Waterford Elementary School’s fourth- and fifth-grade Fusion students have played a role in planning the future of their school’s outdoor spaces. As part of preparations for an upcoming renovation and addition, these students presented design ideas on February 11 for two new courtyards intended to support outdoor learning and foster a connection with nature.
The students used blueprints, 3-D models, and Minecraft Education to develop their proposals. Their work incorporated STEM skills and environmental design concepts, focusing on features such as raised planters, areas for native milkweed to attract monarch butterflies, waterproof storage for games and gardening tools, rain barrels, and outdoor writing surfaces.
These efforts followed several community sessions hosted by the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Construction Services team over recent months. The sessions gathered input from community members about Waterford Elementary’s values and aspirations for the renovation project.
As participants in Waterford Elementary’s Green Team—a program supported by the Office of Sustainability—the students emphasized sustainability in their designs. They also met with Clark Seipt, Director of Sustainability, to discuss their priorities.
The final presentations were made before classmates, school staff, and members of the LCPS Construction Services team. Many student designs included gathering spaces, outdoor tables, and garden areas.
Bethany Waterfall, gifted resource teacher and leader of the Green Team at Waterford Elementary, commented on her students’ contributions: “Our students truly stepped into the role of environmental designers, researching, planning, and creating plans to reimagine our outdoor learning spaces. What impressed me most was their realization that this project wasn’t just for them, but for future generations of students. Their creativity, open‑mindedness and confidence are things I hope they carry with them for a long time,” said Waterfall.
Melissa Tello, LCPS Director of Construction Services, added: “The attention to detail in their designs shows how much they care about their school, these outdoor learning spaces, their teachers, and the students who will come after them. We are very impressed,” said Tello.
