New Outdoor Classroom Blessed Posted on September 26, 2024 in Activities, Affordability, Alumni News, Faculty News, Press Releases, Student News Students Liam ’25, Lincoln ’27, and Aoife ’27 helped bless the new outdoor classroom with SJP Regent Brian Smith, Chris Schellinger ’87, and Abbot Douglass Mullin, OSB. Alumni Lead the Way for New Outdoor Classroom This week students gathered behind the main Prep School building to celebrate a new outdoor classroom. Abbot Douglas Mullin, OSB, presided at a special prayer service to bless the outdoor learning space on September 26. The outdoor classroom features a beautiful pine-timber structure built during two work sessions hosted by the Avon Hills Folk School. Chris Schellinger ’87 is the founder and director of the folk school that is based just a few miles from Prep. The two five-day sessions were held for students, parents, and community members to learn the skills of traditional timber framing while they built the study pavilion. The outdoor classroom is nestled along the tree line near the garden above our playing fields. This learning space has already been put to use! Art teacher Maureen O’Connell ’98 frequently takes students outdoors to use the new classroom. Most recently her middle school art students created masks inspired by those used in Ancient Greek theatre. We’re grateful for the support of our alumni and community members to make this wonderful learning space possible!
