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Porterdale Elementary receives grant
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Porterdale Elementary School staff members were notified this summer that they were one of 14 schools in Georgia and 400 schools or parent organizations across the nation to be awarded a grant from the latest round of Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant program.

The program has provided over $20 million through more than 5,000 grants for a variety of school improvement projects since its inception five years ago. Porterdale is the third school in Newton County to benefit from the generosity of Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. Middle Ridge Elementary School received a $5,000 Toolbox grant for outdoor fitness stations in 2009. That same year West Newton Elementary School received a $5,000 grant for an outdoor learning center and reading garden.

Porterdale's PTO Board, principal, and PE and science teachers worked with Newton County Schools' Grants Coordinator Dr. Kathy Garber, to design the project to expand their nature trail, school garden and playground area to include an outdoor classroom and physical fitness equipment. Porterdale teachers and students, Recreation Department staff members and business partners will work with school staff, PTO volunteers to enhance the outdoor learning areas for students. Volunteers have already built a nature trail, butterfly garden and fish pond.