Roy-Hart receives $1,000 grant from Exxon Mobil to boost outdoor learning space

Posted 28 March 2022 at 12:45 pm

Provided photo: Pictured form left include Roy-Hart Superintendent Dr. Hank Stopinski, Marti Schrichte (Reid Petroleum), Jessica Monaco, Christina Smith (Crosby-Reid), Michelle Harris (Crosby-Reid), Susan McLaughlin and Donna VanSlyke.

Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

MIDDLEPORT – For the second year in a row, the Royalton-Hartland Elementary School has received $1,000 to use towards their outdoor classroom space.

Thanks to the generosity of Exxon Mobil’s Educational Alliance, who gifted them $500 and the Crosby-Reid Petroleum Company who matched the donation, the school now has the funds to afford their students more opportunities to explore and learn about the environment.

The Exxon Mobil Education Alliance is a national program that funds math and science programs at schools in need. It is part of their ongoing effort to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.

Teachers Susan McLaughlin and Jessica Monaco, who spearheaded the outdoor learning spaces at the school, are thrilled with the additional funds that continues to bring the natural world to their campus. The gardens also include a stone soup garden and pizza garden.

“Our vegetable garden has been a huge hit with not only our students, but our community,” Mrs. Monaco said. “We have had people in the neighborhood come and grab a green pepper for dinner. We are also encouraging residents to take what they need.”

This year’s goals with the donations include: magnifying glasses and lab coats for the students, hula hoops, an ego blower, push brooms, gardening tools, books on pollinators, worms, butterflies and gardening, butterfly nets, tape measurers, nylon rope, lumber and a weather station.

“It is just really awesome,” said the school’s principal, Donna VanSlyke. “We are also hoping to buy a shed to keep our materials in. We are so grateful to Exxon and to Crosby-Reid for helping our vision come to life and enriching our students’ education of the science and how it pertains to the outdoors.”