80
Building A
Better Tomorrow
WORDS: Peggy Kronus, Willis Smith Construction
William H. Bashaw
Elementary School
William H. Bashaw Elementary School,
Principal Joshua Bennett, and Assistant
Principal Beth Marshall, welcomed each
student back to school and told them: this
year is going to be the best year yet! Their
excitement was due to a major campus
renovation recently completed by Willis
Smith Construction.
As the students returned, they noticed
all the portable classrooms had been
replaced with a brand-new building which
has eight new classrooms. Upon entering
the renovated buildings, they discovered
a new media center, music lab, computer
lab, art lab, and an improved cafeteria
with additional space, including a stage
for performances. A total of 44 new
classrooms will be utilized for grades
Pre-K through 5th.
With the students returning to the
refreshed classrooms, it was the ideal
time to rewrite the vision and mission
of the school. Grade-level teams have
worked over a three-year period to
migrate from a “STEM” curriculum, to a
“STEAM” curriculum, which incorporates
the Arts along with Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics. This will
elevate student engagement.
Working closely over the last few years,
a partnership developed between the
leadership of Willis Smith Construction
and Bashaw Elementary. As Principal
Bennett explained: “Our partnership
with Willis Smith Construction during the
renovation has had a tremendous impact
on the students and families.
“Willis Smith made it known that they
were not just on our campus to complete
a project, but to partner with our school.
They donated additional funds to provide
the school with a new marquee (sign.) This
allows all our parents and community to
have daily communication and display
what our school offers.”
“A second example of our partnership
was their sponsorship that provided
an EPCOT field trip scholarship to our
students that needed funds. This was a
school wide field trip, and many funds
were needed to support all our students
and enable them to attend. Willis Smith
was there to donate and provide that
additional support.”
Wade Wolfe, Willis Smith Project Manager,
worked closely with the 5th Grade
Student Council on their class project.
Willis Smith donated their time preparing
two designated areas on the playground
and installed two “Buddy Benches”,
and two wheel-chair accessible picnic
tables allowing students with disabilities
to eat their lunch outside with their
fellow classmates.
As the school year began, the playground
became the center hub on campus for
students to play and bond with their friends.
However, if a child feels that he or she is
being bullied, feeling alone, or they need
attention of any type, they go sit on the
“Buddy Bench.” This signals to the other
children, and teachers, that something is
wrong and the child needs assistance.
The Willis Smith team, along with parents
and the student body, celebrated this
project with a ribbon cutting ceremony
to provide awareness that no one is
excluded at their school.
The entire Staff at William H. Bashaw
Elementary is extremely appreciative of
the relationships that were developed with
Willis Smith over the last several years!