A sizeable volunteer army of Oxnard adults and children transformed the landscape at Rio Real Elementary School on Oct. 27. The enthusiastic community worked on multiple projects in celebration of Make a Difference Day, the national day of helping others created by USA Weekend Magazine in 1990. This is the second year the district has participated in the annual event's activities.
"I have to say, the kids really were impressive this year. They planned a pretty long list of great landscaping and art projects and were able to accomplish even more than we set out to do," said Mike Stubblefield, Make a Difference Day chair. "It is moving to see what a difference we can make in our children's experience and everyday environments when we work side-by-side as a community to make it happen."
On Make a Difference Day, volunteers tackled a variety of landscaping projects, including weeding the school's vegetable and ornamental gardens, filling gopher holes in the grassy playground area and expanding the vegetable garden plot. Principal Carolyn Bernal was pleased with all the projects but took special pride in the three murals - eight feet high by sixteen feet long - brought to life by a crew of talented student and adult painters. As part of the activities, the district invited the community to donate musical instruments for to the district's new Unity Through Arts Children's Philharmonic Orchestra. (The district is still accepting instrument donations. To donate, call the district office at 805-485-3111 for more information.)
Adults were on hand to supervise and, in many cases, do the heavier lifting - including moving truckloads of soil donated and delivered by the husband of a Rio Real teacher. Students though, were the stars. The children filled planters with flowers, vegetables and fruit placed outside each classroom and planted trees in the perimeter fields.
The wall adjacent to the kindergarten now offers students a completely different view and neighbors a little more privacy, thanks to a spirited and colorful mural painted and placed above the existing chain-link fence.
Generous support from the Oxnard community contributed to the success of the Rio Real event. Pacifica High School's King Triton Blues Band, led by musical director Mark Wingland, raised volunteer spirits and a buffet with dishes donated by local restaurants kept the energy high. Volunteers from the district, local organizations and businesses, including the California Conservation Corps and UBS Financial, dug holes, hauled earth and planted trees to complete projects organized by the school's hard-working facilities staff led by Jim Bakos.
This group of dedicated volunteers showed what a difference a day can make to Rio Real's 401 students.