Will be on display this Friday
(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – The Santa House that is used during Batesville’s Annual Tree Lighting has been in need of repair for quite some time.
The Santa House not only needed a fresh coat of paint but also structural repairs.
What began as a callout for volunteers led to a collaborative project between Batesville students, educators and local supporters.
Jama Linkel-Cleghorn, a Batesville Main Street committee member, saw the opportunity to involve the school's new initiative, 'Bulldog Ready' as one of their first large-scale community-connected projects for students.
It was an opportunity to use classroom skills to solve a real-world problems. Bulldog Ready Coordinator Tricia Jennewein and BCSC’s Kyle Laker identified middle school students would be the perfect fit.
BMS I.T. teacher Jeremy Spencer and Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher Megan Spreckelson worked hard to incorporate the project into their curriculum recently.
“We took what we had already planned to teach and pivoted to include this project,” Spreckelson shared. “It’s been fun to see creativity, drive, and interest in the project among students, even those not usually interested in some of the projects in my class.”
The students, along with their teachers, began by assessing the needs of the house and making plans for upgrades, which included repairing structural elements, re-designing the interior, and adding special features like a ramp for accessibility.
Spreckelson’s FACS students created proposals for the interior design, voting to determine the best ideas.
Meanwhile, Spencer’s IT classes planned to tackle the construction work, which included cutting down donated wood for shiplap walls and building a fireplace surround, as well as repairing rotted wood.
As the BMS team considered what needed to be completed to revamp the house, Linkel-Cleghorn reached out to the local community to secure donations or resources to support the project, since the total cost would exceed the funding available from the city.
Her outreach efforts ensured every aspect of the project was covered. From donated lumber and tools to electrical work and painting, contributions from businesses underscored the community’s investment in the project.
“This is what Bulldog Ready is all about,” Bulldog Ready Community Coordinator Jennewein explained. “The community contacted us with a need, and BCSC students, with guidance from their teachers, were able to step up and figure out how to get it done. Thanks to community support, they learned practical skills while giving a huge gift back to our town. ”
The updated Santa House now boasts not only structural improvements but also thoughtful touches like a Christmas tree adorned with wooden ornaments crafted by the students.
The newly-renovated Santa House will be on display during the Batesville Tree Lighting Friday.
