It's always a struggle to keep students' attention in any classroom environment – especially when the days are bright and sunny and kids only want to be outside.

To that end, the Alumni Association of Cranston West helped provide the school with outdoor classroom and lunch space.

"The idea for the Cranston West quad revival project was inspired by Ed Brady and myself,” said Justin Erickson, President of the West Alumni Association. “The idea began when we were volunteering during the freshmen open house with the rest of the Cranston West alumni board (a few years ago). We saw the potential the quad had for revival and additional student use. The goal is to bring the quad back to life with the help of the leadership and faculty at Cranston High School West while working with the students and community volunteers to make additional safe spaces for our Cranston community to learn and take pride in.”

They started the project by working with (former hockey) Coach Craig Sacco on the first phase of revival by  painting the picnic tables with the students last year, with a larger phase two vision always in mind; they also worked with Principal Tom Barbieri to add exterior seating outside of Cranston East.

"We brought the idea to the executive board of the Cranston West alumni and they loved the idea and have been super supportive. It was our goal to start phase two of the revival when the alumni pavilion project was completed at the field. We always enjoy working with the community on these revival projects and we all have great pride seeing the completion of the auditorium and the alumni pavilion and the students enjoying these updated facilities," Erickson said.

This project has been funded through fundraising and personal donations thus far and the alumni association is still taking donations and will be doing additional fundraising for completion.

"The revival itself will include three outdoor classrooms and additional enclosed seating accessible to the student for both lunch and learning. We are also hopeful after this space is transformed it will be used more frequently as a secure space for events like school dances and special events," Erickson said.

The whole school is allowed to use this classroom space on a first come first serve basis, and West’s librarian will be in charge of who gets scheduled.

As for the lunch seating, it's also first come first serve, but hopefully enough to where any student who wants to sit outside can sit somewhere.

John Fontaine, West Principal, is very pleased with the entire process.

"The alumni came to us with a vision a few years back after they finished the turf project on the field. They had figured out how to make better use of an underutilized space on campus. A lot of schools can't do outdoors, our outdoor space is enclosed in a safe environment, presenting a perfect opportunity for enclosed learning," said Fontaine.

It is a unique space.

"Besides the lunch area which we are still working on, the other part of the space will be utilized with three classrooms in corners. From a school perspective it's a great instructional aspect. There is seating area under the trees, and we're working on revitalizing the pond with the aquaculture program," Fontaine said.

There were approximately 30-40 students who needed community service hours, and they worked with the alumni association, knocking down the old fire pit.

"It was so amazing to see the support of so many kids during the summer, truly unbelievable in this heat. And, the students came every, single, day," Fontaine said.

Fontaine, the staff at west and the Alumni Association are anticipating the project to be completed in time for the freshmen hot dog roast.