A medieval labyrinth is starting to take shape in the courtyard to the left of Nolan Elementary School's main entrance.
The brainchild of Kathie Nolan, the labyrinth will serve as an educational, reflective area which students, teachers and community members can use as a place of solace, meditation and beauty, she said. Nolan has been the school's art teacher since it opened in 1999, and painted the medieval-themed murals throughout the school that represent its mascot, the Nolan Knight.
Third-grade teacher Becky Leary is helping with the labyrinth. Her students wrote letters persuading Principal Shane Harwood to allow for its construction in the courtyard, which is located outside Nolan's and Leary's classrooms. He granted his permission, and Nolan applied for and received a $750 mini-grant from the Junior League, as well as $400 from the Mountain Education Foundation, to help fund the project.
The progress made so far includes the removal of the existing Bermuda grass from the courtyard, which was accomplished this summer with the help of Ellen and Courtney Rollinson, the parents of Nolan student Shelby Young. Mountain Top Landscaping owner Randy Ausdran's crew then completed the first phase of construction, placing cobble flagstones at the perimeter and crushed gravel in the center of the labyrinth. Nolan used the funds from MEF and the Junior League to purchase six concrete benches, four of which are positioned to face each cardinal direction and two of which stand at opposing corners.
Nolan is the daughter-in-law of Paul and Anne Nolan, advocates of public education on the mountain for whom the school was named. Anne Nolan loved the idea of the labyrinth, and when she passed away in December, the project expanded into a way to honor her memory, Kathie Nolan said. Plans include a dogwood tree and a plaque recognizing Anne Nolan, which will be placed in the center of the labyrinth, she added.
All of the grant funding was used in the first stage of the project, and in order to complete it, Nolan is asking for donations of large stones to outline the path, which she said is intended to provide a personal meditative journey as one makes his or her way to the center. Also needed are potting soil and plants to go in the planters, as the the area is too wet for plants to go in the ground, she said.
Nolan said people are welcome to donate plants in someone's memory or honor, or to bring in seasonal plants throughout the year. She hopes to have the planters filled and placed by spring.
Once the path is constructed, she hopes to add artwork created by her students, as well as a solar-powered water feature.
"It's going to be an ongoing process that we'll take in steps and phases that will evolve over time," she said. "Any ideas of other things we could do are welcome and we'd love to hear their thoughts."
To make a donatin of funds or materials, or to share ideas, contact Nolan or Leary by calling the school at 886-0898.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.