‘Learning outside the classroom is a good way for students to experience nature’

By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC

MIAMI SHORES | Learning and socializing in the courtyard of St. Rose of Lima School has always been uplifting for students. However, sitting on the grass or carrying their own chairs made it difficult for everyone, both students and staff. Recently, the barebones courtyard underwent a complete transformation.

“Now, the courtyard is well-equipped with outdoor seating,” said Todd Flack, president of One Hundred Percent Landscaping, which transformed the courtyard.

The landscaping company installed a flagstone walkway, four iron picnic tables with red umbrellas for shade, smooth flat stones for seating, and 18 shaved coral stones surrounding a newly planted shade tree for students to sit on during outdoor classes. Six more shaved coral stones form a semi-circle with a kneeler in the center. The seating stones face the old grotto with a statue of Our Lady, and they have planted foliage.

“It was a difficult task,” said Flack. “All the heavy materials had to be lifted by crane over the utility building that lines the back of the courtyard.”

The courtyard work cost about $120,000. Additionally, all the school’s old windows were replaced with hurricane impact windows, and the school cafeteria was renovated as well.

“We named the cafeteria in honor of longtime teacher and assistant principal Celine Zigmont, who recently retired,” said Stephen Brown, principal of St. Rose of Lima School.

“Learning outside the classroom is a good way for students to experience nature,” said Carmen Szucko, first-grade teacher at St. Rose of Lima School. She added, “Nature is God’s gift to us. It’s important for students to learn about the environment. Sometimes we draw pictures of flowers, plants and butterflies. And we, the teachers, can enjoy lunch ‘al fresco.’ This will also be good for outdoor parish events and the annual May crowning of Our Lady.”

Eighth-grader Carolina Fonseca, 13, who has attended St. Rose of Lima school since pre-kindergarten, is excited about the new courtyard.

“I think it’s beautiful,” she said. “We had to sit on the grass without shade. Although it’s my last year at St. Rose, I’ll savor the time. I’m looking forward to learning experiences outside. This will enhance my final year. I want to thank all those who planned this project. The cafeteria has a fresh, new look; it was outdated.”

Archbishop Thomas Wenski blessed the new courtyard, renovated windows and cafeteria. The ceremony fell on the feast day of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, October 7.  Father George Packuvettithara, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church, and Jim Rigg, archdiocesan superintendent of schools, joined students and staff at the dedication.

As part of the ceremony, the Archbishop and students prayed a decade of the Rosary together in English and Spanish. Eighteen students stood at each of the 18 shaved-coral stones in the courtyard and recited, The First Joyful Mystery —The Annunciation. The other students stood outside the two-story school’s open corridors praying the rosary and holding drawings of flags from their native countries.

“This is a beautiful school with students from many different countries represented here,” the archbishop said. “The Catholic Church is a universal Church.”

Brown called the renovations of the courtyard and school a blessing.

“It took two years of planning,” he said. “Putting the project together was challenging. We’re happy it’s over and excited about how this all came together.”

Future plans include demolishing the old convent and replacing it with an early childhood building.

St. Rose of Lima School opened in September 1951 with grades kindergarten through sixth grade and was staffed by Dominican Sisters from Adrian, Michigan. The school is located on an eight-acre tract of land in Miami Shores that is also occupied by the church. The school has grown over the years to include pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.