Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
The Alumni Art Courtyard is officially in use at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday night before the Flashes football game to commemorate the new creative opportunities the outdoor classroom will offer HMSHS students.
“They might notice details they’d never catch in a classroom and start thinking more like real artists. It’s a great way for them to relax, work together, and stay engaged,” Principal John Crawford said. “There’s just something about being outdoors that helps students focus and enjoy what they’re creating. Our students have always worked outside to some degree, but this space really changes things.”
The idea came to fruition with the help of art teacher Heather Cash-Canode.
“She has done more with less for a very long time, and our students have thrived under her leadership,” Crawford said. “The outdoor classroom was her idea, and I can’t wait to see how her and the students use it.”
The school has dedicated the courtyard to the Hilliard community and taxpayers whose vision, generosity, and support have made this educational space possible.
“It put the taxpayers’ money right back into the community,” Crawford said.
A sign in front of the courtyard states, “Your approval of the millage tax stands as a testament to our shared commitment to education, the arts, and the future of our students.”
The polywood tables were supplied by Gene and Treana Jackson of Walnut Creek Furniture in Callahan. The polywood material is made with 96% recycled plastic and was handcrafted by Amish craftsmen. The Walnut Creek Furniture will be featured at The Old Farmhouse Fall Market Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The overall project took about two and a half months to complete. According to Crawford, the Jacksons had their people working overtime and during the weekends to get the furniture to HMSHS.
“They really stepped up,” he said.
The cost of the project totaled $51,830, according to Crawford, and was paid for with the Nassau County School District millage funds. The courtyard includes 20 octagonal polywood tables, umbrellas, and a concrete pad.
“A typical capital project like this can sometimes take a very long time to come to fruition. Having access to arts millage funds made it possible for us to realize this vision much sooner than would have been possible going the conventional route,” Crawford said.
On Friday, Crawford plans to use the space for an alumni and faculty tailgate starting at 5 p.m. Senior Night will begin at 6 with football at 7.