FROM STAFF REPORTS

Aspen Meadow Elementary School’s Spirit Rock allows the school to have fun while sharing the school’s culture with the community. The school recently thanked a few people who made the Spirit Rock possible.

The boulder came from a homebuilding site in Roanoke operated by Granite Ridge Builders. North Eastern Group Realty found a contractor to move the boulder to Aspen Meadow. Thanks to Fox Contractors, the rock now greets visitors at the first turn on the campus, 2650 Hathaway Road, Fort Wayne.

“We are so thankful for the rock, the transportation and placement of it by generous community members,” said Chris Eldridge, parent-teacher organization treasurer, Aspen Meadow Elementary School. “We wanted to show our gratitude for the donors’ kindness, so we placed a plaque beside the rock to remind our community of their gesture.”

Starting a new school from the ground up requires a lot of planning and each school has its own unique climate or culture. Aspen Meadow opened in the fall of 2021.

“This fun addition gives us personality for the community to see, enjoy, and feel, too,” said Kim Lochmueller, principal, Aspen Meadow Elementary. “As the district’s newest school, we’re defining how we want to be known, and lifting up others is a big part of our mission.”

Eldridge and other PTO parents were searching for a simple way to generate revenue to help staff and students at Aspen Meadow, then they discovered the painted rock idea and agreed it was the right fit. Each rock rental runs for 24 hours and it starts at 4 p.m. daily. The party renting the rock is responsible for painting the message, which is approved by the school ahead of time. Rentals are restricted to student families and staff of Aspen Meadow.

Recent messages have included “Happy Birthday, Owen, 9,” “Happy Birthday, Braxon and Emerson,” “Good Luck, Ethan,” and “Love, Learn, Lead.”

Contact the school for more details about reserving the rock. Learn more about Aspen Meadow Elementary School at am.nacs.k12.in.us.