Lights the Night - Old Trail School

Construction UpdateThanks to a good deal of hard work this summerand the generosity of many donors, Old TrailSchool is proud to have new and refurbishedspace for the 2008-09 school year. The first gradeclassroom renovation (see page 30 for details),the new classroom space for the Young 5s classand our new Living Classroom Greenhouse aregreat additions to our campus.Young 5s ClassroomThe former Primary School music room on the upper level ofSisler- McFaun Hall was refurbished to become the home forour newest group of students, the Young 5s. (Vickie Nagel’s classesnow meet in the former Library Lecture Room.) This new programoffers a nurturing environment to enable children who turn fiveyears-oldduring the spring or summer months to growYoung 5s class with Senora Claudette Thompsonacademically, socially and emotionally before enteringkindergarten. This has been a very popular class and has a fullenrollment of 19 students.The Living ClassroomAn upcoming issue of the Old Trail School Magazine will contain a fulloverview of the Living Classroom – this is a brief summary of the projectA new greenhouse you may have seen behind Alderfer is home to a newLiving Classroom. This is the first phase of what will be the larger OldTrail School Center for Environmental Sustainability. Several years ago,Old Trail School learned it needed to replace its wastewater systembecause it did not meet federal environmental requirements. The Schoolconsidered many options before deciding that constructing a LivingClassroom was best for the School, our students and environment.A Living Classroom is an eco-friendly system that naturally treatswastewater. The cutting-edge process operates like an engineeredwetland and uses significantly less energy to operate than a traditionalwastewater system.The new wastewater treatment system:• is more stable• uses less energy• has a lower cost (based on operational costs for 30 years)• exceeds EPA standards• is aesthetically attractive• is scientifically interesting• is a wonderful educational toolThe Living Classroom is the second and largest project of its kind inOhio and one of approximately 20 in the United States.The Classroom consists of an eco-friendly wastewater treatmentsystem that is located partially underground, partially in thegreenhouse, partially in a wetland area next to the greenhouse andultimately ends at the tributary next to the School’s athletic fields.The Classroom will teach hands-on lessons in ecology, agriculture,architecture, aquaculture, engineering and environmentalsustainability. It will feature native plants and fish and will eventuallybe used to cultivate extinct species of plants and fish that will bereintroduced into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.Phase 2 – Building & Meeting SpaceAn additional building will be constructed adjacent to theGreenhouse that will be “green” and include a large classroom,office and restrooms. Cutting-edge technologies will again beintegrated into this building to make it energy efficient andsustainable. Construction will begin when funding is secured.The new Living Classroomwww.oldtrail.org17