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A group of parents and community members assembled for a work weekend at Normantown Elementary on Aug. 11th, and 12th, to help prepare for the mobile classrooms that will be coming to Normantown for this upcoming school year. We knew that there would need to be two ditches dug. One for the water and another for the sewer, so we took it upon ourselves, with our county maintenance director's approval, and did just that. We were very fortunate to get a ditch witch donated, along with the fuel needed to operate it, from Mr. Billie Houchin of Arnoldsburg. The pipe needed to hook-up the mobile classrooms was donated by Flying W Plastics out of Glenville. All the fittings and electrical wire needed was donated generously by Appcon, and Hardman's, both located in Glenville. Grass seed and straw for mulching was donated by Mr. Frank Minney. Sears Exxon in Stumptown provided bottled water for the volunteers throughout the weekend. The volunteer work crew consisted of Dennis & Amie Carder, Richard & Misty Pritt, Brian & Lisa Moore, Lisa Tanner, Justin Carter, Mike Wellings, and Patty Singleton. We were able to get both ditches dug, the pipe laid, the ditches covered, and the ground seeded and mulched within the two day period. We also built forms for concrete to be poured to correct some fire marshall violations. Mrs. Phyllis Starkey(a board member) and her husband, Leon were present during the work weekend to show their support for our community effort. We know that our maintenance director stays covered up because he is solely responsible for four elementary schools in the county and also the high school. Although he does not complain, we felt the undertaking at Normantown was too much for one person, and the community and parents wanted to lend him and our county a helping hand. The group of volunteers can not possibly thank the businesses and individuals enough for their generous donations. We were amazed at the outpouring of support we found in our county and also in surrounding counties. It was a hard work weekend, but very rewarding. We renewed a sense of pride within our community that we have always known existed. The obstacles we have faced this summer in Normantown have made us aware of importance the community's role plays in saving our small schools. A small school cannot survive without community support, and vice-versa. A community loses its school, and it dies along with that school. So we realize we need one another, and we are ready to pull together with one voice and save our school at Normantown.