PIERCETON - Pierceton Elementary teachers, staff and students held their dedication and groundbreaking for the school's new Cub Discovery Center Thursday.

Michelle Ball, fourth-grade teacher and one of three teachers who helped write the grant application and develop the programs for the center, said, "We think this is a very special event."

The Center will feature perennial flowers, an herb and vegetable garden, bushes and trees. "It's going to have a lot of plants," Ball said.

There also will be a goldfish pond, water plants and a fire pit area. There will be an amphitheater with benches and a covered gazebo with picnic tables. A small greenhouse will be attached to the school building.

The entire perimeter of the Center will be more than 3,200 feet.

Ball thanked the Dekko Foundation for their assistance with the center. More than a year ago, a grant application was written to the Foundation and planning and organization began. Discussion was held with teachers on what they would like to see at the center and what could be done to integrate it with classroom curriculum.

Other "environmental centers" were visited, including three at other schools. Ball said they were inspired by the center at Manchester Elementary.

"Theirs is wonderful," she said, "and we see ours as being more wonderful."

Many ideas for Pierceton Elementary's center were gleaned from other centers, she said. "It's really going to be a way to enrich our curriculum."

Several contests were held in conjunction with the planning of the Cub Discovery Center.

Winners of the contest to help design the Discovery Center were: Emily Bidwell, grade four; Adrienne Nascimento, grade three; Rosa Thompson, grade four; and Derek Kincaide, grade three.

Mason Price, grade five, won the contest to name the center. Jamie Wall, kindergarten, was the logo design winner. Her design is printed on the T-shirts.

Second-grade teacher Kathy Garber read poems about spring at the dedication. Garber and Caroline Nye, along with Ball, helped get the program up and running.

"Today is a very special occasion," said principal Ruth Jones. "We are dedicating the Cub Discovery Center - a place where students today and in the future can discover nature. This special area is going to expand classroom walls and provide diversified learning for students of every age in our building.

"Mrs. Garber, Miss Nye and Mrs. Ball are very special people. They have spent many hours writing the grant and developing programs for the Cub Discovery Center. And now as their plans come to fruition, their work is just beginning. Some people never see opportunity because it so often masquerades as hard work. But these dedicated teachers did see the opportunities that the Cub Discovery Center would give to Pierceton Elementary students and were willing to do the work involved. We thank them for that."

She also presented the teachers with a stepping stone to the Cub Discovery Center.

Carved on the stepping stone is: "Teachers plant seeds that grow forever." [[In-content Ad]]