Third-grade students from Adrian Elementary participated in a special tour and presentation at the Argonne Road Community Park during the morning of Thursday, October 26, 2015. The tour was led by neighborhood residents Jim and Pam O’Toole, who as founders of the Avondale-Argonne Neighborhood Group, played a critical role in the planning and construction of the park. During the presentation, the couple talked about the history of the park, which was formerly the site of a demolished home, as well as answered questions. One of the most unique features at the park is a Little Free Library, a structure the size of a large bird house, which contains children’s books donated by neighborhood residents that are available to be borrowed or kept by students.
The visit to the park provided a teachable moment for students, as they are currently completing a unit centered on community government and the importance of citizen involvement in their neighborhoods. Mr. and Mrs. O’Toole both took a moment to share with the students how the park was a source of neighborhood pride, as well as the importance of respecting the park property so that others could enjoy it. In a heartwarming moment near the end of the presentation, several students presented the O’Toole’s with a stack of books donated by the third-grade class at Adrian. The O’Toole’s graciously accepted the donated books and walked with the students to the Little Free Library to add them to the collection.
The South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools would like to thank Jim and Pam O’Toole for taking the time to share about the importance of community involvement with our students. The district is also proud of our third-graders and their willingness to turn a teachable moment into an opportunity to give back to their community.
