ACE News
Trail Maintenance at Perez Elementary
October 2010
One of the goals of the ACE program is to empower parents, the schools, and the community to help meet the critical educational needs of children. To accomplish this, ACE works closely with several community groups and agencies that focus on meeting the needs of children in a variety of ways. In addition to tutoring, ACE members devote time after school to working with these agencies. ACE tutors recently helped out at Perez Elementary School in southeast Austin.
It’s not every day that you see a school principal trade in his suit and tie for a pair of overalls and swap a pen for a weed whacker, but that’s exactly what Perez Elementary School principal David Kauffman did on September 25th. Dr. Kauffman, resplendent in his Farmer John get-up, led a group of local parents, ACE volunteers, and girl scouts in a trail-maintenance project on school grounds.
"It’s such a treat to see our community involved and to have AmeriCorps members at our campus this year,” said Dr. Kauffman as he wiped sweat from his brow.
Not only were parents and volunteers pitching in to cover the school’s trails in mulch, but children as young as four were eager to help as best they could, whether it involved a small helping hand guiding a shovel or running along a wheelbarrow shouting words of encouragement.
"In the future we hope to hold classes out here along the trail a few times a week,” said Dr. Kauffman.
Despite the heat, the bugs, and a seemingly never-ending pile of mulch, spirits were high as the trail was completed and volunteers cleaned up. The trail was officially opened and dedicated to the school’s namesake, Lance Corporal Nicholas S. Perez, on October 8th.