Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Students Aid Fundraiser New Workshop Floor

Anthony Pinos-Castillo PHS Senior and Mr. Stephen Sievers, PHS Construction Technology and Woodworking Instructor talk about the potential new flooring for the Construction room.




Blogger's Note: The following was submitted by the Foundation for Pottstown Education.

What do popsicles and a high school room have in common? No, this is not a pun, it is one way that the students in Mr. Siever’s Construction Technology program have used to raise funds to refinish the floor in their workspace.

During the last semester of the 2020/21 academic year, the class offered to help Siever clean and organize the workspace in the Pottstown High School Construction Technology and Woodworking classroom. Being the creative teacher that he is, he turned this project into a learning experience. During one session, he taught the student about painting, using the correct paint and paint brushes while they updated the garage door in the room.

Once the cleanup was completed, the students noticed the floor which was in bad shape and needed updating. Mr. Sievers contacted Chris Mest, a 2007 PHS and Construction Technology Graduate. Chris now owns Royal Concrete Services and demonstrated how his company preps, repairs, and then installs epoxy floors with a high urethane topcoat. 

The students were so pleased with the small part of the floor, they asked him what the cost would be to complete the entire floor. Mest agreed to do the work for the material cost to him, donating his labor. He also agreed to allow the students to assist with the project giving them hands on experience in concrete flooring process.

The students discussed fundraisers they could hold to pay for the necessary repairs and upgrades. PHS senior, Anthony Pinos-Castillo came up with the idea to sell popsicles at Memorial Park during the hot summer weather. He raised more than $600, a great start but a long way from the more than $8,000 that it would take to have the work done.

Being the resourceful young man that he is, Anthony contacted the Foundation for Pottstown Education to see how the money could be raised. While speaking with the Foundation Director, Joe Rusiewicz, they agreed to write a solicitation letter to potential donors to explain the need for the project and raise the funds to have it completed.

“This is a case of education going full circle.” Rusiewicz stated. “Chris Mest learned construction during his years at Pottstown and returned to share his knowledge with the current students. Anthony on the other hand, is a prime example of our outstanding Pottstown students once again making us Pottstown Proud. They never allow the lack of funds get them down, they roll up their sleeves and get to work, even if it means selling popsicles in the middle of a hot summer.”

To help the students with this project, tax deductible donations can be made to the Foundation for Pottstown Education either by mailing a check to 230 Beech Street Pottstown, PA 19464 or going to the Foundation’s website to donate online. Please mark Construction Room Floor in the memo line of the check or in the notes area of the online form.

About FPE: The mission of the Foundation for Pottstown Education is to raise funds for and support life-changing educational opportunities for the students and teachers in the Pottstown School District promoting the enhancement of our community.

Visit www.foundationpottstowned.org for more information about the Foundation for Pottstown Education. You can also follow FPE on Facebook and Twitter.

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