Photographed under the new pavilion are Mike South, Harrison family member; Kraig Clemons, Harrison parent; Steve Conrad, Kurt Concrete; Randy Polson, WCS shool board; Judy Kinsey, former Harrison teacher; Mike Kinsey, spouse; JC Stookey, Heiman Construction; Sharon Beeler, parent; Jackie Beeler, student; and Lee Snider, principal.
(Photos by Alyssa Richardson)

Harrison Elementary School hosted a celebration yesterday in honor of both a new pavilion near the Hoosier Heritage Schoolhouse as well as the retirement of former Harrison teacher Judy Kinsey.

The dream to install the new pavilion began with Kinsey, and as she is quick to note, was furthered by several individuals at Harrison. Kinsey stated she began to dream up the pavilion after spending time outside gardening with the Harrison environmental club. Her hope was to establish an area that could be utilized to expand learning opportunities by providing a sheltered, outdoor classroom.

The Hoosier Heritage area offers views of the schoolhouse, a gardening area, and now, an outdoor learning area.

Kinsey noted the strucutre is a 20×24, open air pavilion equipped with a metal roof and concrete slab. The new, outdoor learning area will be utilized for weekly environmental club activites as well as throughout the school year with the PTO and other classes.

Though Kinsey shies away from taking sole credit for the structure, the former fourth grade teacher wrote the grant that made the pavilion possible. Lowe’s of Warsaw employees and Harrison parents and staff volunteered labor for the project with Heiman Construction donating labor to form, pour and finish the concrete slab. Kinsey noted additional donations will be sought to provide picnic tables.

Harrison Elementary Hoosier Heritage Schoolhouse is a unique part of the campus.

Lee Snider, principal at Harrison Elementary, noted the pavilion will add an area for learning for not only Harrison Students, but all students in the area. Snider noted all students, in both Warsaw Community School Corporation and beyond, are welcomed to utilize the Hoosier Heritage Schoolhouse and pavilion to further learning and student enrichment. The 40-acre campus offers an array of outdoor opportunities for visiting students that Snider welcomes all to enjoy.

Former principal and Warsaw Community School Board Member Randy Polston, who helped in installing the Hoosier Heritage Schoolhouse in the ’90s, noted he was thrilled with the expansion of the Hoosier Heritage area.

“This is a living history corner,” noted Polston in regards to the school house and pavilion. “It does my heart good to see what is happening here.” Polston noted the board’s support of providing an area to further enrich the lives of students and community members.