Volunteers refresh outdoor classroom
We appreciate those who spent a Sunday digging, planting, and picking up trash to give the outdoor classroom some love.
By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist
On Sunday, April 3, under a beautiful, bluebird sky, members of the University School of Nashville community across all three divisions pitched in to freshen up the outdoor classroom on the main campus.
Thanks to a generous gift, Lower School Naturalist Teacher Lauren Hagan was able to purchase native plants to update the existing greenspace. Vanderbilt University Landscape Architect James Moore (Parent of Walt Moore '34) and local Naturalist Joanna Brichetto (Parent of Margaret Rose '13 & Izzy Rose '25) developed a planting scheme for the space and determined the ideal plants for the area.
Based on Moore's suggestion, Hagan and Brichetto purchased three oak-leaf hydrangeas, three New Jersey tea shrubs, five Christmas ferns, three lo-grow fragrant sumacs, five prairie dropseeds, three columbine plants, and three foamflowers.
With the help of Kindergarten Teachers Jody Reynolds and Jan Honsberger, High School Science Teacher Wilson Hubbell, Jamie Gardner '32, Sam Hubbell '28, Annie Williamson '28, Annie Cox '24, Nell Cox '22, Emilia Zenker '22, and Brichetto, the native species were planted and invasive species and weeds were removed.
Based on Moore's suggestion, Hagan and Brichetto purchased three oak-leaf hydrangeas, three New Jersey tea shrubs, five Christmas ferns, three lo-grow fragrant sumacs, five prairie dropseeds, three columbine plants, and three foamflowers.
With the help of Kindergarten Teachers Jody Reynolds and Jan Honsberger, High School Science Teacher Wilson Hubbell, Jamie Gardner '32, Sam Hubbell '28, Annie Williamson '28, Annie Cox '24, Nell Cox '22, Emilia Zenker '22, and Brichetto, the native species were planted and invasive species and weeds were removed.
Volunteers helped clean up the space by picking up litter in and around the classroom too. And, the group refilled the classroom pond making the already beautiful and peaceful space even more pristine.
The outdoor classroom is frequently used by the Lower School Young Naturalist program as well as a meeting space for various High School classes and small group meetings for students and faculty.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
-
The Green Team: Behind the Scenes of a Championship-Worthy Campus
Ahead of Spring Sports Night on Tuesday, April 21, get to know the staff who care for University School of Nashville's 81-acre River Campus.Read More -
Artclectic 2026 is looking for artists
The Artclectic application process has opened for any artists interested in sharing their work during the October 2026 show. Applications can be submitted using this link.Read More -
How USN’s Chinese program is building real-world fluency
High School Chinese Teacher Josephine Huang-Yeh’s unique approach is drawing national attention and helping students improve their Chinese skills.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.