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Wednesday's Internet Edition, October 08, 2008.
Greer Elementary off to good start
Facilities added to cater to younger crowd
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The transformation of Vernon E. Greer Middle School into Greer Elementary required the addition of some good old-fashioned playground equipment for the younger set on campus.
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By Dana Edlund
Staff Writer
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It is a new year, a new name, and a new site for Greer Elementary students and staff, but it is many of the same faces with the majority of the students, and all but three teachers, together at Fairsite last year.
A product of district restructuring earlier this year, Greer Elementary School opened in August as a second through sixth grade campus with just over 340 students.
Greer Principal Emily Peckham said they have had a terrific start to the new school year. The classroom teachers worked through the summer to unpack boxes, organize instructional materials, and transform their new classrooms. Computers have been put together and are ready for students to use.
Because Greer was previously a middle school, some adjustments needed to be made. Some student furniture was replaced to fit the needs of younger, smaller children. Peckham said melamine counters were added to each classroom for student computers. Also, in some classrooms, white boards and shelving were rearranged to provide a more appropriate instructional setting for the elementary students.
Parking spaces were removed in the main parking lot to accommodate parents with a “drop-off lane” at the front of the school. Parents pull up next to the main sidewalk, children can get out of the car quickly, and the parents are on their way.
“This has taken a little patience from our families during the first week, but it has really worked wonderfully,” said Peckham. “Everyone is very happy with the heightened safety of students being picked up.”
The intermediate and primary playgrounds have brand new play equipment, as well as newly painted play spaces for games such as tetherball, foursquare, dodge ball, basketball, etc. The primary playground has a new large play structure with two slides, a rock-climbing wall, and many other activities. There will soon be basketball hoops installed on the primary playground.
The Bill Murphy Library has been reorganized to accommodate the elementary students. The library shelves are stocked, and books are available for checkout.
Students and staff are looking forward to Greer’s first family event at their new site. There will be a spaghetti social on Sept. 26 for students, staff and the families of both.
Judy Hunt, grandparent of fifth grade student Brooke Hunt, said, “It’s great here. Everyone has a lot more room to spread out, the rooms are bigger, the playgrounds are bigger. At Fairsite we couldn’t fit everyone in the cafeteria for our monthly sing-along, but here we can.”
Her granddaughter Brooke agreed, “The cafeteria is really big, it even has a stage.”
Physical Education teacher Lonnie West also loves the new cafeteria/gym.
“We have a great gym,” West said. “At Fairsite, we had to have P.E. in a classroom on rainy days. The Greer facility is amazing; we can play games and move around inside when we need to.”
Sixth grader Vincent Pamplona also loves the cafeteria/gym.
“I like the new playground,” said Pamplona, “but my favorite thing is we now have a gym for P.E.”
Greer’s after school program, made possible through an After School Education and Safety (ASES) grant and Boys & Girls Club, has had a great start. Parents can contact 745-9743 to get information about how to enroll children in the ASES program.
“All in all, I would say that the transition of this beautiful campus from a middle school to an elementary school has gone very smoothly,” said Peckham. “We are all very happy here. One difficulty: making sure we say Greer Elementary instead of Greer Middle. Old habits die hard.”
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