Ross Families Help Dedicate Outdoor Classroom at Elementary School

Last Friday Cathy Avellino, a fifth grade science teacher, took her students to the back lawn of , where they examined the vegetable garden, sat in the school's new outdoor classroom and talked about how plants are grown.

Ross's new gazebo will be a place for kids from all different types of classes to learn, in almost any weather, Avellino said, providing them an escape from the normal classroom day and also a window onto the natural world.

The classroom was made possible by a $2,000 grant through the Braintree Fund for Education and sponsored and Sustainable Weymouth, and also by way of the helping hands of Ross parents.

A plaque on the gazebo honors Avellino, Dianne Martin fom Sustainable Weymouth, Sustainable Braintree and the following residents:

Paul Harrington

Joe Joyce

Rob Brooks

Eric Erskine

Brendan McMullin

Jim Arsenault

Jim Corbo

Elaine Corcoran

"Without the help and support of these people, this project would not have been possible, Avellino said during a dedication ceremony on Sunday. She also thanked her husband Vincent.

"It's a wonderful showing," Superintendent Dr. Peter Kurzberg said, "of how one person who has an idea can get many other people involved and end up with something like this."