful.Thatsagreatlegacy.

Thisprojecthasbeenalearningexperience.Wehave,likeJordan,navigated
permitsandMissUtilitywehavediscoveredtreerootsandsufferedenvironmental
setbackswehavereliedonfacultymembersandfamilymemberswhoseexpertise
madeuslooksmartandcapableandwehavetakenwhatstartedasa$5000project
andraisedtheapproximately$18,000dollarsthatithasactuallytakentocompleteit.
ThisclassroommayhavebeenaCapstoneproject,butitreallyhasabeenacommunity
project.Ihopethateverypersonwhodrivesintothiscirclewillbeawarethatstudents,
teachers,parents,andmembersofthecommunityhaveworkedtomakethisspacea
reality.Asastudentwhowillenjoytheclassroom,ifonlyforalittlewhile,Iamgratefulto
themall.AndIbelieveMrs.Roartywouldapproveofthelovethathasraisedthisnew
learningspace.

ThankyouandhereismyclassmateKateWoodtospeakfurtheraboutthegreatCarrie
Roarty.