BCEF Annual Campaign Celebrates 50th Birthday of Batesville Middle School

The campaign will raise funds to bring outdoor learning back to the school.

Batesville Middle School in 1975. Photo provided.

(Batesville, Ind.) - The Batesville Community Education Foundation (BCEF) is celebrating the 50th birthday of Batesville Middle School (BMS) with an annual campaign to raise funds to bring outdoor learning back to the school.

The $50,000 goal, reflective of 50 years of BMS, will provide funding for a new Eco Lab near the back drive.

“Many of our citizens remember when BMS opened its doors for the first time in 1975 on the site where the old high school used to stand,” said Anne Wilson, BCEF Executive Director. “They will likely recall the classroom layouts and the commons, but another unique feature was an innovative outdoor learning area on the north end of the building. Shaded by trees and built with railroad ties, it served as a multi-purpose space for learning and was a student favorite. As the city’s population grew, BMS had to expand, and the outdoor learning space had to be eliminated to make room for a building addition.”

To celebrate this milestone birthday of BMS, BCEF hopes to reintroduce a modern version of the outdoor learning area to the school. A grassy area near the back drive has room to integrate many of the teachers’ wish list items, including tiered seating, a gazebo, solar ovens, raised garden beds, and even some indoor items to support the STEAM curriculum.

"The Eco Lab will create an alternative space for students who thrive outside a traditional classroom setting,” explained BMS Principal Dave Strouse. “The outdoor learning classroom would offer hands-on, engaging, and critical thinking experiences that connect academic learning with real-world application. Our goal is to create lifelong learners who are thoughtful, engaged citizens in their community who are connected to their environment."

“As the BCEF board considered what to tackle for this year’s campaign, the BMS birthday made this an easy choice,” Wilson added. “BCEF has built a reputation for bringing innovative spaces to BCSC through our annual campaigns. From flexible learning classrooms to a BPS outdoor learning complex to a new student-focused success (mental health wellness) center at BHS, we are always willing to consider big ideas that will benefit our students. We love making our mark on the learning environment at the Batesville Community School Corporation, and are grateful to the community for its support year after year.”

BCEF has donated more than $540,000 toward flexible learning components at all four BCSC school buildings since its annual campaigns were launched nearly ten years ago. In addition, BCEF funds vital programs at BCSC, such as Bulldog Ready community-connected learning support, classroom grants, the Art on Main community outreach initiative, certification costs for Batesville High School students, as well as a staff support program. To date, the total impact on BCSC from BCEF is valued at more than $900,000.

Donations to the BCEF Annual Campaign are requested by September 30. More information about the project is available at the foundation’s website: www.BatesvilleEducationFoundation.org. A paper donation form is available for download, or donations can be made online. Any questions can be directed to Wilson at awilson@batesville.k12.in.us.