Story and photos by Perry County School District No. 32
PERRYVILLE – Summer at our schools is an incredibly busy time, especially as the first day of school approaches. Preparing classrooms, offices, and our buildings and grounds is in high gear despite the heat, and even our community, students, and alumni are lending a helping hand.
At Perryville High School, Principal Shadrick Shafer planned a campus clean up day this week to freshen up the PHS entrance, landscape, and the Pirate Plaza Paver Garden area.
“There were some empty spots in our landscaping where trees and shrubs planted in the 1990s had died, so I contacted Kueker’s Nursery & Landscaping for help,” Mr. Shafer said. “They answered the call in a big way.
Anna Kueker, who is a 2022 graduate of PHS, took my request for a few donated shrubs and created a stunning landscape design for the front the high school. It’s absolutely beautiful!
Kueker’s Nursery & Landscaping installed the Pirate Plaza Paver Garden, which was donated in 2017 by Earthworks, and then donated the plants for the landscape around the garden. Anna’s design for the front of the high school complements the existing landscaping very well. It’s a noticeable improvement to campus.”
The landscaping crew included Mr. Shafer, Assistant Principals Lisa Martin and Justin Dreyer, the front office staff, teachers and coaches, students, parents, and alumni.
“I put out the call for volunteers and an amazing group of people showed up in this intense heat to pull weeds, pick up litter, power wash the entrance, and install the new greenery,” Mr. Shafer said. “They worked hard, and our students and staff will enjoy a beautifully welcoming entrance when they return to class in a few weeks.”
Click here for more photos: