Pitch Perfect

Pinckneyville Middle School recently broke ground on a new soccer field.

What do you give a team that has won seven straight championships?

If you’re Pinckneyville Middle School, you build a new soccer field — well, not really.

Although the girls’ soccer team has been undefeated for seven years in a row, the soccer field is to benefit everyone at the school, as well as the community — as long as they treat it well.

With thanks to City of Peachtree

Corners funds, as well as support from Gwinnett County Public Schools, school district administrators and city, county and state elected officials gathered on May 5 to celebrate the beautiful new grounds.

Principal Todd Marschke reflected upon the events that lead up to the field coming to fruition.

“It just feels so blessed to be the principal here at Pinckneyville. And I feel blessed to be able to live in a community like Peachtree

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos by Tracey Rice

Corners,” Marschke said.

He said that a couple of years ago, he had a parent reach out say, ‘I want to help you.’ Marschke said that because many of the needs are met by the school district and the community, he had to give a lot of thought to finding something for people who wanted to give more.

“It was a hard question to answer and that’s a good problem to have,” he stressed. “We got together and brainstormed some ideas, and we knew what we wanted. But financial is always something you’ve got to overcome.”

Benefits to local schools also benefit the city

It turned out that Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson had funds that could go into the project.

“Communities are only an aggregate of individual pieces. And schools are one of the most critical ones. The healthier our schools are, the healthier our community is,” Johnson said. “And when a school has great facilities to allow for a diversity of activities, …everybody benefits,” said Johnson. “This is just strengthening the fabric of a community by giving our middle school better facilities. So, we all win.”

This type of “economic development” has already taken place at the two elementary schools inside city limits, Johnson added. Most recently, Simpson Elementary used city funds to redo the track and upgrade the play area. Peachtree Elementary had a big outdoor area with a basketball court.

Since the three schools are with- in Peachtree Corners city limits, the city was happy to give something so meaningful and useful to the residents, he said.

Community takes care of

its

Own

The city’s funding was just the beginning. “We’ve had an anonymous donor from the community who gave over $207,000. I don’t know who that person is [but the money will be used] to add lights to the field,” said Marschke.

And the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) donated $17,000 to go toward a scoreboard.

“Debbie, my wife, and I and my family have been here since 1985,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “I can remember coaching teams, right on this field, walking around the track. So it was with great pleasure that we were able to do this, because we knew firsthand you guys would really benefit from having this.”

“Let’s promise you can always count on the City of Peachtree corners to be there for you to help you and provide this kind of level quality for the future,” Mason added. “You guys deserve this. The kids and parents also deserve this.”

Once the ribbon was cut, the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams matched up for a scrimmage game. Who knows? When all the improvements are made, the pitch may become the proving ground for some of the sport’s greatest players. The seeds have now been planted. ■

Middle

Stephanie Sadd presents Pincipal Todd Marschke with a check from the PTA for $17,224 to allow the school to buy a scoreboard for the new soccer field.

Some of the soccer team players and coach Sara Sanders getting ready to play the first game on the new field.

Bottom row from left, Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason holds the Community Service Award presented to the City by the Principal of Pinckneyville Middle School in appreciation for the City’s support and sponsorship of the new soccer field. L to R: Principal Todd Marschke, Mayor Mike Mason, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy (Gwinnett County Public Schools Board Member), Councilman Phil Sadd, and Mayor Pro Tem Weare Gratwick.

Rep. Scott Hilton enjoys the game with others in attendance.

Dr. Reuben Gresham, Gwinnett County Public Schools Cluster Superintendent.