Salem Church Middle School and Communities In Schools of Chesterfield (CIS) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 29 to launch the school’s new outdoor classroom.

Initial funding for the collaborative project came from U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant which aims to address post-pandemic impacts on students — something especially important in a school where the majority of the students are low-income and Black and Brown, the same populations disproportionately negatively impacted by COVID and its long-term effects.

“Studies on outdoor education talk about increased student engagement and ownership over learning,” CIS Executive Director Ashley Hall can be seen explaining in video of her remarks during the launch event.

She added that outdoor learning environments can improve student’s attention, focus and cognitive function resulting in improved academic performance. Other benefits include the development of social and collaborative skills and mitigation of childhood anxiety and stress.

CIS works with 13 high-need schools in the county to provide wraparound services to some 13,000 students. A primary measure for schools receiving CIS services is the poverty threshold. While 2022 data shows nearly 35% of Chesterfield County Public School students live in poverty, that number is 85% in the schools serviced by CIS.

Particularly since the return to in-person learning, CIS has identified higher levels of behavioral challenges and mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, chronic absenteeism, self harm and disagreements between students. These have been especially evident at the middle and high school levels.

So when Nicholas Olson, the principal of Salem Church Middle, presented the idea for an outdoor classroom, Ms. Hall said CIS saw it as a “safe way to encourage student attendance and create diverse learning experiences” and immediately got to work.

Mr. Olson said his initial vision for the space was small, “maybe four picnic tables and some gravel.” However, many partners, donors and volunteers came together to create something more for the school’s approximately 900 students.

Richmond-based artist Hamilton Glass transformed a shipping container into a beautiful mural celebrating the school. Wooden benches and planters were crafted of felled trees from the area by Cody Artiglia of Backyard Farmer in Richmond. The goal will be to create vegetable gardens in these planters when the weather warms.

The outdoor classroom even has internet to ensure it is not only beautiful, but also a fully-functional learning space.

“My hope is that it now creates a space rooted in imagination, discovery and learning for our students for many years to come,” Ms. Hall shared.

For Mr. Olson, the completed project is more than he ever imagined. He credits the diverse Salem school community that came together to support its students.

“Real communities know that success doesn’t come from just the people inside of a building. It comes from everybody that lives within the boundary having a common goal of supporting our students finding and reaching their full potential,” Mr. Olson said. “I’m very, very blessed to be a member of that community.”