Schriever Airmen beautify Ellicott Elementary

by Staff Sgt. Debbie Lockhart
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

8/26/2015 - ELLICOTT, Colo.  -- Six Schriever Air Force Base Airmen volunteered their time to enrich the Ellicott Elementary School facility and its grounds by pulling weeds, trimming bushes and picking up litter as part of a campus cleanup event, Friday, Aug. 21.

The heavy rains that Ellicott and the surrounding area experienced this past summer caused an increase of weeds and wild grass to grow around the school, prompting the cleanup effort.

"Over the summer break you get a lot of the weeds growing up around the building and it's important to make it look like a nice place so the kids will take pride in their school," said Master Sgt. Ryan Laube, 50th Contracting Squadron base infrastructure flight superintendent. "Honestly, it is just something good to do for the school."

The principal and the Airmen involved insisted the campus cleanup will benefit the students by helping them develop a sense of ownership for their school.

"It is very important for students to take pride in their school and pride in their community, and curb appeal is part of that," said Joe Torrez, Ellicott Elementary School principal. "Students can see a nice looking school on the inside and on the outside and they get a sense of stewardship.

Many students who attend the Ellicott School district have parents who live or work at Schriever AFB.

"Ellicott is an important part of our community," said Master Sgt. David Wright, Top III liaison for Ellicott School. "We have skin in the game, our kids go here so we definitely want to maintain our good relationship and jump in to help out when we can."

For Torrez, volunteer opportunities like the campus cleanup strengthens his sense of community.

"I think while Airmen are assigned to Schriever, they want to be a part of the community, and their kids are our kids here at Ellicott," said Torrez. "We appreciate everything that the Airmen do and having a strong relationship with the folks out at the base really just brings it closer as a community."

Whether Airmen have students attending Ellicott School District or not, there are many volunteer opportunities to get involved with.

"At the preschool, middle school, high school and the elementary school we have numerous opportunities for parents across the community or Airmen at Schriever Air Force Base to get involved with - whether that is tutoring, a campus cleanup or volunteering on field days - if they're willing to volunteer, we can find a spot for them to help us out in school," said Torrez.

Wright added there will be more volunteer opportunities to come, to include campus cleanups, science fairs, field days and a bike rodeo.

Those who would like to volunteer with Ellicott School District can contact Master Sgt. David Wright at 719-567-3811 or the Ellicott School District Office at 719-683-2700.