'Learning has absolutely no limit': Graduate's gift to Elm Street School is outdoor classroom

LACONIA — As she graduates from Laconia High School this weekend, Samantha Wylie will leave behind her contribution to the infrastructure of city schools, in the form of a covered, outdoor classroom, fully accessible to all students, adjacent to the playground behind Elm Street School.

Students and staff from Elm Street School, as well as administrators and those who made the project come to life, attended a ribbon cutting on May 26, where Wylie unveiled the final product.

Wylie worked with her parents, Jason and Natalia, along with a group of contractors, construction workers, and supporters to build the outdoor classroom, complete with a concrete floor, benches, a wooden frame, and a blackboard enclosed in a cabinet.

“Seldom do any projects go off without a hitch,” Principal Eric Johnson said, as he stood in front of the blackboard, surrounded by supporters. “If they do, it’s because the people doing the project had the desire, the commitment, to see the project through.”

The build was part of Wylie’s Diploma of Distinction project. She said part of receiving the honor is a minimum of 30 hours of work on a project, and a 3.25 or higher grade point average. She was tasked to come up with an idea to create a legacy, and leave a mark on the district.

“We are challenged to look beyond our standard requirements, step above expectations and create a year-long passion project,” Wylie said at the ribbon cutting. “The goal of this project is simple, yet profound: to give back to our community, leave a meaningful legacy behind, and ignite a spark that inspires others to do the same.”

Wylie attended Elm Street School, and said it was a spot that helped shape her dreams for the future. She thought this was the best way to give back and create something she always wanted herself, while providing a gift for the next generation. She wanted to build a sanctuary for “vibrant, active learning.”

“I wanted to give back to my elementary school,” Wylie said in an interview before the ribbon cutting. “As a student, I was antsy in elementary school, and always wanted to go outside. This is a good way to incorporate being outside through learning.”

Initially, Wylie planned to build a gazebo-type structure, but part of the project was budgeting. She landed on a carport idea, which included a concrete slab, eight Adirondack benches, and a roof to block the rain. The blackboard was also included as a full-time piece of the outdoor classroom, complete with shutters that open and close.

Wylie said the playground doesn’t have a lot of cover from the sun, something staff members also pointed out. This roofed structure alleviates that, and helps create an outdoor environment where children can learn in a new way.

“I thought that was an important part,” Wylie said. “It’s an outdoor structure that provides shade and a learning spot. It will be nice that it can be used throughout the year.”

The project was a year in the making. Wylie said she came up with the idea last May, and got to work in September. She was able to raise $3,400 on her own, half of the total project cost, and the district covered the remaining figure.

“She did a great job raising money locally,” Jason said. “That money she raised, and the balance contributed, was to purchase the carport for $5,500, for a kit. I was going to cover it, but the school board said they would take care of the difference.”

Jason works at Irwin Marine, and has friends and community members he thought might help. He partnered with Bob Slater, of Southern NH Concrete, who donated time, materials, and poured the 12-inch slab of concrete. Slater is chair of the Londonderry School Board, and said when his friend Jason reached out, it was a no-brainer to help.

“Anything we can do for the kids, especially for a senior putting this together to give back to the community where she began, there’s nothing better,” Slater said. “There’s no better story in this world than a graduate going back to her roots, and wanting to give back to the kids coming up behind her.”

Cal Dunn, of Extreme Excavation, performed the site and prep work that took two days, for no charge.

“It was a great to help out the community, the school and the Wylie family,” Dunn said. “It was a great project, and glad we could be involved.”

After the slab was poured and the structure was placed, the grading and paving took place. Then it was time to build the structure, and Tim and Lynn LeClair, owners of LeClair Builders of New Boston, went to work to put it up. Tim has known the Wylies for years, since Samantha was a young child, and said it was a project where everyone made time to get it done.

“It was kit with 100 steps and 3,000 nuts and bolts,” Jason said. “It took him over a week and a half, with myself and some other people who helped. He donated all his time.”

A co-worker of Jason’s, Jim Howe, built the chalkboard, cabinet and roof. Members of the district’s parent teacher organization helped with landscaping, spreading mulch and planting flowers.

“It’s been quite a group effort, and this could have been a $20,000 project when it was all said and done,” Jason said.

Samantha said the school already started using the classroom. She said so many teachers have come up to her and thanked her, congratulated her, and told her how excited the students are to use it.

“I was worried about it at first, and didn’t know if it would get approved, or if we would get all the money we needed," Samantha said. "But all the coordination was important, with the help of teachers, my parents, my dad with his connections.”

She said she learned to be flexible, and while it wasn’t exactly how she pictured it to start, the outdoor classroom came out “close to perfect.”

“There was a lot of back and forth with the teachers and school board on design, but we came up with something that works for everyone,” Samantha said.

Samantha's sister Sofia also attended Elm Street School. Samantha was 6 when her sister was born with spinal muscular atrophy type 1, which requires her to use a wheelchair. Natalia said Sofia was in a clinical trial at Boston Children’s Hospital at 4 months old, which saved her life with a drug that slowed down, and may have stopped, the progression of the disease. Natalia related it to ALS, starting from birth. Sofia receives treatment through injection every four months.

Type 1 is the most severe form of SMA, and untreated, most people died by 21 months old. Sofia is now 12 years old, and Natalia said their family is happy the treatment helped her. It forced Samantha to grow up fast, and her mother couldn’t praise her enough for the big sister she's been.

“I was in the hospital a lot with Sofia for all her illnesses, and so, Samantha knew what an important role model she would be for Sofia,” Natalia said. “At 6 years old, to have that strength, her strength actually gave me strength. Seeing her sister fight everything gave her the strength. She is an incredible sister, and I know Sofia looks up to her a lot.”

One of Samantha's focuses was ensuring the classroom be accessible for any student.

“That was really important,” Natalia said. “Samantha was 6 years old when Sofia was born, and she kind of saw all the challenges we go through, and needing access to everything. Sometimes you see accessible features, but they aren’t very accessible for those who can’t physically walk."

Samantha said it was important to her, because she knows her sister had a tough time on the playground because of the mulch. She wanted to make sure it was inclusive for everybody.

“This is something now, where anyone in a wheelchair, or any student who needs something like that, is really important for me,” she said.

Natalia called Samantha an inspiring kid who is always studying hard and focused on being a good person, and good role model. To see her give back to the community fills her heart.

With the students and staff watching the ribbon be cut, Samantha said she couldn’t have been happier with the end result.

“To the students and staff of Elm Street School, this outdoor classroom is my gift to you,” she told the crowd. “I hope it brings you endless joy, I hope it helps your mind soar, and mostly importantly, I hope it reminds you that learning has absolutely no limits.”