Column: Students receive cultural summer experiences

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Westfield Rotarians took students to Cool Creek Park to learn about invasive plants and also cleaned up trails and pulled weeds before designing tiles at a pottery shop. (Submitted photo)
Westfield Rotarians took students to Cool Creek Park to learn about invasive plants and also cleaned up trails and pulled weeds before designing tiles at a pottery shop. (Submitted photo)

Commentary by Ken Kingshill

As last school year concluded, a pair of fourth grade teachers at Monon Trail Elementary School had a vision for enriching summer experiences for some of their students. For Jamie Boxler and Denise Hanlin, their goal was to give the students opportunities to engage in cultural events that 9 and 10-year-olds typically haven’t experienced. They also wanted to incorporate a service project into the activities in order to give back to our Westfield community. But they had a problem. They knew that their “dream” experiences could easily become very expensive and they had no funding.

In stepped the Westfield Rotary Club. Not only did the club agree to sponsor the outings, including bus transportation, admissions costs and meals, but members also served as chaperones.  With the cost barrier out of the way, the excursions were set.

The teachers led three outings over the summer months, with twenty-two children participating in a least one outing.  At the first event, students were mesmerized by the performance of Alice in Wonderland Junior at the Booth Tarkington Theater in Carmel and dined at Matt the Miller’s afterwards.

The second event was a trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  “Wow!” was a common expression as students learned about the shiny, innovative “Dream Cars” at the exhibit and explored the museum grounds.

For the grand finale, students went to Cool Creek Park to learn about invasive plants and then spruced up some trails by pulling pesky weeds.  Students then went to a pottery shop and designed a tile capturing a favorite summer memory.

At least three Rotary Club members accompanied the students on each of the trip, making great connections when sharing childhood stories, imparting knowledge, talking about their careers or listening to the students.

Mrs. Boxler and Mrs. Hanlin hope to continue to strengthen the relationships between the students, teachers and Rotary Club members by meeting several times within the current school year.

Ken Kingshill is a member of the Westfield Rotary Club. He also serves on the Westfield Advisory Plan Commission and is the executive director of the Downtown Westfield Association. To contact him, email [email protected]


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