Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School teachers and principal after school on Thursday took a field trip to reward businesses and institutions that have supported the school by providing their personnel for school projects and in other ways.
It’s part of the Columbia Public Schools Partners in Education program and the district designated the week as Partners in Education Week. The teachers divided into teams to visit the school’s partners, delivering pies from Peggy Jean’s Pies and artificial flowers made by students.
There were 18 pies to be delivered, said Principal Julia Coggins. The team she was with visited Stephens College, My Secret Garden, the offices of the Downtown Business District and Ragtag Cinema.
It was a short walk from the school to Stephens College, where President Dianne Lynch also received a plaque. The women’s college has partnered with the school for 36 years.
“I can’t believe you guys are doing this,” Lynch said. “I’m so touched.”
Partnering more with the Stephens Children’s School is something she would like to explore, Coggins said on the way to the college.
Because the school is close to downtown, Stephens College and the University of Missouri, Locust Street have more partners than some other schools, Coggins said.
“We are at a huge advantage because we’re downtown,” Coggins said.
The school has its Fall Festival each year, where the school partners do presentations for the students.
“They do a day with us and showcase their knowledge,” Coggins said.
The support comes in many forms, she said.
“The Columbia Art League is great about letting us use their resources,” she said.
At My Secret Garden, the downtown florist shop, owner Ruth LaHue said she was impressed with the artificial flowers students made.
“Oh, I love it,” LaHue said.
Teachers also brought a self-adhesive window sticker.
“This is so sweet,” LaHue said. “And I love the sticker. This is going right up in the window.”
Already in the store’s window, and in the windows of several businesses downtown, was artwork by Locust Street students. The teachers stopped occasionally during their field trips to admire the student work.
LaHue has been a valuable asset to her kindergarten class, said teacher Amber Gonzalez.
“We were learning about the life cycle of plants and she was able to come,” said Gonzalez. “She talked about how they grow from seeds.”
The school benefits from so many great community partners, she said. Her students and other students learn about being a florist from LaHue, while MU personnel may talk with students about robotics.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune’s education reporter. You can reach him at [email protected] or 573-815-1719. He’s on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on the Columbia Daily Tribune: Here’s how Locust Street teachers rewarded the school’s partners
