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North Garner Middle School committee says ‘Give Me 5’

By Sharron Gibson
Education Editor

Theresa Brittain firmly believes that North Garner Middle School is “a school of beauty with great kids, great staff, great families and a great school.” When she became involved in the school beautification committee at the school, however, she may have underestimated the needs the committee faced.

While talking with Principal John Wall, Brittain discovered the first priority was to alleviate a drainage problem that caused flooding in a school courtyard. Brittain immediately recruited a civil engineer, who is also a North Garner parent, to evaluate the problem. The verdict: The remedy would cost about $2,000 to repair, even with some donated material and labor. Furthermore, the NGMS PTA would have to bear the cost of repairs.

In addition to the drainage problem, the school is in need of repair to a set of steps and railings, painting in various areas of the school and grounds improvement and beautification. Because of a lack of allocated funds, the money for these projects would need to be raised by Brittain and her committee.

Undaunted and determined to help with needed improvements at the school, Brittain regrouped and developed the “Give Me 5” Vision of Excellence program. The program asks all NGMS families to donate items in five specific categories.

Obviously, the committee asked for donations of funds, encouraging all families to donate a minimum of $5. The committee also asked for support in the form of supplies such as paint, grass seed or shrubs for the grounds and other needed items.

Brittan realizes that, especially in tough economic times, not all families can support the school’s efforts financially. She is hopeful, however, that all families can contribute in other ways. She has asked families for five professional contacts or names of businesses or individuals who might be able and willing to help accomplish the needed tasks at the school. She also challenges all parents to donate five volunteer hours to the school, helping out in some capacity. She is hoping to organize a group of parents to adopt an area of the school’s grounds to beautify and maintain.

The committee’s final area of contribution is one that requires no financial sacrifice but is one that Brittain hopes will help spread the word of the good work going on at the school by the students, staff and families. She simply asks that each member of the NGMS community make it a point to share at least five positive comments about the school. Given that NGMS test scores have been on the upswing for several years and that Wall was named the 2009-2010 Wake County Public Schools System Principal of the Year, this request is possibly the easiest of the requests for families to meet.

The “Give Me 5” program is an ongoing effort, but Brittan has also organized other one-time fundraisers, such as a La Cocina community night and a “Knock Out” basketball competition. To date, the efforts of Brittain’s committee have raised a total of about $700.

Brittain is hopeful that NGMS alumni and their families and the Garner community in general will become involved in the “Give Me 5” program.

To make a donation or get more information on how to get involved, e-mail Brittain at trb@nc.rr.com.

Related articles:

• Garner teachers and staff close out the school year with retirement
• North Garner Middle School Music Boosters raise money
• North Garner Middle School principal finalist for Principal of the Year

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