Once upon a time, there was a courtyard at Shaker Road Elementary School, but it had fallen on hard times. The square-shaped patch of tall grass and weeds that was surrounded by the classrooms of Shaker Road needed a makeover.
But between end-of-year exams and preparing for summer break, how would teachers and administrators find the time to transform their ugly duckling courtyard into a vibrant swan?
Poof. As in all good fairy tales, a knight in shining armor appeared John Crisorio Sr.
A training director for Eastern New York Labors Training Center, Crisorio had experience in construction and concrete. He knew the perfect element that would start to make the courtyard a piece of land not only for squirrels and birds, but for the students of Shaker Road as well a concrete path.
But in the two weeks that Crisorio had taken on the roles of path-builder, courtyard-fixer and school hero, he still had to wear the shoes of his most important role of all: a father.
Crisorio’s son John Jr. attends Shaker Road, and in his free time, during recess or after school, he would be outside with his dad, helping move stones and getting the ground ready for the concrete to be poured.
The path is just part of a greater plan Elementary School Principal William Dollard said school officials have in mind for the courtyard. They want to fix up the area so that students could have lessons outdoors and guest speakers could lecture in a mini-amphitheater the school plans to build over the summer and use during the school year `when the weather allows it,` Dollard said.
Other plans include trimming some branches off a large tree that towers over the rooftop of the school, leaving the higher branches that students cannot reach for and get hurt and refinishing part of the grassy area with gravel and benches for students to sit on when watching performers or speakers in the amphitheater.
But as the school year drew to a close, there was still no gravel, no amphitheater and no benches. The branches of the tree hung low. Crisorio had a plan.
`Our training fund where I work donated the concrete and my time,` said Crisorio.
With the help of his company, Crisorio built two mini concrete paths at both entranceways to the courtyard, made of concrete and resembling a red brick road.
`We actually poured two concrete stamp pathways,` said Crisorio. `They’re textured. Which makes it look like stone or bricks. It’s beautiful.`
The project, with the help of his brother and friend, Anthony Fresina, took about two weeks.
Dollard said the cost of implementing all of the plans for the courtyard is expected to be about $10,000.
Although the kids will not be using the courtyard over the summer, it will be occupied by another friend of the school.
`We have a duck,` said Dollard, pointing to the lair the mama duck has created. Dollard said she flew into the school’s courtyard early last month and is sitting on her eggs, patiently waiting for them to hatch.
And in the fall, the courtyard will be enjoyed by all, students and ducklings, happily ever after.
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