Teacher renovates courtyard at East Cobb Middle School

Teacher David Dewar renovated the courtyard at East Cobb Middle School. 9/27/11

Walton High School social studies teacher David Dewar is shown in the oasis he built in the courtyard of East Cobb Middle School in Marietta, Ga. Dewar, who used to work at East Cobb Middle as a social studies teacher, started the project in 2008 and finished in September 2011.

Planning and fundraising for the "outdoor classroom" started in 2008 and construction began in June 2009. Dewar spent 2,500 hours working on the project.

Dewar did most of the work on the garden himself, hauling away dirt and wrestling stones and bricks into place. Sometimes he worked 30 hours over a weekend.

A plaque in the courtyard acknowledges the contributions of those who worked on the project.

The outdoor learning center provides color and vegetation to a campus made mostly of metal and concrete.

A knockout rose is one of several varieties of flowers used in the garden. To fund the project, students raised $3,000 and parents and teachers contributed a few thousand dollars. Lowe's corporate office contributed $3,500 and local suppliers, such as Cornerstone Wall Systems, gave discounts on materials.

Before the project was completed, children used to litter the area with juice boxes and pencils, said Andrew Trowers, whose classroom was next door to Dewar's.

A faux river with a wooden bench is the focal point. The garden has a faux river, wooden benches and year-round blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Dewar says providing a nice place for students and teachers to sit and reflect was what motivated him.

Brightly-colored annual flowers bloom in the outdoor learning center.

Previously, the courtyard at East Cobb Middle School wasn't an area students tended to spend time.

Since the completion of the project, students and teachers use the area as an outdoor classroom, as well as a place to congregate.

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Walton High School social studies teacher David Dewar is shown in the oasis he built in the courtyard of East Cobb Middle School in Marietta, Ga. Dewar, who used to work at East Cobb Middle as a social studies teacher, started the project in 2008 and finished in September 2011.

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