Ahh, the front porch. A bit of a southern staple, but still enjoyed as a beacon of conversation, fellowship, and relaxation by plenty of other citizens around the country. The front porch serves as an escape from seemingly inescapable walls, and has been known to spark creativity for those who enjoy lounging outdoors.
Learning outdoors is nothing new. Teachers have been escorting students, especially younger ones, outside of the classroom for years in order to put a new, fun twist on their daily lesson plans. Yet, Rodriguez Elementary school in San Marcos CISD is taking it one step further. If you are a parent or guardian dropping your child for a fulfilling day of learning at Rodriguez, you'll have to find a parking spot on the side of the building. That's because this fast-growing central independent school district has transformed the threshold of their school into what's lovingly known as 'The Front Porch.'
In a recent article from District Administration, we found a first-hand look of the elementary school's engaging and unique use of space of it's front yard and entrance. The designers of the year-old school wanted this space to flow more seamlessly into the surrounding community. Naturally, the first step in the process was to put the school's parking lots on each side of the building.
“A front porch is a place where you invite people in," Whitaker-Williams, Principal of K-12 education says. “It’s the threshold to your door, and this is how that threshold becomes broader." Schools often serve as neighborhood hubs, so this layout hopes to expand on that idea. Rodriguez Elementary is located across the street from a park, and shares the green space with a local community center. The design allows educators to more easily include community members, including parents and local entrepreneurs, in school activities.
Let's hope this inspires more schools across the country to creatively make use of their green space. Therefore, inspiring students to think more freely and confidently. In a lot of ways, SchoolInfo is attempting the same thing. Of course, as a much more 'virtual front porch.' A mobile app by SchoolInfo is a hub of collaboration, just like Rodriguez Elementary's beautiful front porch. It welcome's folks to campus with open arms to share information, collaborate on projects, and be a part of a community.
Interested in learning more about how SchoolInfo can serve as your school's 'Virtual Front Porch'? Schedule a demo today!
