NOVEMBER 2000

Page 10

Planting, painting, and playground refurbishment. All of this, and much more, occurred on October 7, during Sarah Smith Elementary's Hands on Atlanta Day 2000. Over 90 volunteers worked to spruce up the school.

The event was co-chaired by Sarah Smith Elementary parents Kim McCauley, Martha Fair and Richard Bondurant. Corporate volunteers arrived from Paychex, Inc., Charles Schwab, Agnes Scott and Chubb Insurance, while food was generously donated by Outback Steakhouse, Chastain Square Publix, Dominos Pizza, and Caribou Coffee (Powers Ferry). Plants and pine straw were donated by Ed Castro Landscaping and equipment and labor was provided by Southern Design Group. Hands On Atlanta and its corporate sponsors, including Home Depot also provided materials.

In one short day, hard working Hands on Atlanta volunteers managed to make tremendous improvements for the school. In the kindergarten and first grade playground, new drainage pipes were installed, sand was added to the sandbox, mulch and gravel were spread and bamboo harvested. On the lower field, the drainage basin was cleared to help prevent flooding of the field, playground equipment was reinforced, a bridge was repaired, a ramp was built at the end of the sidewalk, and mulch was spread.

The volunteers also addressed erosion issues on Old Ivy Rd. by planting new shrubs and ground cover, grading sloping areas to prevent mud puddles, weeding, and creating additional flower beds.

The interior of the Sarah Smith School also received a bit of a face lift. The Dining Room walls, rails, doors, columns and steps were painted, as was the front lobby. The volunteers also managed to install bulleting
boards in the new 5th grade wing, stain the front bench and re-hang art and banners.

"Parental involvement and community support make Sarah Smith Elementary a school of excellence" said event co-chair Kim McCauley. Kudos go out to all of those who helped to make Sarah Smith Elementary's Hands on Atlanta Day 2000 a huge success!

The winner of our T-Shirt slogan contest is seven year old Leo Rubini. Leo suggested a shirt which says "I LOVE NORTH BUCKHEAD" repeated in several different languages. Congratulations to Leo who is a second grader at Sarah Smith Elementery School. As our winner, Leo will receive a free T-Shirt and $25. Thanks to all who contributed suggestions. There were lots of good ones. We hope to make this an annual contest, so start thinking about a slogan for next year.

The shirts will be available for sale at the annual Christmas Tree Sale at Sarah Smith School on December 1st and 2nd. You will be able to pre-order a shirt along with your tree on the Tree Order Forms to be mailed this month.