Outdoor Classroom Dedicated at Thomas Jefferson Middle School [PHOTOS]

Thomas Jefferson Middle School unveiled its brand new outdoor classrom Friday afternoon at a brief dedication ceremony attended by assistant superintendent Natalie Lacatena, Mayor John Cosgrove and Councilwoman Lisa Swain.

The classroom is the second phase of science teacher and environmental club advisor Susan Goldstein's three-phase plan to "recycle" previously unused space behind the school using grant money. The project's first phase was the addition of a raised planting bed located near where the outdoor classroom now exists.

"This project took two years to complete and will enable classrooms in the school to have the opportunity to work outside," Principal Sherrie Galofaro said during her opening remarks Friday. "If you know Mrs. Goldstein, you recognize her vision goes beyond this moment. She is already talking about what is to come next."

With additional grant funding, Goldstein hopes to extend the outdoor classroom into an adjacent barren patch of land beside the school. The extension of the outdoor classroom will have woodchips, a circle of boulders for sitting and bamboo planters to give students a "different feel and experience" than the current outdoor classroom, she said.

Creation of the outdoor classroom was a collaborative effort of TJ teachers, administration and the school's environmental club. The district's buildings and ground staff, the Fair Lawn Recycling Center and the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission contributed time and supplies, American Nursery provided flowers and the Bergen County Utility Authority supplied the grant funding.

Goldstein said she expects teachers and students will utilize the outdoor, woodchipped and soon-to-be seat cushioned space for a variety of classes from art and music to language and science.

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