Beecher Hills Elementary School students were excited to learn that their school will soon have a new outdoor learning space and basketball court, thanks to a $135,000 grant from their school’s partner organization, Smurfit Westrock.
Smurfit Westrock is a global sustainable paper and packaging company that has been partnering with Beecher Hills Elementary School since 2020. Its African American and Black Employees and Allies (AABA) group has been a consistent presence at the school, helping give back to families, engaging in Black history celebrations, providing school supplies, and more throughout the partnership. In 2023, the company was selected as the Cluster Partner of the Year.
“They have been a wonderful partner,” Beecher Hills Elementary School principal Dr. Tiffany Franklin said. “Not only do they provide us with resources, but they provide us with time. Someone from their team meets with us every week to talk about how they can help support the school. They are truly committed to supporting this school, this community, and ensuring that our students and our teachers have what they need to be successful.”
The $135,000 grant will go towards turning a currently vacant space at the school into an outdoor learning space, which will include an outdoor yoga area, an official classroom with chairs, access to math learning labs, and science learning materials. There will also be an outdoor basketball court, complete with bleachers.
“It really does mean everything that the kids are so excited about it,” said Tammy Franklin, Smurfit Westrock ‘s Vice President of Communications for North America. “There’s a blank canvas out there, and we’re going to be able to turn that blank canvas into a place where they can grow, share, create, and learn.”
Fortunately for the students at Beecher Hills, they’ll be able to see this project come to fruition before the next school year. Dr. Franklin expects that the new outdoor learning space and basketball court could be available for students as early as the end of January. “This grant means there will be an opportunity for us to utilize the outdoors and to learn and explore in our natural environment,” she said. “The kids are super excited.”