VSAA courtyard gets a makeover

Shumway — When students at Vancouver School of Arts and Academics head back next month, they’ll be greeted by a courtyard entrance that’s undergone a summer makeover. The VSAA Parent Teacher Student Association raised roughly $65,000 for the project, a majority from PTSA funds, class donations, sponsorships and fundraisers with a significant donation from patron Leslie Durst. The project included 6,000 square feet of new sod, sprinklers, 16 new trees, a renovation of the school’s Peace Garden and the construction of raised planting beds. The feature students may appreciate most is an elevated performance platform and basalt seating columns scattered throughout the space. Many of the columns feature quotes about art and music or are dedicated to families. The makeover was a joint project of the VSAA Parent Teacher Student Association and Vancouver Public Schools.