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Fox Lane HS Gets Revamped Courtyard Thanks To Donors

BEDFORD, N.Y. -- Dozens of people gathered on a snowy Tuesday afternoon for the dedication of a revamped courtyard at Fox Lane High School, a space that will host a range of student uses.

Sue Groner cuts the ribbon for the FAME courtyard at Fox Lane High School.

Sue Groner cuts the ribbon for the FAME courtyard at Fox Lane High School.

Photo Credit: Victoria Groner
Members of the Commoners, a Fox Lane High School student a cappella group.

Members of the Commoners, a Fox Lane High School student a cappella group.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Fox Lane High School's revamped courtyard.

Fox Lane High School's revamped courtyard.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie

The overhaul, which includes a sensory garden and a performance stage, was made possible due to money from the Foundation for Music, Arts & Education (FAME), a group that provides financing outside of the Bedford Central School District's budget.

The courtyard will reflect the group's name, as it is officially called the FAME Courtyard for Arts and Sciences. FAME, in turn, raised money from private donors.

Donors have been honored with a visual display posted on the side of the school building. The stage was made possible due to a donation from the Bedford Village Chowder & Marching Club (C&M), a group whose philanthropic work was recently celebrated with a local basketball court dedication in October.

The courtyard was paid for entirely through donations, according to Sue Groner, a member of FAME's board for two and a half years. 

The private money came from a mix of cash and services that were provided either pro bono or at cost for labor, Groner said. The project's total cost, had normal rates applied, would have been around $250,000, according to Groner.

The dedication included a ribbon cutting, music from student a cappella group the Commoners and a poetry reading from Fox Lane student Andrew Reino, who read a work by Emily Brontë. 

Heather Kranz, the school district's K-12 visual arts coordinator, said the concept originally was for phase two of a gallery renovation, adding there was a thought that it could become an outdoor sculpture garden to feature students' work.

“It is more than just a sculpture garden now," Kranz said. "FAME took the idea and made it grander -- a courtyard for the arts and sciences, an outdoor classroom, a performance space complete with stage, an extension of the commons for students to use every day.”

In her remarks at the dedication, Groner thanked donors for their support.

“The FAME courtyard is truly an example of what can happen from the combined efforts of a public school, a nonprofit foundation and members of the community coming together to meet a common goal -- to create this outdoor space to enhance student life,” she said. “Now, this courtyard is in the hands of teachers and students for generations to come. The opportunities to create, learn and share experiences in this special place are endless.”

Superintendent Jere Hochman mentioned Maya Lin, architect of the Vietnam Memorial. He recalled hearing her speak about creating spaces within spaces, which is what the courtyard is. He noted that Lin says it's the interaction of people with works of art that make a difference.

High School Principal Joel Adelberg, based on online research he did, gave a summary of courtyards' histories, from traditional Chinese spaces to Victorian Britain. 

On hand were Frank Bartok and Serafino Cambareri, who were with the school's Class of 1963. Their class was included in the donor display.

Bartok and Cambareri, who were among Fox Lane's first students when it opened in 1957 - it also served seventh- and eighth-graders before the middle school was built - spoke favorably about the project. Cambareri called it a "fantastic piece" of property, while Bartok said he was “very much pleased” and loved his class being on the display.

 

 

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