Education Club lends a hand to Springfield school

Date: 4/27/2009

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



LONGMEADOW -- Alice B. Beal Elementary School in Springfield is getting a springtime spruce up thanks to Bay Path College students.

The college's Education Club has been beautifying the school by planting flowers, putting a fresh coat of paint on an outdoor map, cleaning and more. The project took place over two days last week.

"The Education Club has been wonderful for us," Beal principal Linda Fenlason said.

She explained that Beal had a long-running relationship with Bay Path and recently it has been revived. Last year the club hosted a winter clothing drive and also helped a family of seven with Christmas gifts.

"It's a very positive relationship for people at Beal and I hope for students at Bay Path as well," Fenlason said.

Club members make it their mission as education majors to reach out to schools in Springfield where they feel they can offer the most help. In addition to what they did for Beal last year, they also worked with Thomas M. Balliet School on Seymour Avenue.

"We started this because of how run down elementary schools have become. We want to make it more brighter and kid-friendly," Education Club Co-President Jessica Toner said.

"We're all education majors so it's a nice way to give back," Kimberly Fejes, publicist of the club, said.

"It is nice to be able to give back," Laurel Fortier, co-president, agreed. "And it [is a way] to give support they're not receiving."

The entire club consists of about 25 members and about 10 to 15 participated in the beautification project by taking shifts between the 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. work days. They raised over $600 to put toward the project and also new donated school supplies. Throughout the month of April, Bay Path students will be collecting school supplies.

"The whole Bay Path community has been supportive," Fenlason said.