{"id":4180,"date":"2004-12-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1970-01-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=4180"},"modified":"2017-09-12T10:28:04","modified_gmt":"2017-09-12T17:28:04","slug":"lab-now-center-of-schools-attention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=4180","title":{"rendered":"Lab now center of school’s attention"},"content":{"rendered":"

With fund raising down to a science, Peabody at last gets chance to explore.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Those ubiquitous blue-and-yellow “If You Build It They Will Learn” bumper stickers from Peabody Charter School <\/a>were replaced by a new slogan Thursday — “We Built It! Now Watch Us Learn” — as Principal Pat Morales cut the ribbon on the long-awaited Exploration Center.<\/p>\n

“Yes, we built it and, yes, we will raise the rest of the money (approximately $1 million) to pay for it,” Morales said to the hundreds of children and their families who gathered to celebrate the center’s opening.<\/p>\n

The seeds for the $4 million learning center were planted in 1998, when voters passed a $25 million bond issue to fund new libraries for several Santa Barbara County schools, of which $800,000 was allocated to Peabody. Inspired by the school’s motto, “think of the possibilities,” the school’s leaders envisioned something much grander than just a library. They wanted a full-scale learning center that would live on into the future, utilizing cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n

In talking about the vision for the project, Morales said the focus was always on the future, “sending our message into the future that children are important.”<\/p>\n

“It’s not just about a building,” Tom Cullen, board member of the Peabody Charter School Foundation, said of the new library, computer center and science lab. “It’s about delivering on the American Dream for our children.”<\/p>\n

The fund raising done by the school community would be impressive under any circumstances, but it’s particularly notable given that 43 percent of the families of Peabody’s 720 students live at or below the poverty level. A total of 18,000 volunteer hours have been contributed this year alone, according to school officials.<\/p>\n

“Kids brought in change and parents cut hair,” Cullen said of the many different fund-raising efforts.<\/p>\n

“It’s all a reality because of you,” said Morales, who noted that kindergarten, first- and second-grade students were not even born when the fund raising began seven years ago.<\/p>\n

The new facility overlooks an outdoor courtyard, and features 49 computer workstations, a big screen presentation area, 15,000 books, a fireplace and reading lounge and a fully equipped science lab.<\/p>\n

“I knew it would take time. It’s going to take us even more time to finish the fund raising,” Morales said.<\/p>\n

Citigroup presented the school with a $20,000 check at the center’s opening. There are also many additional sponsorship opportunities available at the Exploration Center, which will be open to the public for after-hours classes and educational opportunities for an additional 20 hours a week.<\/p>\n

For more information call the school at 563.1172, visit www.peabodycharter.org or e-mail Morales at morales@peabodycharter.org.<\/p>\n

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on December 23. 2004.<\/a><\/h6>\n

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