Walter Hill, TN -  The community is encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting at 9:00 o'clock Saturday morning for the Miss Katie Woodie Outdoor STEAM Classroom at Walter Hill Elementary School, 6309 Lebanon Rd.  The facility is paid for with a $120,000 National Neighborhood Promise® grant through Republic Services' Charitable Foundation. Republic has the Middle Point Landfill that is a few blocks away. 

Republic Services is gifting the outdoor Steam classroom to the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation. 

After the ribbon cutting, there will be a Day of Service dedicated to beautifying the grounds of the elementary school. Walter Hill Elementary is a fixture of the community, having just celebrated its 100th anniversary on August 10. Volunteers in attendance include Katie Woodie’s parents and family friends, team members of Republic Services, Rutherford County Commissioners, and Walter Hill staff.

“This year is Walter Hill’s 100th anniversary, and we can think of no better way to celebrate it than with a partnership that underscores this community’s commitment to its teachers and students,” said Mike Classen, general manager at Middle Point Landfill in Walter Hill. “This learning center will have generational impact, much like the life of the teacher it honors. We, as a company and business in this area, are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation and make this vision a reality.”

“We are grateful for the generosity of Republic Services and their collective mission with the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation to empower our teachers and students and enhance our STEAM learning programs,” said Laura Heath, Principal of Walter Hill Elementary School. “This is a milestone year for our school, and we recognize the businesses in our community, including Middle Point Landfill, that continue to support us year after year, and remain valuable partners and neighbors.”

“To those who knew Katie, she was a tremendously caring and gifted teacher who wanted nothing more than to serve her students and her community,” said Michelle Lovely, senior vice president of Development and Donor Services at The Dayton Foundation. “Losing a loved one is an unimaginable tragedy. Thanks to her family, who established the Miss Katie Woodie Foundation through The Dayton Foundation, and this generous gift from Republic Services, her legacy will live on and help realize the dream to create an outdoor reading environment for students and staff at Walter Hill Elementary. On behalf of Katie’s family and The Dayton Foundation, we sincerely thank Republic Services for this wonderful gift.”