Center School Students Lay Bricks for the Future

fifth-graders applied math lessons to the real world this spring by laying bricks that will serve as a foundation for picnic benches near the detached campus buildings at the rear of the school property.

Students in Thomas Prefontaine's class planned for and then laid out four six-feet by eight-feet brick patios at the school a few weeks ago. 

The students figured out exactly how big each brick should be, how to lay them out so they would fit perfectly and how much they could spend on materials.

Several parents participated in laying bricks. The students received donations from about 15 community businesses, and parents held fundraisers to help them pay for the project. Each brick has the names of students in the class engraved on them.

"This was pretty awesome because we got to see all of our hard work pay off," said fifth-grader Molly Sastram.

Prefontaine, who also works as a mason, said he'd like to thank community businesses and parents who helped make the project a reality. He especially thanked Fernandes Paving and Trucking of Bridgeport which donated trucks and an excavator.