Poinciana High School class students spruce up courtyard

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Poinciana High School class students spruce up courtyard

Around Osceola

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 00:00

By Lisa D’Cato
For the News-Gazette
A pleasant environment can produce plenty of positive things. A dreary and dull scene can produce just the opposite.
Irwin Inwood is the vocational construction teacher at Poinciana High School and has to pass by a drab and dreary courtyard to get to his classroom, as do all of the students. Either on their way to the cafeteria or to another classroom, students at the school saw a large, neglected, poorly landscaped area in need of a makeover. Many chose to ignore it, but it was a call to action for Inwood’s class.
The construction class raised funds to purchase plants, trees and shrubs. Now, those students are planting and maintaining the courtyard themselves. The once-eyesore is becoming a pleasant breezeway.
This is Inwood’s second year as the vocational construction teacher at Poinciana High. Prior to his teaching at Poinciana, this 16-year Poinciana resident taught at New Beginnings High School.
This is not, however, the stereotypical “old school” shop class. Inwood has students who take more than one period of his class per day. He requires his students to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average as many of his students are at-risk of dropping out.
“Last year I had parents call to thank me for getting their kid to graduate,” Inwood said.
Realizing that not every graduate will go on to college, Inwood’s seniors leave Poinciana High “work ready,” he said. Students learn a skill and are given an opportunity to go to a job fair at the end of the school year and see what opportunities are available to them. Companies like The Home Depot and Lowe’s participate in this fair.
Realizing that the students are its potential workforce and wants to support them, in February, Lowe’s donated 10 power saws.
The students are putting their skills to work right now, making sturdy outdoor furniture — hand-crafted and original. They then sell these items that may be purchased at the school. Sheds, Adirondack chairs and other items purchased help maintain the school program. The sales also allowed them to give back to the school with their courtyard beautification project.
Poinciana High School’s mascot is the eagle and the school motto is “Where Eagles Soar.” The construction class has modified it to “Where Eagles SAW.”